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MSU College of Law

May 15, 2013

CONTACT: Kent Love, director of communications, 517-432-6959; kent.love@law.msu.edu
Nicholas Mercuro, Exhibition Coordinator, 517-432-6978; mercuro@law.msu.edu

New Photographic Retrospective Recounting the Resettlement of Ethiopia Jews on Display at Michigan State Law

East Lansing, MI—A new photographic retrospective entitled, “It Takes a Village: From Ghondohar to Jerusalem—The Remarkable Journey of Ethiopia’s Jews,” will be showcased on the fourth floor of the Law College Building at Michigan State University. The exhibition, on display from May 19—June 7, 2013, highlights the struggles and successes of the resettlement of Ethiopians from their homeland to Jerusalem.

The Law College will host a wine & cheese opening reception in the fourth floor atrium on May 22, 2013, from 5 to 7 p.m. with comments by Lisabeth Lobenthal, director of Israel and Global Philanthropy, Jewish Agency for Israel.

The exhibition recounts the journey of Ethiopians to Israel, most of which emigrated during two massive waves of immigration mounted by the Israeli government. The first massive wave is known as “Operation Moses” in 1984, and the second came again during “Operation Solomon” in 1991. Today, it has been estimated that Israel now pays homage to about 140,000 citizens of Ethiopian descent.

In December 2010, the State of Israel appointed the Jewish Agency to complete—over the course of three years—the immigration of Ethiopia’s approximately 8,000 remaining Jews (the Falash Mura) from the poverty, anti-Semitism, disease, and instability characterizing life in Africa to a better life among their people, in Israel. It Takes a Village: From Gondar to Jerusalem—The Remarkable Journey of Ethiopia’s Jews is a photographic retrospective, documenting the process of forgotten Jews taking the final steps along their journey home.

Metered parking is available in the ramp adjacent to the Law College Building.

The exhibit is sponsored by Michigan State University College of Law in conjunction with the Flint Jewish Federation and Greater Lansing Jewish Welfare Federation. Additional funding is provided by the Ravitz Foundation.

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