Coming Home
Tenth Anniversary of Operation Solomon
Just one decade ago, the entire world witnessed in amazement the airlift of over 14,000 members of the Ethiopian Jewish community to Israel. This dramatic rescue operation - which lasted 33 hours in all --- transported thousands of men, women and children in a lightening-quick, yet carefully planned and incredibly efficient operation. For over thirty years, the Jewish Agency has been at the forefront of efforts to bring Ethiopian Jews to Israel and absorb them in their ancestral homeland.
The yearning for Jerusalem among the Jews of Ethiopia is as old as the history of this people, so ancient that their origins are shrouded in myth. From time immemorial, each generation of Ethiopian parents would tell their children that some day, some how, people would come and lead them back to their ancient homeland, to Eretz Yisrael.
But it was only in 1977, at the initiative of the late Prime Minister Menachem Begin that the beginnings of this prophecy started to come true. Over the next several years, Ethiopian Jews began arriving in Israel. Time and again, the hopes and plans of many were thwarted by political problems, military obstacles, family separations, illness and even death.
Thousands of men, women, and children made the arduous months-long trek from their villages in northern Ethiopia to camps in neighboring Sudan, from where they hoped to reach Israel by various routes. In Sudan, they received money, medical and other assistance, provided by Jewish Agency emissaries who also helped them leave Sudan and come to Israel.
Between mid-November and early January 1985, the Jewish Agency airlifted 6,364 individuals - primarily elderly, infirm, and children -- to Israel in the extraordinary Operation Moses. In all, some 16,000 Ethiopian Jews arrived in Israel via Sudan.
However, numerous families remained divided. Many of those who were airlifted as children were separated from their parents, left behind in Ethiopia. When Israel and Ethiopia resumed diplomatic relations in early 1990 - during a civil war in that country - the emigration of the Jews was authorized; thousands of Jews flocked to the compound around the Israeli Embassy in Addis Ababa, awaiting their turn to come to Israel.
In early 1991, the security situation in Ethiopia deteriorated. Addis Ababa, with over 14,000 Jews trapped in it, was under siege! The government of Israel decided to initiate Operation Solomon -- a rapid action that transported over 14,310 men, women, and children were from the besieged city to freedom.
From May 24 to May 25, Israeli Air Force and El Al aircraft took off and landed continuously at the Addis airport. Thirty-three hours after the first plane left Israel, the last plane arrived back in the country. Eight babies were born throughout the operation, and a world record was set when 1,087 people -- including one newborn baby -- squeezed into an El Al jumbo aircraft!
Upon arrival, the new immigrants were housed in absorption sites throughout the country. The Jewish Agency doubled the number of absorption facilities to accommodate the newcomers, redoubling its efforts and hiring over 1,000 new employees virtually overnight in each location. After their first year in Israel, the olim were transferred to Ministry of Absorption caravan sites. The Jewish Agency instituted and continues to operate a wide variety of programs to help facilitate the economic, cultural, and social integration of Ethiopians of all ages.
Today, the Ethiopian Jewish community has established strong roots in Israel, constituting a fascinating strand in the tapestry of Israeli life. The "alumni" of Operation Moses and Operation Solomon work in all fields -- such as high tech, education, medicine, and social work -- contributing their skills and talents to the country, and often in helping to absorb their compatriots, more recent newcomers from Ethiopia.
Highlights
- The Ethiopian Jewish community numbers approximately 76,000 individuals.
- During the 1980s 16,975 olim came to Israel from Ethiopia, 12,606 of them between 1983-1985. During the 1990s 39,636 olim came from Ethiopia, 27,783 of them between 1990-1992 and 5,400 between 1998-1999.
- In May 1991, 14,200 Ethiopian Jews were airlifted out of Ethiopia in a 36-hour rescue mission called Operation Solomon.
- In the past decade over 42,000 olim from Ethiopia have taken part in both short-term and long-term programs sponsored by the Jewish Agency.
- 6,200 individuals presently reside in the 18 absorption centers and hotels administered by the Jewish Agency. Most of them came to Israel between 1999-2001.
- The Ethiopian community is mostly concentrated in 15 localities, among them: Ashdod, Ashkelon, Hadera, Netanya, Rehovot, Kiryat Malachi, Lod, Ramle, Kiryat Gat etc.
The Jewish Agency
- is responsible for aliyah preparation from Ethiopia, all flight arrangements, and operation of all primary absorption functions.
- operates innovative projects in education, employment, advancement of women, technological and social skills, prevention of domestic violence and alcohol abuse.
- assists integration into the community: supervising the immigrant families' transition from temporary housing to permanent housing and their integration into the local communities.
- supports projects dealing with Ethiopian olim and organizations on behalf of Ethiopian olim - via the allocation fund and the olim associations.
Credits: Photos by Joe Malcolm and Douglas Guthrie.
To download this file as a word document, click here.
For more information:
Jewish Agency Programs for Ethiopian Immigrants
Operation Abie
JAFI Magnet Gallery
