The International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry

Rationale & Purpose

In 2019, Ono Academic College, an institute of higher education at the forefront of the promotion of multiculturalism, opened the world’s first International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry.

The center was founded by Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, a popular Ethiopian-Israeli community leader, renowned scholar, and well-published author. Housed at the College’s Kiryat Ono campus, the center documents, researches, and explores the heritage and culture of Ethiopian Jewry, mapping the organic development of a unique branch of Judaism that is interwoven into the fabric of Ethiopian culture and has become an integral part of Israeli culture.

The Ethiopian Jewish community represents a unique and under-explored voice in the spectrum of Jewish identities. As the world’s only “living repository” of pre-Talmudic Jewish life, with traditions dating back to the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, the “Beta Israel” (the term Ethiopian Jews have traditionally used to refer to themselves) also lay claim to one of the most fascinating, tumultuous, and often distressing chapters in modern Jewish history. While the mass immigration of Ethiopian Jews to Israel was nothing short of miraculous, the experiences that followed, including the erasure of their culture and way of life as they embraced modern Jewishness, stand as a case study of pain and perseverance, racism and resilience, and sheds light on the shortcomings of an otherwise triumphant period of the ingathering of global Jewish communities in Israel.

Forced conversions and doubt expressed about their Judaism led an entire generation of Ethiopian Jews to adopt foreign traditions and muddle their identities for the sake of being accepted as Israeli. As such, Ethiopian-Israelis continue to grapple with understanding who they are, and Israeli society is poorer for discounting the potentially significant contributions of Rabbinic Jewish culture.

Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom endeavors to use new disciplinary research tools specifically relevant to Ethiopian Jewry to understand their tradition as they understand it themselves and discern what it can contribute to Israel. This research connects Ethiopian-Israelis, including many students at Ono Academic College, with who they once were in order to determine how their cultural identities will develop moving forward, as well as create a multicultural exchange where everyone can explore an entirely new approach to Jewishness.

Otherwise stated, the center seeks to restore what was lost in translation to Israeliness to a new, more inclusive Israeliness.

Activities

Activities include classes with traditional Ethiopian religious leaders (Kessim), conferences, study tours to Ethiopia, cooperation with other Ethiopian Jewry organizations, an academic journal on Ethiopian Jewry, and more.

Through the center’s leadership, the 7 Kessim have been studying in Academic programs at Ono and will lead sessions in Ono’s Beit Midrash, reflecting the traditional Jewish value of “to learn and to teach.”  In addition to endowing the world with their unique Ethiopian approach to Torah, the Kessim will also simultaneously develop the leadership tools that will enable them to become effective spiritual leaders and earn academic accreditation.

The center has produced study curricula on the topic of Ethiopian Jewry (History, Zionism, Religion and Culture) for Jewish schools in North America in partnership with “Derech Kfar” and Brandeis University in Waltham, MA. In time, the center’s research will be integrated into curricula and enrichment programs for the Israeli educational system and the wider public.

The center has also organized social and community programs that encourage students from the Ethiopian community to explore their origins and deepen their identity, as well as facilitate dialogue and joint research with other institutions that are involved in the study of other communities. In this vein, the center has researched Ethiopian Jewry heritage while addressing the conflicts that arise from second-generation Ethiopians now living in Israel.

With its many initiatives working in tandem to expand academic and community ties with the Ethiopian community, the center serves as a multicultural and multidisciplinary hub for the promotion of Ethiopian heritage in schools, museums, community centers, and other learning environments throughout Israel and around the globe.

About the Donor

The Gewurz Family of Montreal, Canada, is proud to support Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom in the establishment of The International Center for Ethiopian Jewish Heritage Study and Research at Ono Academic College.

News About the Center

• 19/08/2024 Ono Beit Midrash Investigates Charismatic But Controversial Beta Israel Spiritual Leader >>>
• 09/07/2024 Ono Beit Midrash Explores Traditional Ethiopian Jewish Shechita >>>
• 08/07/2024 Ono Students Begin Work on Providing Solutions to Ethiopian Israeli Community Issues >>>
• 27/06/2024 Ono Project to Investigate Ethiopian Israeli Community Issues Hones Analytical Tools to Propose Solutions to Communal Conflicts >>>
• 25/06/2024 Director of Ethiopian Center Featured Speaker at Soldier’s Memorial Ceremony  >>>
• 20/06/2024 Ono Ethiopian Expert Says Beta Israel Experience Relevant as an Alternative to the “Rabbis Law” >>>
• 20/06/2024 Prof. Tova Hartman Leads Study Session of Ethiopian Beit Midrash >>>
• 08/06/2024 On Jerusalem Day, Ono Marks the Capital’s Reunification and Remembers the Beta Israel Who Perished on the Way to Israel >>>
• 06/06/2024 Ono Trauma Conference on Fallen of Ethiopian Aliyah and Iron Swords War >>>
• 30/05/2024 Ono Hosts Zoom Lecture on Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jewry) and Jerusalem Day >>>
• 20/05/2024 Director of Ono Ethiopian Center Completes London Lecture Tour >>>
• 16/05/2024 Ono Symposium about the War, in Memory of the Ethiopian Jews who Perished in Sudan on Their Way to Israel >>>
• 08/05/2024 Article About Ethiopian Jewish Chaotic Thinking and Israel’s Independence Day Published by Times of Israel  >>>
• 08/05/2024 Founder of Ono Ethiopian Center Speaks at Rabbinate Yom Hashoah Ceremony >>>
• 16/05/2024 Mourning Customs of Beta Israel and the Connections Between Ethiopian Jewry and the Holocaust Explored at Ono Beit Midrash  >>>
• 15/04/2024 Ono Beit Midrash Explores the Ethiopian Jewish Calendar  >>>
• 07/04/2024 Ono Project to Investigate Ethiopian Israeli Community Issues Assesses Communal Conflicts >>>
• 27/03/2024 One Hundred Ethiopian-Israeli Students Visit Ono and Learn About Academic and Career Opportunities >>>
• 27/03/2024 Ono Instructor, Graduate and Scholar Headline National Conference on Academic Activities for Ethiopian Jews >>>
• 26/03/2024 Ono Scholar Publishes Article on the Ethiopian Jewish Conception of Repentance >>>
• 25/03/2024 Ono Beit Midrash Takes Stock of Progress and Discusses Whether Keisim Are Serving the Beta Israel Community >>>
• 14/03/2024 Learning from His Father: What Can Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef Learn from Ethiopian Jewry? >>>
• 12/03/2024 Ono Project to Reduce Tensions in the Ethiopian Israeli Community Learns about Traditional Beta Israel Methods of Conflict Resolution >>>
• 04/03/2024 Adv. Yaakov Gonchell Teaches Ono Beit Midrash About Ancient Ethiopian Jewish Work Explaining the Laws of Shabbat >>>
• 20/02/2024 Introductory Meeting of the UJA Sponsored Program “The Returning Home to Israel Project According to the Tradition of Beta Israel” >>>
• 19/02/2024 Ono Beit Midrash Investigates the Halachic Aspects of Ethiopian Jewish Bread, “Injera”>>>
• 16/02/2024 Ono Ethiopian Scholar Speaks to DC Jewish Community >>>
• 14/02/2024 Director of Ono’s Ethiopian Center is Scholar in Residence in Baltimore Synagogue >>>
• 14/02/2024 Father and Daughter Studying at Ono >>>
• 07/02/2024 Director of Ono’s Ethiopian Center Lectures at the Business School  >>>
• 05/02/2024 Beta Israel Scholar, Shoshana Ben Dor, Learns About Traditional Ethiopian Jewish Prayers at Ono’s Beit Midrash >>>
• 22/01/2024 Prof. Ephraim Isaac of Princeton Learns the Geez Language Story of Joseph with Ono Beit Midrash >>>
• 16/01/2024 Ono Scholar Interviewed Regarding High Percentage of Ethiopian Soldiers Killed >>>
• 08/01/2024 Ono Beit Midrash Studies the Rise and Fall of Beta Israel in Ethiopia and the Codification of the Beta Israel Bible  >>>
• 18/12/2023 Ono Beit Midrash Studies the Origins Of Ethiopian Jewish Literature and Its Relationship to the Christian Tradition of the Surrounding Peoples >>>
• 11/12/2023 In Video Message, Ono Scholar Notes How Ethiopian Jewish Philosophy Can Help Deal with Tragedy >>>
• 04/12/2023 Ono Hosts Third Meeting of Beit Midrash for the Study of Ethiopian Jewish Religious Texts >>>
• 29/11/2023 Article about Jacob and Rachel’s Kiss and Ethiopian Jewish Morality Published by Times of Israel >>>
• 23/11/2023 The Connection Between Sigd and the Israeli Spirit  >>>
• 21/11/2023 Article about Baseless Hatred and the Ethiopian Jewish Experience Published by Times of Israel >>>
• 14/11/2023 Ono Holds Commemoration of Sigd Holiday, With Ancient Beta Israel Prayers and Traditional Ethiopian Jewish Text Study  >>>
• 14/11/2023 Ethiopian Keis (Traditional Spiritual Leader) Leads Gez Prayer Service at Ono Ceremony Marking Sigd Holiday >>>
• 13/11/2023 መልካም  የስግድ በዓል !  – Melkam Sigd Bahal – Traditional Greetings for the Sigd Holiday >>>
• 12/11/2023 On the Occasion of the Sigd Holiday, Director of Ono Ethiopian Center Shares Ethiopian Jewish Wisdom Relevant to Our Time >>>
• 7/11/2023 Ono Scholar Publishes Article about Concept of Ethiopian Jewish Equality >>>
• 31/10/2023 Ono Scholar’s Articles about War Chosen as Featured Post in Times of Israel >>>
• 27/10/2023 Ono Ethiopian Scholar Publishes Article on Glimmers of Hope in Simchat Torah War  >>>
• 23/10/2023 Ono Ethiopian Center Director Gives Dispatch from Southern Front >>>
• 22/10/2023 Ono Scholar’s Articles about the Current War and Ethiopian Jewry Chosen as Featured Posts in Times of Israel >>>
• 20/10/2023 Ono Ethiopian Scholar and Officer Brings Back Stories of War  >>>
• 24/09/2023 Ethiopian Israeli Entrepreneur Profiled in Short Film About Graduates of Ono’s School of Business  >>>
• 20/09/2023 Haifa’s Carmel Medical Center Hosts Ono Ethiopia Scholar >>>
• 15/09/2023 Ono Scholar Featured in Video about Ethiopian Jewish High Holiday Traditions  >>>
• 15/09/2023 Happy New Year from Ono’s International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry >>>
• 11/09/2023 Beit Midrash for the Study of Ethiopian Texts Convenes for the First Time at Ono >>>
• 11/09/2023 Ono Scholar of Ethiopian Jewry to Speak at Tribute for Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef  >>>
• 30/08/2023 Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom’s Article about How Ethiopian Jewish Wisdom about Equality and the Work of Oscar Wilde Can Inform the Conflict Between Jews and Arabs in Israel Published by Times of Israel >>>
• 07/08/2023 Ono Ethiopian Scholar Tells the “Women Who Critique the Rabbinate” Podcast about the Troubled Relationship Between Ethiopian Jews and the Rabbinate >>>
• 30/07/2023 Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom’s Article about Tish’a B’Av, Israel’s Judicial Reform, and his Childhood in Ethiopia Chosen as Times of Israel Featured Post >>>
• 23/05/2023 Ono Ethiopian Scholar Opines on the Date for the Memorial Day for Ethiopian Jews >>>
• 14/05/2023 Ono Scholar Addresses the Question: Why do Ethiopian Jews Go Down to Jerusalem, When Other Jews Around the World Go Up?  >>>
• 23/04/2023 OWhen President Biden’s Rabbi Met an Ethiopian-Israeli Orthodox Rabbi >>>
• 20/04/2023 Ono’s Ethiopian Center Makes Inroads in China >>>
• 16/03/2023 Ono Ethiopian Scholar Shares Connection Between Beta Israel and Passover >>>
• 08/03/2023 A partnership of Ono Academic College’s study of Ethiopian Jewry and the University of Gondar >>>
• 28/02/2023 Ono’s Rabbi Dr. Shalom Tells Detroit Jewish Students about Ethiopian Jewish Life >>>
• 28/02/2023 Head of Ono’s Ethiopian Center Speaks with Jewish Students in Boston >>>
• 28/02/2023 Ono Ethiopian Expert Addresses Detroit’s First Conservative Synagogue >>>
• 06/02/2023 Ono’s Ethiopian Center Advances Dozens of Projects in 2022 >>>
• 30/01/2023 Ono Expert on Ethiopian Jewry to Speak at Brandeis >>>
• 02/01/2023 Ono Scholar Discusses His New Book on Ethiopian Jewry’s Oral Torah >>>
• 02/01/2023 Ono Scholar’s Unique Book about Ethiopian Jewish Theology Gets Rave Reviews >>>
• 26/12/2022 Short Film about Ono Excellence Program for Ethiopian-Israeli Students >>>
• 30/11/2022 Eight-Hour Online Course on Ethiopian Jewry >>> 
• 28/11/2022 Ono Sigd Celebration Gets to the Heart of Ethiopian Jewish Theology with Music, Dance, Food and Humor >>> 
• 25/11/2022 Ono Scholar Featured in Israel Today Article about the Sigd Holiday >>>
• 25/11/2022 መልካም  የስግድ በዓል !  – Melkam Sigd Bahal – Happy Sigd >>>
• 25/11/2022 Ono Publishes Unique Ethiopian-Israeli Calendar >>>
• 25/11/2022 My Family: The Beta Israel Curriculum >>>
• 25/11/2022 Ethiopian Jewry’s Sigd Holiday: A Public Accounting of the Soul  >>> 
• 25/10/2022 Ono Celebrates 20 Years of the Program for Advancement of Ethiopian-Israeli Students >>>
• 19/09/2022 Ono and Ethiopian Embassy Host International Conference “JERUSALEM ETHIOPIA 3000 YEARS” >>>
• 19/09/2022 Ono and Ethiopian Embassy Host Gala Event in Preparation for International Conference >>>
• 11/09/2022 Ono’s Ethiopian Center Hosts Event for Senior Ethiopian Police Officers >>>
• 12/06/2022 Ono’s “Keshet” Journal Focuses on Ethiopian Jewry >>>
• 26/05/2022 Ono Graduate Tells Harrowing Story of His Flight From Ethiopia to Israel >>> 
• 14/04/2022 Ono Conference – “Our Judaism – History of Ethiopian Jewry and its Heritage” >>>
• 13/04/2022 Head of Ono’s Program for Advancement of Ethiopian-Israelis Talks About Government Racism Report >>>
• 31/03/2022 Ono Ethiopian Scholar Launches New Book About a Dialogue Between the Son of a Kes and the Daughter of a Rabbi >>>
• 29/03/2022 Ono Conference – “Our Judaism – History of Ethiopian Jewry and its Heritage” .>>>
• 22/03/2022 Head of Ono’s Ethiopian Center Says: ‘Equal opportunity in Israel is more than a dream; at Ono, it’s a promise” >>>
• 21/03/2022 Israeli Government to Appoint New Ethiopian Kessim >>>
• 16/03/2022 Ono Scholar Book Launch: A Dialogue Between a Kes (Ethiopian Religious Leader) and a Rabbi’s Daughter >>>
• 24/02/2022 Minister of Absorption and Ono Grad Prepares for Fallout from Russian Invasion of Ukraine >>>
• 15/02/2022 Ono Premiers Film About Ethiopians of Jewish Descent who Separated from Gondar Hundreds of Years Ago >>>
• 30/01/2022 German Cultural Anthropologist Works with Ono’s Ethiopian Center >>>
• 25/01/2022 Ono’s Ethiopian Center Advances Dozens of Projects >>>
• 15/12/2021  Ono Celebrates 20th Anniversary of Program for Ethiopian-Israeli Students  >>>
• 03/11/2021 መልካም  የስግድ በዓል !  – Melkam Sigd Bahal – Happy Sigd  >>>
• 24/10/2021 Ono Sponsors Pre-Sigd Day Educational Hike – “What is Sigd for Me?”  >>>
• 01/08/2021 Ono CEO and Founder Discusses Ono’s Role in Training Role Models in the Ethiopian Community  >>>
• 21/07/2021 Director of Ono Ethiopian Center Talks about Tish’a B’Av  >>>
• 19/07/2021 Ono Scholar Presents at American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry  >>>
• 17/06/2021 Ono’s Ethiopian Center Sponsors Online Seminar Marking 30 Years Since Operation Solomon  >>>
• 27/05/2021 Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom Talks About His Own Journey from Ethiopian to Israel  >>>
• 27/05/2021 Director of Ono’s Ethiopian Center talks about the meeting of the Ethiopian & Rabbinic Traditions of Judaism in a film about the establishment of “Hamakom” Jewish Center  >>>
• 13/5/2021 Individual and Collective Identities – Jews and Arabs  >>>
• 9/5/2021 Is a Cemetery a Holy or an Unclean place? A contrast between the Rabbinic and Ethiopian Jewish Approaches  >>>
• 9/5/2021 Director of Ono’s Ethiopian Center Talks About Jerusalem in a Film about the City  >>>
• 9/5/2021 Director of Ono’s Ethiopian Center and Israeli Air Force Team Up for Jerusalem  >>>
• 4/5/2021 How to Determine Who is a Jew?  >>>
• 4/5/2021 Ono Ethiopian Center Marks Jerusalem Day with the program: “The Journey to Jerusalem: Remembering Together Those We Lost Along the Way”  >>>
• 4/5/2021 Ono Sponsors Memorial Event Commemorating Ethiopian Jews Who Perished on the Journey to Israel  >>>
• 5/4/2021 Ono Hosts Conference Marking 30 Years Since Operation Shlomo Brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel  >>>
• 25/3/2021 Ethiopian Passover: The Difference Between Quality of Life and Standard of Living  >>>
• 25/3/2021 A Hagadda of the People: Ono Scholar Discusses the Exodus of the Jews from Ethiopia and the Exodus of the Israelites from Egypt  >>>
• 25/3/2021 Ono Scholar Discusses the Relationship Between Passover and Easter  >>>
• 24/3/2021 Ono Holds Conference on “Education for Equality, Multi-Culturalism and Solidarity in Israel”  >>>
• 11/3/2021 Why did Jews in Ethiopia Not Celebrate the Holiday of Purim?
• 11/3/2021 How Did Ethiopian Jews Keep the Commandment of the Red Heifer in Ethiopia?  >>>
• 11/2/2021 Ono to Host Emergency Conference on Renewed Civil War in Ethiopia and its Effects on Beta Israel  >>>
• 2/2/2021 Head of Ono Ethiopian Center Presents at Mandel Institute Seminar for IDF Officers  >>>
• 2/2/2021 Ono Scholar of Ethiopian Jewry Headlines Conference Organized By Ethiopia’s Embassy in Israel  >>>
• 31/1/2021 The Splitting of the Red Sea and Ethiopian Jewry  >>>
• 26/1/2021 Why did they sacrifice a Passover Lamb in Ethiopia?  >>>
• 17/1/2021 Ono Ethiopian Scholar Explains Why You Don’t Go on a Date Without Getting A Picture First  >>>
• 23/11/2020 Ono Graduate, Minister MK Pnina Tamano-Shata, is Profiled in the Jerusalem Report  >>>
• 15/11/2020 Happy Sigd Holiday!  >>>
• 14/10/2020 Incoming Ono Student Profiled at Walla News: “The first in the family to begin academic studies”  >>>
• 21/09/2020 Ono Graduates, Serving as First Female Ethiopian-Israeli and Ultra-Orthodox Government Ministers, Profiled  >>>
• 24/8/2020  Profile of Adv. Zeev Kaso, the Director of the Program for the Advancement and Integration of Ethiopian-Israeli Students at Ono Academic College  >>>
• 20/8/2020  Ono Partner on Ethiopian Jewish Curriculum Profiled in Jerusalem Post  >>>
• 2/8/2020  Director of Ono’s Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry Says that Ethiopian Jewish Values Can Serve as an “Antibiotic” Healing Today’s Toxic Social Interaction  >>>
• 17/6/2020 TBT –  Director of Ono’s International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry Comments on the Ethiopian-Israeli Protests Following the Police Shooting of Ethiopian youth Solomon Teka  >>>
• 31/5/20 Ono and Yerusalem Forum Conference Honoring Ethiopian Keisim  >>>
• 26/5/20 Ono’s Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom Speaks at Boston Jerusalem Day Event  >>>
• 24/5/20 Ono Graduate Pnina Tamano-Shata Appointed Israel’s Minister of Absorption and Integration  >>>
• 21/5/20 Director of Ono Center for Study of Ethiopian Jewry Headlines Boston Program Marking Memorial Day for Ethiopian Jews who Perished on their Way to Israel  >>>
• 19/5/2020  Ono Faculty Present at Conference Honoring Eight Exemplary Ethiopian Kessim  >>>
• 12/5/2020 Director of Ono’s International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry Addresses How Religious Colonialism Tried to Eradicate the Status of Traditional Ethiopian-Jewish Spiritual Leaders  >>>
• 16/4/2020 Ethiopian Jews and the Mystery of the Song of the Sea  >>>
• 16/4/2020 The Exodus from Egypt and the Exodus from Ethiopia  >>>
• 5/12/19 TBT – Ono Conference on Ethiopian Keisim Performing Jewish Marriage Ceremonies in Israel  >>>