Stand for Israel

Last week in Mevaseret Zion, a Jerusalem suburb located along the Judean hills that connect with Jerusalem, I joined a mock Passover Seder – a reenactment of the traditional Jewish Passover meal. This mock Seder was held for recent Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to Israel, many of whom had never held their own Seder.

The pre-Passover Seder was celebrated both to familiarize these Ethiopian Jewish immigrants with this important Jewish observance, and to mark the wondrous story of Ethiopian Jewry returning to their homeland after experiencing exile and isolation for more than two thousand years. Held at a Fellowship-funded Ethiopian Community Center, the event was attended by The Fellowship’s Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein and Jewish Agency head Natan Sharansky. The Community Center serves the Mevaseret Zion Ethiopian community, many of whom live in the surrounding absorption center housing.

Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein of The Fellowship and Natan Sharansky of the Jewish Agency for Israel (partially hidden) introduce matzah to an Ethiopian child

When I arrived at the event I met a young man named Dabbas. We spoke about his life here in Israel and his desire to see his entire family reunited in the Holy Land. Though Dabbas has been in Israel for six years, his parents finally made the journey to Israel three months ago. This will be the first Passover he will celebrate with his parents.

The plight of Dabbas and his family is similar to that of many Ethiopians who waited years in their home country for the opportunity to come to Israel. Because of strict limitations on aliyah (immigration to Israel) imposed by the Ethiopian government, families are often split in the immigration process, with some members coming to the Holy Land while the rest of the family is forced to remain behind.

Seeing the happy smiles and warm tears running down faces at the mock Seder, I realized how privileged I was to be seeing the ingathering of Jewish exiles unfold before my eyes. I was reminded of the struggles our ancestors endured, and eventually prevailed over, to return to Israel, their biblical homeland. I was also reminded of the sacrifices so many made and continue to make to reach the Holy Land.

As we celebrate the Jewish People’s redemption from the Egyptian exile, we must realize that here in Israel and around the world we still need redemption. At Passover – when we recall how the Jews, with God’s help, escaped the darkness of slavery and emerged a great nation – we are assured that we too will prevail against all odds to create a peaceful and secure home in Israel.