About the project
Approximately 20,000 Ethiopians fled Ethiopia for Israel between 1977 and 1985. Two waves arrived via dramatic air lifts: 8,000 in Operation Moses in 1984-85, and another 14,000 in Operation Solomon in 1991.The Jerusalem Foundation created a pool of funds in 1985 to support projects to help ease the difficult absorption of these immigrants into Israeli society. Projects have ranged from medical care to language classes, employment training and preparation for army service. The Jerusalem Foundation has supported a program to help Ethiopian immigrants to continue to make and to sell traditional craftwork. It also has supported the annual Hazkarah (Remembrance) Day event, which was held for the first time in 1986 concurrently with the national holiday of Jerusalem Day to commemorate the 4,000 Ethiopians who died attempting to leave Ethiopia or on route to Israel.
