Learning what it means to be an Ethiopian-Israeli

By -

 June 20th - Natanel’s Story

On Thursday, June 20th, the other interns and I had the privilege of talking to Natanel, an Ethiopian-Israeli medical student who is a part of the ENP community. Natanel told us about his family’s journey from Ethiopia to Israel as well as his personal experience growing up in Israel. Not only was it eye-opening to hear directly from Natanel about his story, but to see how ENP has made a significant impact on his career and success.


Natanel’s family came to Israel in 1984, walking by foot from Ethiopia, through Sudan, to Jerusalem. The journey Natanel’s parents endured took 3 to 4 weeks to complete. Growing up, Natanel would always go with his mom to the doctor’s office to translate for her. Only speaking Amharic, his mom had great difficulty navigating medical appointments, so Natanel would relay information between his mom and the doctors for years. This routine inspired Natanel to go to medical school, as he fell in love with the medical world acting as a translator for his mom. Natanel, with the support of ENP’s medical school scholarship program, is currently studying to be a doctor at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem while also balancing his service in the IDF while being in the reserves. 


Natanel told us about his time in the IDF and how he excelled as a soldier and then talked to us about his identity as an Ethiopian-Israeli. When asked, “When was the first time you remember experiencing racism” Natanel’s response was fascinating. When he was 5 years old, Natanel was playing in his front yard when a police officer approached him asking what he was doing there. Terrified, Natanel explained that he lived in the neighborhood, but the cop did not believe him, forcing Natanel to show the officer where he lived. Natanel and the police officer went to the front door of his family’s home where his parents opened the door, and the situation quickly resolved itself. Following the incident, Natanel’s parents explained to him that sometimes there will be people who try to shake you up or make you feel weaker, but he should never let them interfere with his identity and remain strong. Natanel explained how he really views himself as an Israeli-—he is no different than anyone else who lives in this country because of his skin color and background, and he rarely experienced different treatment for who he is. Natanel’s strong and secure sense of identity was inspiring, and I was so glad to see how ENP has been able to help Natanel achieve his dreams. Thank you, Natanel, for coming to share your story with us!


- Talia Field





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Celebrating Sigd: Old Traditions Meet New Communities

By -
Image
The Sigd festival held last week in Jerusalem was a special experience because it demonstrated a balance between isolation and assimilation, between tradition and modernity. Until contemporary times, the holiday of Sigd was practiced solely by Ethiopian Jews. Sigd celebrates the acceptance of the Torah and the desire to return to Israel and the Temple. It also marks the day that God is thought to have revealed Himself to Moses. Walking through the festival here in Jerusalem, it was impossible not to notice the subtle ways that Ethiopian and Israeli cultures alike have shaped our modern celebration of Sigd. Ethiopian Israelis dressed in traditional garments intermingled with those wearing popular street fashion. But, most importantly, it was not only the Ethiopian Israeli community celebrating. The crowd represented a mix of Jewish identities from numerous origins. For many immigrants, making a new life in another country tragically requires relinquishing ties to one’s traditions and ho
Read more

Interning at ENP: Translating Books, Teaching Surfing, and Singing Hatikva

By -
Image
     I’m Sacha Toberoff, a summer intern at Ethiopian National Project (ENP) through the Columbia/Barnard Hillel Onward program. I’m studying history and political science at Columbia University. I grew up in a secular Jewish home in Malibu, California. I’ve always had a strong connection with my cultural background and recognized the importance of Israel, as my Safta grew up here. This is my first time in Israel and I have been delighted to connect with the land of my ancestors. I chose to intern with ENP because it is doing pivotal work to support the Ethiopian Israeli community by sponsoring scholarships and hosting leadership and English language programs. I have a background in service and legal work and am excited to bring these skills to ENP. Before coming to ENP, I knew little about the struggles of the Ethiopian Jewish community making Aliyah. For many years, they dreamed of returning to Israel, and when it was finally possible it took tremendous effort and sacrifice to make t
Read more

Interview with Roni Akale

By -
Roni Akale is the first to share his story in our breathtaking project, #ENPeople documenting the lives and stories of different members of the ENP community. This project was created by our amazing intern Noa, a very talented photographer and storyteller. Noa photographs her subjects proceeding an interview about the subject's life and experiences. Over the next couple of months, Noa will be interviewing and photographing a variety of members in the ENP community including students, parents, and administrators in the organization. Noa hopes to amplify the voices of the Ethiopian Israeli community through a platform that highlights the strength and resilience of her interviewees. She hopes readers are inspired become mindful about their actions and resources so they can do more to help Ethiopians in Israeli society feel welcomed, supported, and heard. Read Roni's story below: “I was born in a Jewish village called Woinya. I was a shepherd. When I was six, my parents decided
Read more