Ono’s Rabbi Dr. Shalom Tells Detroit Jewish Students about Ethiopian Jewish Life

Recently, the Frankel Jewish Academy (FJA) welcomed Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, the founding director of Ono Academic College’s International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry, and Nilly Venezia the Center’s chief administrator.  Rabbi Shalom shared his story of growing up Jewish in Ethiopia and his journey to the State of Israel when he was around 8 years old. Many of the FJA students in attendance had the opportunity to hear about the often harrowing journey faced by Ethiopian Jews for the first time, and were treated to Rabbi Shalom’s wisdom, insight, and humor. They also heard from Nilly Venezia, who is the Center’s manager who gave a brief introduction into some of the complexity around the pursuit of multiculturalism in Israel. 

The Frankel Jewish Academy (FJA) is a college-preparatory independent Jewish day school in West Bloomfield, a city in the Detroit metropolitan area. Opened in 2000, it became the first multi-denominational Jewish high school in Michigan. It provides both secular and Judaic studies instruction for ninth through 12th grade students coming from various denominations within Judaism, including Reform, Conservative, and Orthodox.

For the full article and more pictures of Rabbi Sharon’s and Ms. Venezia’s visit, click here: https://www.facebook.com/Frankelja/posts/pfbid0xJiezFAnZVsvNoTheDq9W8ozijdsCiZh1h4qefRCLsJnD9x9KRnyV8ntRaCYQXQPl