Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, founding director of Ono Academic College’s International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry, recently published an article outlining his vision for the relationship between Ethiopian Jewry and the State of Israel and Ono’s role in promoting it.
Rabbi Dr. Shalom describes himself as “an Israeli rabbi born in Ethiopia” whose “Jewish identity is unequivocal and the color of my skin irrelevant to my spirit.” He noted that, “Generations of Ethiopian Jews have questioned or muddled their identities for the sake of inclusion, and many still grapple for a place in Israeli society. At Ono College, we believe a new approach is needed to secure the future of equality and inclusivity in Israel.”
In the article, Rabbi Dr. Shalom, recounts the history of Ethiopian Jewry including its difficult Aliya to Israel. He integrates his own story into that of Ethiopian Jews and the Jewish people at large in a grand tour d’horizon.
The full article can be found at: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/equal-opportunity-in-israel-is-more-than-a-dream-at-ono-college-its-a-promise/
