Operation Promise

Our Jewish story begins with a promise, passed from generation to generation like a golden chain, etched in our collective memories and recorded in our books. This promise represents our hope to be a free people, to return to our historic homeland and to create a better future; it represents our dream to be a compassionate people, whose purpose it is to make the world a better place.

The Jewish Agency for Israel along with the federations of North America accept this promise as our legacy and our opportunity. We are responsible for one another’s safety, health and quality of life. And Operation Promise reminds us of our commitment to a rich tradition of generosity and justice that are the hallmark of the Jewish people.

$160 Million in New Funding Over Three Years

Operation Promise has been launched to continue and expand the already extraordinary achievements of the federation movement: Caring for hundreds of thousands of needy elderly and building and supporting the next generation of Jewish life in the FSU; and bringing the Ethiopian Jewish community home to Israel and helping them to take their rightful place in Israeli society. The programs are in place; the urgent needs have been well documented. Now is the time to implement the plan: $160 million in new funding over the next three years.

- $23 million for the Falas Mura in Ethiopia: for maintaining the compounds, providing assistance with food, rent and healthcare, and operating several feeding programs; Hebrew-language education and other vital aliyah preparation to help ensure a smoother absorption; and airfare to Israel.

- $40 million for the initial absorption of the Falas Mura as the rate they arrive in Israel doubles from 300 to 600 each month; the absorption centers and the programs and services provided must be expanded.

- $37 million towards critical initiatives to improve the educational opportunities for all Ethiopians, who, without these opportunities, are in danger of becoming part of a permanent underclass.

- $30 million for needy elderly Jews in the FSU who live in poverty, with virtually no government safety net.

- $30 million for programs to connect to a generation of young Jews in the FSU, with no roots in Jewish life. Falling short means that we may lose them forever.

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How was Operation Solomon

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Operation Solomon

In 1990, while rebel forces advanced against the Ethiopian dictator Mengistu Haile Mariam (the butcher of Addis), it became clear that the Falash be exterminated, unless they could leave the country. Asher Naim, excellent facilitator, worked in several fields simultaneously. Negotiating with Mengistu, coordinated logistics and strategies with the Israeli military and collect donations, frantically through contacts in the United States.

On May 23, 1991, decided that the time had come to call the Israeli Air Force: Operation Solomon was to begin immediately. The dictator Mengistu had accepted the conditions, pay in kind and imposing strict confidentiality.

Before the Israeli embassy, thousands of Falashas jostled, ready to go. The first Israeli planes landed at the airport in Addis Ababa and a team of well trained commanders positioned itself to protect the mission at any cost.

In total, 14,200 immigrants were taken to the city's Ben-Gurion airport in Tel Aviv. Thirty-five military and civil aircraft made 41 flights. At one point, there were 28 planes in the air. * One of the Jumbos, which normally could take 500 passengers, carried at one time 1087 people, a feat noted in the Guinness book of records.

To Asher Naim, the rescue of Ethiopian Jews was of vital importance. He wanted to liberate their brothers in a dictator tyrant and thereby ensure the survival of that tribe. Helping Falashas to return to Jerusalem, Naim has reached a new and deeper understanding of the true meaning of faith, identity and the struggle to overcome adversity. In his book, cites a phrase from Bernard Raskas: Gd does not want us to do extraordinary things. He wants us to do ordinary things, extraordinarily ...

In Israel, the adjustment of immigrants has also been difficult. Most were very young and without any culture, suffering rejection because of their color. Several programs of American and Jewish institutions have developed special projects for intensive education for children, for example, the school Beth Zipora in southern Israel. The program was implemented by Elie Wiesel and courses in English and computers. The dream of the Ethiopian Jews is to train leaders, doctors, engineers and even generals (now in 2009 it has already been realized). The Israeli government has campaigned to raise funds for its absorption and survival, in order not to let them return to the same cycle of poverty, despair and bitterness of his past in Africa. Currently more than 100,000 Jews of Ethiopian origin living in Israel.

The Jews of Ethiopia - Operation Solomon

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For nearly 3,000 years, the black Jews of Ethiopia, known as Falashas and call themselves Beta Israel maintained their faith and identity struggle against hunger, drought and tribal wars. It is believed that they were part of one of the ten lost tribes, their ancestors dating back to King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba (Saba).

In May 1991, the Falash staged a miraculous exodus. With Ethiopia involved in deep and brutal civil war, 14,200 members of this community were flown to Jerusalem for the Defense Forces Israel. The operation lasted 25 hours.

The hero who conceived and organized the incredible rescue was then Israel's ambassador to Ethiopia, Asher Naim. The epic has been narrated in the book Saving the Lost Tribe, in which Naim relates with humor and knowledge of the action that became known as Operation Solomon.
In the fall of 1990, when he was appointed by the Israeli government for the post of ambassador in Addis Ababa, its identification with the Ethiopian Jews was immediate. He wanted to continue "Operation Moses, established in 1985 by the Israeli secret service, Mossad, in conjunction with the American agency CIA for three years, tried to take the country 14 thousand Falashas through the Sudan, bringing them boat to Israel. The success of that operation was on, because at the time, only eight thousand people managed to escape and the rest fell ill on the trip and many returned to Ethiopia. Many families were thus separated. - To be continued ....