JERUSALEM – In the summer of 2015 a tempest arose that had been brewing for years: Hundreds of young Ethiopians took to city squares after an Ethiopian soldier was beaten by police. That incident caused many young Ethiopians to snap, protesting that and what they feel are general racist attitudes toward their community.
In interviews with KNI, several Ethiopian believers living in Israel told us that they face much of the same discrimination and stereotypical sentiments here, however, they said they are better able to cope with it due to their faith, support from congregations and the character they develop as believers.
The Challenge of Assimilation
Ethiopian immigrants to Israel come from a third world country without Hebrew and for many, no formal education. This makes their assimilation much harder especially while struggling against undercurrents of racism – vastly different from the experience of American, European and Russian immigrants
The Ethiopian community in Israel, which numbers about 135,000, has also suffered from demoralizing circumstances within their own ranks: Suddenly parents, particularly the men, drop in status, because they can’t find work and provide for their families or speaking the language in which their children study at school.
“We lost many young people because of identity, culture, language. Parents still speak the Ethiopian language but their children are Israeli,” said Pastor and Messianic leader Birle Belay. “The parents can’t control them, they can’t communicate with them.”
This “erodes self esteem and confuses the positions in the family,” said Jennifer Kaplan, Ph.D., who has worked with the Ethiopian community in Israel for 20 years and recently completed her doctorate in intercultural studies.
Kaplan is the director of Project Sheba, an organization which focuses on educating and tutoring Ethiopian students to help them better integrate and succeed in Israeli society.
“We have got a whole generation that has been born and brought up here,” she said. “The older generation is still finding it hard – they are the ones still struggling to integrate and are getting advice from their children.”
Eshkol Lagasa Mavri said that men particularly are affected by a loss of respect and difficulty providing for the family, contributing to the “dismantling of the family unit.”
“We hear about separation, divorce, a father that leaves his family, and even murder,” she said. “This effects the whole family unit, for example: single mothers, children who grow up without a father or father figure; and all the effects from these issues.”
Birile cites figures that 40 percent of prisoners in Israel are Ethiopian. He is adamant: only Yeshua can save this community.
“We have a lost generation,” he bemoaned. “They turn to drugs and alcohol. This is a big problem for Ethiopian society.”
Lingering Discrimination for a New Generation
Ethiopians, raised in Israel, fluent in Hebrew, educated and very “Israeli” in their behavior, still face lingering discrimination and prejudice.
“Like all Ethiopians, more or less, I have encountered different situations of racism or, more accurately, ignorance of our culture and who we are,” said Mavri, who is a believer.
Now 22, having immigrated to Israel from Ethiopia at the age of 7 with her family, Mavri said racism is divided into two categories: the direct, scathing, intentional and degrading kind.
“And then there is racism concealed as enlightenment: An attitude that, ‘They emigrated from Africa so they need help, they are uneducated and pitied,’” she said. “While it is true we may need help, someone who came to a foreign country with no knowledge of its culture, society, language and customs, is not necessarily stupid or less able.”
Ruth, now in her 20s, first encountered prejudice when she started school and still does to some extent, but as a believer handles it differently.
“It is very important not to let this be internalized and change me,” she told us. “Forgiveness is one of our major tenets as believers. This helps us avoid a victim mentality.”
When she was a child at school, she recalls, the other children essentially excommunicated her.
“The schools also didn’t help. They assumed we were all poor so they gave us food which differentiated us from the other kids and made us look needy and inferior,” she said.
“Today there is less of that, but I still see people go through the things I went through.”
Congregations at a Crossroads
Not more than 900 Ethiopian Jews in Israel are believers, according to Kaplan’s research. As of 2014, some 700 attended 13 Ethiopian congregations while 120 attended Hebrew-speaking congregations. Messianic Ethiopians in Israel make up about .01 percent of the population. However, they comprise 4.7 percent of Messianics in general.
Many Amharic-speaking congregations are at a crossroads. While the parents and grandparents are more comfortable praying and worshipping in Amharic, their children prefer a Hebrew-speaking congregation that is more relatable to them as Israelis.
“The Amharic leaders are concerned and are doing everything they can to close the gap,” Kaplan said. “Unless there is an adaption of language then there’s going to be significant changes and decrease in numbers in Amharic congregations in the future.”
Belay is well aware of this. His Torch of Gideon congregation serves the Amharic-speaking community of believers in Netanya, Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ashdod and Ramle.
“Incomes are low. For instance, the network of congregations can only pay one pastor for five churches,” he said. ‘We want to raise up our young people, but we need more money and workers.”
Dialogue is also essential.
“Basically, express interest, not coming from a place of judgment and pride, but from a place of love, wanting to understand, listen and help believing brothers and the community in general,” Marvi said. “This will lead to creating a network and a fertile ground for discussions, counseling, support and partnership in the work of the Messiah between local Ethiopian congregations to the rest of the body, something which is still lacking.”
With all the challenges ahead for the Messianic Ethiopians, good news continues to emanate from the believing community.
According to Kaplan’s research, while unemployment in Israel is 7 percent, the unemployment rate of Ethiopian Jews is a staggering 20.6. On the other hand, Kaplan’s research also showed that among Amharic-speaking congregations, the unemployment rate is 7 percent – on par with the national average.
“Within the same community facing the most challenges, the Ethiopian believers are showing the most success,” Kaplan told KNI. “They are models for the Ethiopian Jewish community who are struggling. Their success says, ‘We did it, and so can you, and this is how we did it.’”
“Let envoys come from Egypt, Let Ethiopia stretch out its hands to God.
Sing to God, kingdoms of the earth! Sing praises to the LORD.”
Psalm 68:31-32
“From beyond the rivers of Ethiopia
My worshipers, My dispersed ones,
Will bring My offerings.”
Zephaniah 3:10