Dec 3, 2020

Operation Zur Will Bring 2,000 Ethiopians Home to Israel

In an historic act of Zionism, the first two flights of Operation Zur landed in Israel this week, reuniting approximately 500 Ethiopian children with their parents who made aliyah many years ago. By next spring, Operation Zur will have brought a total of 2,000 olim (immigrants) to their Jewish homeland in Israel. Following quarantine, Federation overseas partner The Jewish Agency for Israel will provide the new arrivals support and guidance in all areas of life, from learning Hebrew to preparing to enter the workforce and the Israeli education system. The immigration was led and approved by the Minister of Aliyah and Integration Pnina Tamano Shata who left Ethiopia through Operation Moses at three years old. Since the establishment of the State, the Government of Israel has brought 3.3 million new olim to Israel with the assistance of The Jewish Agency, including 95,000 immigrants from Ethiopia. To learn more about Federation's work overseas click here.