American Association for Ethiopian Jews
American Association for Ethiopian Jews (AAEJ) was a Jewish-American organization that was active between 1974-1993 for the purpose of realizing the Aliyah of Beta Israel to Israel. The organization's contribution to the Aliyah of the Beta Israel was significant. [1]
History
Upon his return from Ethiopia to the U.S in 1969, peace activist Jed Abraham founded the "Freinds of the Beta Israel Community" organization, and in 1974 it was merged with "American Pro-Falasha Committee (APFC)", that was headed by Martin Wurmbrand. Together they created the "American Association for Ethiopian Jews". It was headed by Graenum Berger.
When it became clear that most Ethiopian Jews already made Aliyah to Israel, the Executive Council decided in 1993 to end the organization's activities. A year later several of its members founded the "Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews" Voluntary association. Other of its American members, along with the "Canadian Association for Ethiopian Jews (CAEJ)" founded the "Friends of Ethiopian Jews" organization.
Presidents
- Graenum Berger (1974-1978)
- Howard lahnhof (1978-1983)
- Nate Shapiro (1983-1993)
- Other Activists
- Harry Rosenberg
- Barbara Gaffin
- Susan Pollak
- Bill Halpern
Further reading
- Graenum Berger, Rescue the Ethiopian Jews!: a memoir, 1955-1995, J.W. Bleeker Hampton Pub. Co., 1996, ISBN 0963564110
- Howard M. Lenhoff and Jerry L. Weaver, Black Jews, Jews, and Other Heroes: How Grassroots Activism Led to the Rescue of the Ethiopian Jews, Gefen Publishing House Ltd, 2007, ISBN 9789652293657