
Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, founder and director of Ono Academic College’s International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry lectured on the topic of “The Heritage of Bete Israel (Ethiopian Jewry) and the Bete Israel synagogue Beit Israel in Ashkelon. The event, co-sponsored by the Council of Kohanim of Ethiopian Jews in Israel, featured learning and reflection dedicated to the heritage of Ethiopian Jewry and the memory of Azariah Yehaim. Alongside prayer for healing, unity, and understanding within Israeli society, the evening served as a meaningful bridge between academic research, rabbinic leadership, and community life, reaffirming the central place of Ethiopian Jewry within the broader story of the Jewish people.