Ethiopian Jews, who are new immigrants to Israel, hosted a New Years party at the Absorption Center.
I came to Israel in search of a world perspective. Last night, that perspective emanated from a charismatic group of Ethiopian Jews.
In the absorption center in Upper Nazareth, where new immigrants to Israel come to establish a springboard for their new lives, everyone congregated on the center’s basketball court to bring in the Ethiopian New Year. There was dancing, drinking, eating, joke telling, poetry reading, all which spurred the intermingling of Jews from Ethiopia, Ukraine, Lithuania, Israel and our group of bright-eyed Americans.
Last night embodied the optimism and hope that drives families from across the world to come to Israel. And we, the Americans, are here now in Upper Nazareth, to help cultivate that hope and help them succeed. Sunday, we start our Hebrew classes (from 8:45AM to 12:45PM), and in the afternoon, we will all disperse in the town and the absorption center to offer our skills to anyone in need. Mostly, we will be teaching English to the kids in the center and also venture into the town to mentor troubled youths. There are a multitude of other opportunities, but I will not list them in respect to your time.
We have already been here a week, but we have, for the most part, been tourists — sightseeing Jerusalem and the Dead Sea, hiking, and staying in a Bedouin tent. On Sunday, the whole reason for our being here will commence. A bit of nerves pervade our group, but most people are excited to start — as I like to facetiously say — saving the world.
-Brian
