While Operation Moses marks the first Ethiopian Aliyah (immigration) to Israel in modern history, the Ethiopian Jewish community’s connection to Israel actually spans three millennia.

Ethiopian Jews, also known as Beta Israel (House of Israel), are believed to have emigrated from ancient Israel to Ethiopia between the 1st and 6th centuries. Although many members of the Beta Israel were forcibly converted to Christianity in the 19th and 20th centuries, Ethiopian Jewry continued to secretly observe many Jewish traditions and holidays and remained steadfast in their Jewish faith. Like thousands of Jews around the world, the Ethiopian Jewish community prayed for centuries to return to the Land of Israel. 

In 1984, this dream was realized for more than 8,000 members of the Beta Israel community who began a highly challenging trek through Ethiopia and Sudan that eventually led them to Israel. Operation Moses, named for the Jewish biblical figure Moses who according to the bible led the people of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, began shortly after a devastating famine swept through Ethiopia, threatening the survival of the local Jewish community. Thousands of Ethiopian Jews embarked on an arduous journey by foot through the deserts of Ethiopia and Sudan, braving starvation, dehydration, and attacks by brutal militias, with the hope of reaching Sudanese refugee camps where they would meet Israeli officials and be airlifted to Israel. More than 4,000 Ethiopians died along the way from malnutrition and disease and in the Sudanese refugee camps where conditions were poor and rapidly deteriorating. 

Those who survived the difficult journey and made it to Sudan were airlifted to Israel in a complex and clandestine operation that was the result of close cooperation between the Israel Defense Forces, the Central Intelligence Agency, the United States Embassy in Khartoum, and Sudanese State officials. The Israeli mission brought more than 8,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel onboard 30 flights between November 1984 and January 1985. 

Contributions of Israel’s Ethiopian Community: 

Today, Israel’s Ethiopian community is an integral part of the Israeli fabric and the community’s rich culture and history can be found in every aspect of Israeli life. From politics, to medicine, to fashion and music, Ethiopian-Israelis are helping to shape and define what it means to be Israeli in the 21st century. These are just a few of their many contributions, exemplified by notable figures in the Ethiopian-Israeli community. 

Israel’s former Ambassador to Ethiopia, Beylanesh Zevadia has deep roots and close ties to Ethiopia. Zevadia was born and raised in Gondor, Ethiopia, where her father served as the chief religious leader of the local Jewish community. She immigrated to Israel at the age of 17 and went on to complete a BA in International Relations and an MA in Anthropology and African studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem, joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1993, and eventually becoming ambassador to the country of her birth in 2012. Zevadia, who is the first Ethiopian to serve as an Israeli ambassador has highlighted her background in helping her strengthen ties between Israel and Ethiopia. Upon her appointment to ambassador, Zevadia noted, “It is a great pride to be appointed an ambassador and especially to be the first ambassador from the Ethiopian community. I came to Israel as a teenager and now I am going back to Ethiopia as an ambassador. It is an honor for me and my family.” 

Avraham Yitzhak, a member of Israel’s Ethiopian community, made history in 2016 when he became the Israel Defense Force’s first colonel of Ethiopian descent. Yitzhak, who currently serves as the Chief Medical Officer of the IDF’s Southern Command, began studying medicine in Adis Ababa, Ethiopia, at the age of 16. After immigrating to Israel in 1991, he completed a degree in medicine at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev in Beer Sheba, finishing at the top of his graduating class. Yitzhak, who has had a prolific career in trauma medicine, has been praised for his role as a senior surgeon in the IDF’s humanitarian mission to Haiti, following the devastating earthquake there in 2010. 

Yityish Aynaw, commonly known in Israel as “Titi” became the first Ethiopian to be crowned Miss Israel in 2013. Aynaw was born in Gondor, Ethiopia, in 1991, and moved to Israel with her grandparents at the age of 12. She has highlighted her connection to Israel, which was cultivated during her childhood in Ethiopia noting, “from as far back as I can remember, I was always told that I am Jewish and that I must live in Jerusalem.” After representing Israel in the Miss Universe competition in 2013, Aynaw began a successful career in modeling. Today, Aynaw is a strong advocate for Ethiopian-Israelis and continues to give back to her community, through the “Titi Project”, an after-school program that she established for youth at risk in Netanya. 

Avraham Neguise is a member of Israel’s 20th Knesset, representing the Likud party. In his political role, MK Neguise focuses on social issues such as the welfare of immigrants, support for Israel’s elderly population, and programs to help Israeli youth at risk. He is also active in diaspora affairs, working to strengthen Israel’s relationship with Jewish communities around the globe. MK Neguise, who is an active member of Israel’s Ethiopian community, immigrated to Israel from Gondor, Ethiopia, at the age of 27. He has highlighted his inspirational journey from Ethiopia to Israel and his desire to help other immigrants acclimate into Israeli society noting, “ I grew up in a village in Africa as a shepherd, and moved to Israel, got a higher education with the support of the Israeli government, and reached the Knesset, as a lawmaker. That’s Israel. We help the weak. “

Mehereta Baruch-Ron has served as the Deputy Mayor of Tel-Aviv since 2013. She is the first person of Ethiopian descent to be elected to the Tel Aviv City Council and to serve as the city’s Deputy Mayor. Born in Ethiopia, Baruch-Ron immigrated to Israel at the age of 10 during Operation Moses. After completing a bachelor’s degree in psychology and human services and a master’s degree in sociology, Baruch-Ron went on to pursue a career in theatre before joining politics. In her role as Deputy Mayor, Baruch-Ron is responsible for the city’s social and welfare services and holds the cultural portfolio of the Tel-Aviv Jaffa Municipality. In 2016, Baruch-Ron was chosen by the US State Department to participate in the prestigious International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP), a premier professional exchange program.

On the 33rd anniversary of Operation Moses, Israel is proud to celebrate the important accomplishments of its Ethiopian community and their meaningful contributions to Israeli society.