AAEJ Archives Online

The American Association for Ethiopian Jews (the AAEJ) was founded in 1969 by Dr. Graneum Berger (z"l), a Jewish social worker in the United States. Graneum first met a group of Ethiopian Jewish students in Israel in 1955 and then visited Ethiopia in 1965. He was shocked to see Jews – the Beta Israel - being discriminated against, forbidden to own land and struggling to survive in the poorest country on the globe, all the while adhering to Jewish law and traditions and dreaming of one day going to Jerusalem. Graneum lobbied the Israel government and the world Jewish community to assist the Beta Israel but “found myself talking to deaf ears.” He started the AAEJ to educate the Jewish world about the Beta Israel and achieve their recognition by the Chief Rabbis of Israel, and to bring pressure on Jewish leaders to help the community.

From 1969 to 1993, the AAEJ worked tirelessly to bring support to Beta Israel in Ethiopia, to help them make their way to Sudan, to bring them out of Sudan in small groups when Israel said it couldn’t be done, to help bring them out through Kenya, and to use political pressure and advocacy to force the U.S., Israeli and Ethiopian governments to adhere to international human rights norms of family reunification, the right to emigrate, and the right of freedom of religion. Howard Lenhoff (z"l) followed Graneum Berger as President of AAEJ in 1979 and expanded the education and awareness programs, bringing Ethiopian Jewish activists to speak all over the U.S. and Canada; Baruch Tegegne (z"l) and Rachamim Elazar literally made thousands of speeches during two decades of activism.

Nate Shapiro took over as AAEJ President in 1982. Nate intensified the political advocacy efforts and increased direct relief inside Ethiopia. AAEJ organized the U.S. Congressional Caucus for Ethiopian Jews which became a powerful force pressuring all three governments, and won the support of U.S. President George H. Bush (z"l) who directly intervened with Sudan to help bring about Operation Moses and Operation Joshua.

From 1989 to 1991, the AAEJ helped bring the Beta Israel from over 300 villages in Gondar (and a few in Tigray) down to Addis Ababa, where AAEJ supported them with food, housing and medical care until Operation Solomon was implemented in May 1991. Many AAEJ members helped with the political negotiations leading up to Operation Solomon, working in cooperation with Israeli officials and U.S. government representatives.

Throughout its 25 year history, the AAEJ took its lead from the Beta Israel themselves, working closely with heroes and activists such as Yona Bogale (z"l), Rachamim Elazar, Rachamim Yitzak, Babu Yakov, Baruch Tegegne (z"l), Ferede Aklum (z"l), Tsefaye Aderago, Addisu Messele, Elias Baruch, Avraham Yirday, Zimnah Berhane (z"l), Esias Chane, Gedaliah Uriah, Askanew Sendeka, Babu Yakov, all of the Kessim - especially Kes Menasha Zimru (z"l), Kes Yimanu Tamiat (z'l) and Kes Barkew, Haim Beynesigne, David Seyum, Hirut Tekle, Semu Mengiste, Girmay Bayuh, Shamay Belay, Ephraim Mengistu, Hailu Melesse, and many, many others. Special mention must be made of Berhanu Yiradu, a dedicated Ethiopian Righteous Gentile who was AAEJ Head Ethiopian Staff Person for over a decade and who contributed beyond measure.

The American activists of the AAEJ were exceptional, devoting years of their lives to help their Beta Israel brothers and sisters realize the “Dream of Two Thousand Years.”

Who was the AAEJ? Graneum and Emma Berger (z”l), Professor Howard Lenhoff (z”l), Nathan Shapiro, Will and Nancy Recant, LaDena Schnapper (z"l), Susan Pollack, Henry Rosenberg (z"l), Mildred Rosenberg (z”l), Edith Everett, Henry Everett (z”l), Peter Jackson (z"l), Lisa Rosenblatt, Murray Greenfield, Arlene Kushner, Gil Kulick, Robin Schwartz-Krieger, Marvin Zimmerman, Jane Fellman, Jack and Diane Zeller, Glenn Stein, Joyce Miller Rudin, Dov Hoch, Joanie Chase, Trish Weisman, Anita Moss, Rabbi Irving Block (z”l), and hundreds of volunteers over the years.