Israel Non Profit News » Immigrant Absorption

Metzilah publishes: “A Strategy for Immigration Policy in Israel”

Pamela Deutsch — Tue, 11 May 2010 11:19:50 +0000

“A Strategy for Immigration Policy in Israel” by Prof. Shlomo Avineri, Liav Orgad and Prof. Amnon Rubinstein, is the basis for a new comprehensive immigration law being drafted by the Government of Israel.

To date Israel has not had a general immigration law. The Law of Return relates only to people who are Jewish, or are of Jewish descent, and leaves the question of immigration of non-Jews as a lacuna, which is covered by a plethora of sometimes conflicting administrative and judicial decisions. This leads both to confusion, bureaucratic arbitrariness as well as infringements of human rights. The current state of affairs is detrimental to Israel’s vital interests, a situation which is intolerable for Israel as a state and as a nation. Israel needs an immigration policy. In this Position Paper, the authors, for the first time in Israel, propose a strategy for thought and action ahead of the formulation of an immigration policy that promotes Israel’s interests as a Jewish and democratic state.

Metzilah’s publications – mostly position papers – serve to explore the legitimacy and implications of Jewish national self-determination in the State of Israel, as well as of Jewish self-fulfillment around the world. Moreover our publications seek to shed light onto the compatibility of Zionism and Judaism with Human Rights and Liberalism in the context of a Jewish and democratic State of Israel. The goal is to create a platform for ideological clarification of the presuppositions and validity of Zionism as well for informed public discourse and decision-making.

The papers are meant to serve as a basis of support for decision makers by framing complex issues and providing policy recommendations that will ensure a Jewish and democratic State of Israel, as well as the welfare of the Jewish people. They also seek to deepen the public discourse and sharpen its understanding on issues that are on the State of Israel’s agenda.

The combination of these two rationales contributes to consolidating a consensus among the public and decision makers, which calls for action on these issues.

Ethiopian Jews Realize their Jerusalem Dream

Pamela Deutsch — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 06:43:58 +0000

The Jerusalem Dream project has been a rewarding experience at the Tower of David. It has successfully focused on the significance of Jerusalem to the Ethiopian community and has helped to preserve that heritage. Graduates of the first guiding course for young Ethiopian Israelis have taken more than 20 groups of new and veteran Ethiopian immigrants from all over Israel through the exhibit halls of the Museum. These very special tours emphasize the connection between Ethiopian traditions and the city of Jerusalem. The response of the Ethiopian community has been both enthusiastic and moving as elders of the community come together with the young generation torenew their ties to the city. This year, the program has again received funding through the Jerusalem Foundation and will continue by offering a second guiding course beginning this month. A film that documents the unique human aspects of the program can be viewed here.

Click here to view the embedded video.

The MAKSAM Network of Hadera celebrates Sigd

Pamela Deutsch — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 13:44:00 +0000

On the 29th day of the Hebrew month of Cheshvan, 50 days after Yom Kippur, the Ethiopian Jewish community celebrates the Sigd Festival. The name Sigd comes from the word “sgida” prostration before the Holy Torah and before the Lord, and the Sigd Festival commemorates both the giving of the Torah and the communal gatherings held in Jerusalem in the days of the prophets Ezra and Nehemiah.

In Ethiopia, the Sigd was marked with a half-day fast and a pilgrimage to the top of the nearest high mountain. There, the community’s religious leaders would chant from the Torah and lead the community in prayer, praying for the restoration of Jerusalem and the reconstruction of the Holy Temple and for their dream of making aliyah to Israel to come true. The day would end with a festive meal.

Since 2009 the Sigd has been incorporated into the Israeli calendar as a National Holiday for the Ethiopian community, many of whom travel to Jerusalem where they gather on the Talpiot Promenade, overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem for a day of prayer and festivities.

The Ethiopian pupils of the MAKSAM Network of After School Study and Enrichment Centers in Hadera celebrated the Sigd with a modest ceremony, including readings, songs and dancing, in the delighted presence of their parents and invited guests.

The pupils were excited by their awesome task, and their parents were overjoyed to watch their Israeli born “Ethiopian Sabras” celebrating the Ethiopian community’s most holy day with such reverance.

Olim al Machshev (New Immigrants Learning Computers)

Pamela Deutsch — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 06:06:41 +0000

From the CEO’s Desk:

It’s July 13 and I’m sitting in the Armon Hanitziv Center, watching the “Olim al Machshev” course (new immigrants learning computers and Hebrew language skills). There’s a genuine feeling in the room of people beginning to change their lives. New immigrants from Ethiopia, Russia and South America who are employed as street cleaners and security personnel are being exposed for the first time to writing in Hebrew and using the Internet.

Right now, they are learning to write official letters and suddenly they can write to the phone company about false charges, to the cable company about the technician that never showed or a thank you letter to a vendor for quality service. They are receiving real-life skills so they can deal with difficulties they face, independently and with self-confidence.

I watch all this in amazement and once again see clearly that the investment we make in our centers and workers pays dividends- over and over again.

To all our workers, volunteers and donor partners: Thank you.

- Daniel

A Spark in their Eyes: ENP Distributes Higher Education Scholarships

Pamela Deutsch — Thu, 09 Jul 2009 09:59:07 +0000

“You are the best there is. You are the activists and the successes,” said UJA-Federation of New York’s Ilan Halperin at a festive ceremony held on June 7th, 2009, attended by a group of Ethiopian-Israeli young men and women who gathered to receive Ethiopian National Project (ENP) higher education scholarships to attend colleges and universities throughout Israel. Halperin expressed his confidence that those gathered will succeed: “I see the spark in your eyes,” he said. Halperin encouraged the students to use what they were learning to help the Ethiopian community in Israel and the Israeli community at large. He also encouraged them to give back and volunteer in their community to help others to succeed.

The Ethiopian National Project awarded a total of 108 scholarships, including 63 elite “Trendsetter” Scholars funded by UJA-Federation of New York in partnership with the ENP. Trendsetters study a wide array of subjects in elite faculties such as biology or engineering. In addition to the Trendsetters, ENP awarded special scholarships to Israel’s six Ethiopian-Israeli Medical Students and the remaining scholarships to students who are otherwise ineligible for Government-sponsored scholarships due to age or study of a second degree.

Tegist Abebe and Yisraela Almah are two students receiving the Trendsetters scholarship, studying at the School of Nursing in Safed. They are in their second year of a four year degree and as part of their studies, are already practicing at the hospital connected to the university. They are looking forward to when they finish their degree, and will be able to work at any hospital in Israel. Ronit Asara from Afula is studying biology. “I didn’t know I liked biology until my preparation year at Bar Ilan University in Tel Aviv. Now I’m the only Ethiopian-Israeli in my college studying biology.” Ronit heard about the scholarship from a friend; her cousin is now also a recipient. “I’m going to get a master’s degree and then work in the field,” she states with pride.

Roni Akale, the Director-General of FIDEL and the chair of Representatives of the Ethiopian Jewish Community Organizations in Israel, acknowledged that the Ethiopian-community in Israel needs a helping hand and told the recipients “we need to help our brothers and sisters.” He called on them to volunteer in ENP’s Youth Outreach Centers, as well as in their neighborhoods and cultural centers. Hanoch Tzamir, the Deputy Director-General of the Ministry of Immigrant Absorption encouraged them to reach their full potential and to help others do so as well. Tzamir pushed them to study elite faculties and aim for second degrees and doctorates. He told them “you all need to be an example to your brothers, sisters, neighborhoods, community and your children.”

With 3,000 Ethiopians-Israelis pursuing higher education, it is important that each and every one of those students set an example and encourage others to aim for university as well. Stories like Ronit’s, Tegist’s and Yisraela’s make it clear that these scholarships are truly having an impact on people’s lives.

NOAM Engages Ethiopian Youth through New Chapter in Katamon Neighborhood

Pamela Deutsch — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:11:21 +0000

Opening a new chapter in Katamon, a Jerusalem neighborhood whose residents face significant economic challenges, NOAM, the national youth movement of the Masorti movement, has expanded its reach to young Israelis in an area that is home to many Ethiopian olim. About 30 third through eighth-graders have been coming together on Monday afternoons to learn about pluralism, democracy and Zionism within the context of traditional Jewish observance, through fun activities that also build friendships and connection to community. Their meetings have been coordinated by Esther Alemu, whose father, Rabbi Yafet Alemu, is the first Ethiopian Masorti rabbi, and by NOAM leaders from other Jerusalem branches. Meetings have been taking place in a bomb shelter, but the chapter is already outgrowing the space and with the support of neighborhood officials, is seeking a more suitable place for its gatherings. To encourage the development and growth of the chapter, the NOAM Katamon group is heavily subsidized by the Masorti movement, and the movement is doing its best to provide scholarship assistance so that the children from Katamon can participate in nationwide programming, trips and events. This newest NOAM branch joins 19 others throughout Israel. In addition to weekly chapter meetings, NOAM sponsors national events throughout the year that culminate in the Ramah-NOAM Summer Camp. In the coming year, it is hoped that more children from Katamon will join NOAM and participate on the national as well as on the local level, with financial assistance made available to those who need it. NOAM cultivates connection to Jewish identity and heritage, while nurturing the future leadership of the Masorti movement. Seven Katamon teens have been recruited to attend NOAM’s year-long leadership training course with the understanding that they will form the core of the local chapter’s leadership in years to come.

Introducing Kindergarten Kids to the Library

Pamela Deutsch — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 04:39:46 +0000

Since Jan ’09, the Benjamin Children’s Library CL has been running an exciting new program for Gan children in coordination with Keren Karev and the city of Beit Shemesh. The goal of the program is to give the children perhaps their first exposure to the wonder of books and libraries and to familiarize the children with the library so that they feel at home here.
The program includes talking to the children about the way a library develops and how growth necessitates order. They discover ways to sort the books so that they can be easily found. The children sort a pile of books themselves deciding where to put each book depending on colors, page size, number of words and pictures per page etc. They discover the color coded labeling system for books and take a tour of the library to find where each of the categories they defined are actually found in the library. Once at a shelf, they learn about alphabetizing books by author name. Ultimately, the children get to sit down with some delicious books and READ! The program continues after a reading break with a creative activity by Keren Karev. We believe the children should experience all kinds of development within the walls of the library and are therefore very pleased to be cooperating with Keren Karev for this enriching program.

IAIC Launchs New Russian Textbook for Immigrant Children

Pamela Deutsch — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 06:09:02 +0000

In light of studies that show that reinforcing immigrant children’s language of origin contributes towards improved relationships, both with their families and with their new country, IAIC supports Russian language studies in Israel.

With assistance from professionals in the United States, Israel, Germany and Russia, the Israel Association of Immigrant Children has recently published a Russian textbook meant for second generation immigrant children, who already possess a basic knowledge of the Russian language from home.

The three volume book is available for free and can be downloaded at http://www.iaic.org.il/RusskiyYazik.ru . The book, whose content is aimed at children being raised in democratic countries has already received a positive evaluation from Columbia University, New York.