Experiencing Guest Speakers Through ENP: Micha Feldmann

This week we had the honor of hearing firsthand from Micha Feldmann, a hero who spearheaded 1991’s Operation Solomon, a secret mission that evacuated 14,310 Ethiopian Jews to Israel. Starting in 1982, Micha was among the Jewish Agency officials responsible for overseeing the aliyah of Ethiopian Jews. In 1989, Micha was sent to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to lead the Jewish Agency’s mission while also serving as Israel’s consul. His work in Ethiopia’s capital soon became focused on one primary task, helping Ethiopian Jews return home to Israel. 

When Micha was sharing his story, it became clear just how many obstacles he and his colleagues had to overcome throughout the process of Operation Solomon. They were given the daunting task of airlifting over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in just 36 hours. What impressed me was the creativity and resourcefulness they showed under so much pressure. By removing all of the seats on the aircraft, they were able to get as many people as possible into the limited number of planes. One of the aircrafts even set a world record by carrying 1,088 passengers on a single flight, a record that still stands today. 

What struck me most was that the operation took place in the middle of a civil uprising. As rebel forces were advancing towards Addis Ababa, the mission also had to remain completely secret, which Micha described as incredibly stressful. Hearing how quickly and cautiously they had to move really put into perspective how fragile the situation was.

No matter how scary the obstacle, or impossible the task seemed, they were able to continue with the operation. Micha's absolute dedication to the mission and passion for his fellow Jews in Ethiopia ensured its success. His story taught me a valuable lesson: when you genuinely believe in something, no obstacle is too great to overcome. 

Micha’s unique story is one of many that make up the history of Ethiopian Jewry. As volunteers at the Ethiopian National Project, we have the one of a kind privilege to hear personal experiences from so many inspiring people. We are so excited to hear more of these narratives, and gain more perspectives and lessons we can carry with us through our lives.