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In the most recent session of the UJA sponsored program to reduce intra-communal conflicts among Bete Israel, participants began with a discussion of Jerusalem Day, which also commemorates the 4,000 Bete Israel members who died during Aliyah.
One participant shared his participation in memorial events at Armon Hanetziv, the Kotel, and Petach Tikva. Sam highlighted a Café Buna event hosted by the International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry, exploring why Beta Israel refers to all of Israel as “Yerusalem” and the challenge of mourning and celebrating on the same day. A debate arose over MK Dr. Moshe Salomon’s 2023 proposal to hold the memorial the day before Jerusalem Day, opposed by Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, who argued for Jerusalem Day to reflect Beta Israel’s identity, symbolizing joy and sacrifice.
The group reviewed an assignment format for second-year interventions, covering problem definition, solutions, implementation, and documentation.
One participant has already begun his intervention designed to reduce tensions between Bete Israel Rabbis and Keisim. He described how he integrated a Keis’s (traditional Ethiopian-Jewish spiritual leader) Bete Israel traditions into a wedding ceremony at which he was officiating, balancing rabbinic and traditional elements despite hesitations.
Another participant reviewed her intervention plans which addressed community resource disputes, proposing a neutral-led dialogue to resolve tensions between young parents wanting playgrounds and older residents seeking tranquility, fostering mutual respect.
