The IDC Herzliya’s Israel at Heart Scholarship Program is a leadership program for IDC students from the Ethiopian community, which provides a unique opportunity for Ethiopian candidates with high leadership potential to earn an undergraduate degree at IDC Herzliya. Each of the three scholars interviewed was a recipient of the Israel at Heart Scholarship and spent several months interning with the US Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C. through the program. During their time in the United States, they visited many landmarks in the city – including the Embassy of Israel, where we had the opportunity to sit down with them and talk about their experiences!

To start off, tell us your name, age, where you are from, where you served in the IDF, and what you are studying at the Interdisciplinary Center Herzliya.

Aviva Mengistu, I’m 24 years old. I study politics and I just finished my first year in IDC Herzaliya. I live in Netanya near Herzaliya. I did national service for two years working in the youth movement, Bnei Akivah, teaching children and teens.

Moshe Desta, I am 27 years old. I live in Petach Tikvah, Israel. I just finished my first year as a business student in IDC Herzilya. In the army, I was in the Givati Infantry for three years as a commander. My parents came from Ethiopia in 1991 and I am the ninth of youngest of ten children. I have six sisters and three brothers.

Ager Almora: I am 29 years old and I emigrated from Ethiopia when I was ten years old. I served in the Shaldag unit and was a commander of seven or eight men. After the army, I worked with teenagers to prepare them for the army service, and now I am studying law and government.

Can you tell us a little bit about it was like for you or your parents to make Aliyah from Ethiopia?

Moshe – In Ethiopia, Jewish communities were located outside of big cities. My family was wealthy and wanted to immigrate to Israel like many other Ethiopian Jews. My grandparents and uncle tried to immigrate by foot through Sudan, but lost their lives trying in the late 1970s. My family tried to leave again in 1984 after Operation Moses and amid rumors that making Aliyah to Israel was safe.  My parents sold all our property to go to Addis Ababa right before my village burned down.  Once in Addis Ababa, they missed their flight and waited there for 7 years. Two weeks before Operation Solomon, my family moved to Israel.

Do you think it was important for the Beit HaIsrael to make Aliya?

Aviva – I think that there is no question. My parents would often say that there would be no thought to stay in Ethiopia if you have the opportunity to go to Israel. I have a place in my heart for Ethiopia as the place that my parents and grandparents lived, but my whole family knew that one day they would go to Israel to live and raise a family, because it is their homeland.

Ager – Immigrating to Israel was important enough to leave our entire lives behind.  We were not poor and were far better off than many Christians. I have grown up hearing stories of my family coming to Jerusalem. Some say it was like the last Exodus and compared it to the stories of the Israelites. My ancestors walked without navigation or a guarantee of arrival with hopes that they could reach Jerusalem.  

Moshe, how important is it for you to know that you are the first of your family to be born in Israel?

Moshe – First, look at my name. My parents named me “Moshe” after Moses, because the stories of emigrating from Ethiopia is similar to the stories of Jews leaving Egypt to get to the Holy Land.  Besides my name, I have done many things that no one else in my family has ever done before.  I don’t know if it’s always a conscious decision but, I feel like I have to be successful for my family and for what they been through. It is also up to me to preserve Ethiopian culture in Israel with language, food, and tradition. It is a lot of responsibility on my shoulders.

What are some of the struggles of the Ethiopian community in Israel?

Aviva – I can speak about education. I think that there is certain ignorance about our community, and a tendency for people to take the Ethiopian community for granted.  I think that much of this problem can be fixed if you give a good education to all the children in Israel. We must bring the story of the Aliyah from Ethiopia, my story, to every school, and study it like we study the other types of Aliyah. The more people know about our community, the closer we can all become.

How would you describe your connection to Israel as young adults?

Aviva – From a young age, I grew up in a Zionist movement, Bnei Akiva, so I hold these values, and believe in the right of the State of Israel to exist in all ways that it can exist.  Zionism, a love for Israel, for serving Israel, for everything about Israel is something that is from the home. That is one of the reasons that when there are difficulties, then there is some value that can gained from what I struggle with that gives me strength in the end.

How important do you think it is for Ethiopian Israelis to maintain their connection to Ethiopia and to pass that connection on to the next generation?

Aviva – Many teenagers go to visit Ethiopia to see where their parents and families are from – because a lot of them were born in Israel. They want to see where their parents lived. They grew up hearing all their parents’ stories, but they want to see it for themselves. I mean I can imagine many things. I can look at pictures of where my parents are from and listen to my mom remember things about these places, but I want to be able to feel it for myself. I believe that I will go to Ethiopia to visit someday to see it all. I have a lot of respect to Ethiopia. I really have a deep connection, and I think that is important.

Can you tell us a little bit about the internship, and what it is like living here and being part of the Holocaust Museum in DC?

Ager – When I first found out I would be coming here, I was so excited because it's America! Everything is so big. Now that I am actually here, I am really glad to know that Israel isn’t that different from the United States. Inside the Museum is a very special place, even though it tells an unfortunate and emotional story. It's nice to see the number of people who come to the museum and really pay attention.

Moshe – It’s not my first time in the United States, but I really like it here. To be part of the Museum and the visitor service is helping me understand how staff in the United States work, and their relations within companies and organizations. Inside the museum, we had the chance to meet many Holocaust survivors, so it’s a great experience. I’m really grateful for this opportunity. Also, it’s America! I love it.