Hadassah Announces Two Major Contributions Toward Absorption of Ethiopian Jews in Israel

Hadassah, currently holding its midwinter conference here, announced today two major contributions toward the absorption of Ethiopian Jews in Israel.

Ruth Popkin, national president of Hadassah, presented a check for $200,000 to Uri Gordon, head of Youth Aliya, for special educational projects for Ethiopian youngsters not covered by the Jewish Agency budget.

At the same time, the Hadassah board agreed to a request by Youth Aliya to use the Frieda Lewis Youth Aliya Seminar Center at Hoshaya in Galilee as an absorption center for newly arrived young Ethiopian Jews. The Hadassah-sponsored facility, nearing completion, will be employed in that capacity for the next 2-3 years.

The $200,000 gift presented by Popkin is outside Hadassah’s current budget. The contribution was made after the more than 300 Hadassah leaders attending the midwinter conference visited Youth Aliya projects throughout Israel.

Popkin said, “During this visit to Israel we have been most fortunate to observe first hand a remarkable chapter in Israel’s history. Once again an oppressed remnant of the Jewish people (Ethiopian Jews) is returning home and all of our hearts have opened to welcome and accommodate them.”