Special to the JTA a First for Ethiopian Immigrants

Imagine witnessing a young Jewish child seeing a dreidle for the first time, watching in wide-eyed wonder as the Chanukah candles are lit, symbolizing an historical religious event that was never part of his known heritage. So it was for Kehilat Eshel Avraham, the Masorti (Conservative) synagogue in Beersheba, which invited the Ethiopian Jewish community from a local absorption center to a Chanukah party on the second night of the holiday.

Fifty new immigrants from Ethiopia joined Eshel Avraham in the congregation’s small synagogue, located in a local air-raid shelter, for an evening of traditional Chanukah songs and games.

Traditions of the Ethiopian Jewish community originate only from the Torah — the five books of Moses — and until their aliya to Israel, the Ethiopians had no tradition of celebrating the victory of the Macabees over Antiochus. “For many of the Ethiopians, it was their first Chanukah celebration ever, ” said Rabbi Jonathan Perlman, the Baltimoreborn rabbi of Eshel Avraham.

“One older man who was identified as a spiritual leader, spoke with the help of a translator on behalf of all of the immigrants present. He told us it was a privilege to come to Israel, to the promised land, to be together with the rest of the Jewish people.”

The Ethiopian guests heard Perlman explain about the lighting of the “Chanukah” candles and other holiday customs. The children, who go to school and are learning Hebrew, warmed up to the children of Eshel Avraham over games of dreidle and “Pin the Shamash on the Chanukah menorah.”

ANXIOUS TO LEARN ABOUT JUDAISM

“I brought our youth group several times to the local absorption center to visit the new immigrants, entertain them and play with the children there. I was approached by a number of young adults who were anxious to learn about Judaism since their traditions include none of the Oral Law (Talmudic) traditions, and I have been tutoring a number of them,” Perlman said.

Congregation Eshel Avraham held a meeting a week before their Chanukah party to hear a lecture on the Ethiopian community by the regional Education Ministry Supervisor. He suggested ways in which the synagogue could begin “cultural exchanges” so as to help ease the transition of the new immigrants into Israeli society.

“I think that the Ethiopians were very happy to be invited by veteran immigrants and Israelis to such a gathering, “Perlman said. “The older people enjoyed seeing the children adapting so quickly and enjoying themselves with the synagogue children. If we can break the language barrier, we will have much to offer the Ethiopian community in Beersheba. I hope that our synagogue will be a leading force in helping their absorption.”