Ethiopian Immigrants to Israel Struggle with Acceptance

Written by Hayley Nagelberg (Hagalil)

Many of you may be familiar with “Operation Moses” or “Operation Solomon," but what do you know about “Operation Dove”?

The Israeli “Law of Return” states that anyone who is a quarter Jewish - meaning that he or she has at least one Jewish grandparent - can make aliyah.  So what happens when people claim they WERE Jewish, or who USED to be Jewish but converted in order to avoid persecution?

Operation Dove’s Wings, completed this past August, brought over 7,800 Falash Mura to Israel.  These people, like the Beta Israel, practiced Judaism years ago; however unlike the Beta Israel, they accepted conversion to Christianity. 

Israeli political heads debated for years whether to allow this group of Ethiopians to make aliyah.  The eventual conclusion was that if they could trace their Jewish Identities through their mothers’ side, they could come to Israel.  This decision was based on the fact that Judaism teaches that Jewish lineage is derived from the mother’s side.  In addition, there is a concept, “zera yisrael”, which holds that if you have a relationship to the Jewish faith, you are welcome in Israel.  If they qualify for entry, when these Ethiopians reach Israel, they are required to undergo a conversion process to Orthodox Judaism.

While this ruling seems to be clear and fair as to who is welcome, it has been fraught with many problems.  As the process of review and admission has taken many years, new children have been born to these Ethiopians waiting to make aliyah, and these children may not fit the criteria that have been established for entry to the Jewish state.  Siblings have been split up because they have different fathers; and others have been reunited, but only after years of protest.

Setting aside the controversies that have taken place before the Operation began, there is even more controversy as it comes to an end.  First, some members of the Beta Israel community feel it is not right that these Ethiopians were allowed to immigrate.  They do not think of them as Jews in the same respect as they consider themselves.  They feel that the Israeli government was too lenient, and now will find that there are many more Ethiopians claiming to be Jews.  The new protocol stipulates that Ethiopians wishing to immigrate must apply individually, have some form of family in Israel apply for them, AND be able to trace back their matrilineal lineage.  Some people feel that even with these steps in place, Ethiopians will claim to be people they are not.

For the Falash Mura who worked so hard to get to Israel, they too are faced by many of the problems typical of new immigrants.  They feel they are not accepted; they have had to adjust so many of their customs and ways of life that they don’t feel comfortable in Israel. 

Another group still struggling is the Falash Mura who were denied entrance to Israel.  They agreed to learn the Jewish ways [again] in their country, and held out hope for years that they would be allowed to make aliyah.  Now they are left with new Jewish faith in a country that doesn't support their beliefs.  Some of them still have family by their side, but for others, their family is in Israel.

Since 2010, hundreds of Ethiopians have come over to Israel each month as part of Operation Dove.  Although their road to the Promised Land has not been easy, they have come freely.  This past August 28^th the last 450 olim came to Israel, thus ending the Operation.  Now there are over 7500 new Israelis, making their way as Jews in the Jewish land. And yet, the challenges associated with Operation Dove remain a persistent challenge of our times.

                 Hayley Nagelberg is a junior at the Golda Och Academy in West Orange New Jersey. She works with both Israel Clubs at her school (Israel club and Israel advocacy club). She is also her USY chapter's IA and the Hagalil Hechalutzim chairperson for the year.