which Jewish immigrants would you prefer to come to Israel in greater numbers? Ethiopians or Russians?

Question

I hear the way the black Jews from Ethiopia and the white Jews from Russia are treated in Israel is different.. I want to hear from those of you in Israel to share your honest opinion on this...

pls also share your personal experience..

Answer 1

The blacks and whites there are treated differently. Idan Raichel made a documentary on his trip to Ethiopia. He took his band mates who are Ethiopian and it was an amazing adventure for all of them. I don't think it should matter. I don't see why they can't all come together. It's supposed to be the holy land. Everyone should be filled with Gods kindness. They need to look at the rest of the world and learn from the mistakes made by segregation. They need to look on their own past and realize that no one should be treated the way the Jews were in the past. I'm sure the Ethiopians in Israel don't have it that bad, but the Jews should all come together and see that skin color means nothing. --- I really can't believe that this crap is still going on.

Answer 2

The initial trealment from society is different for each group that comes to Israel. It should also be pointed out that Americans are treated differently than Russians, who are treated differently than Iranians and so on.
To the overwhelming majority of Israelis, the Ethiopian culture is very different, and there are almost no frames of reference in their language, culture, homelife, communal structure, or prayers. The current structure in Israel is slowly adapting itself to the needs and requirements of the Ethiopians. They seem to be integrating and amalgamating into Israeli society, albeit slowly.
It also works the other way around as well; the Ethiopians had no contact with other Jewish communities for hundreds of years; as a result, they had no idea about what happened to the rest of the Jewish people. If you read The Book of Esther, the Ethiopian Jews thought that the other Jewish communities had been wiped out.
It is an interesting study in cross cultural differences.

Answer 3

A Jew is a Jew I will not discriminate on the basis of race. I hope that as many of them make Aliyah as they can.

I will say though the problem with Aliyah from both Ethiopia and Russia is that they are more non-Jews than Jews are coming.

I will say that many Russians and Ethiopians are treated like crap. And that Americans are often looked down.

The issue is adjusting to Israeli society, all immigrants have a hard time.

By the second and third generation they are assimilated.

Answer 4

I think that every Jew who wants to immigrate and makes an effort to adapt to the costumes and way of life in Israel should be warmly welcomed and helped.
I mean, although we are all different and have different origins, the most important thing which unites us is that we are all Jews.
It’s important that people who decide to settle in Israel make a big effort and are willing to work hard and really wish to take an active part of the Israeli society and want to improve things.
I mean, nowadays there are immigrating lots of people who just want to go away from misery in their own countries and opt for Israel, because they have had a Jewish grandfather and think that once settled in Israel the Israeli government and welfare has to support them with everything during the rest of their lives.
Okay, I do understand that people wish to go away from a miserable situation and try to settle elsewhere, but I do think it’s wrong to choose Israel just because they think that they will be supported for the rest of their days and they do not even make an effort to become part of the society.
This is what I have seen during my last visit in Israel, there are so many people from Russia who do not even speak the language and do not even try to participate in anything.
They do not even feel Jewish.
I have known people from Ethiopia as well, and (I hope it’s not only my personal impression) these people try hard to make a living on their own as soon as possible.
I know that it’s hard from them to come from an African country where life is completely different, daily costumes are different etc, but generally these people seem to make a great effort.
And I have seen them working in jobs, which others do not want to take.
I hope that there is nothing like racism against other peoples colour of the skin in Israel, as this would be really dreadful.
We should feel united because of having the same roots and religion in common and not separated because of different origins, languages and costumes.
I mean, there are so many things we all do have in common that it would be just ridiculous to search for differences to discriminate somebody… don’t you think so???

Answer 5

i know very few ethiopians jews in israel ....however i know many russians they r treated quite well and the longer they will be in israel and absorbed in israeli society the easier it will be for them to feel israeli ....but it takes time ..the russians are very ambitious and have been educated ..they are politically active and it is only to their advantage .the ethiopians seem more humble and keep a low profile .it will take them longer to adjust ...
we are proud to have them both as citizens of israel
but it like you say its not the wedding that counts as much as the aftermath...

Answer 6

Thanks for the question.
My answer: ALL OF THEM!
I was in the audience at an Israel Philarmonic concert in Jerusalem in 1991. Someone came on stage and announced that "Operation Solomon" just took place and that our airlifted Beta Israel brethren were landing at the airport. One could feel the emotion in the concert hall. Some people were crying from joy. (I'm crying again now just remembering how we felt.) People involved in the operation were also received as heros at the time.
It's wonderful to be reunited with all members of our people in our own homeland of Israel. Obviously, each group in Israel encounters its own difficulties and issues. Absorption brings challenges. Mistakes are made by the authorities with each group. (And the media messes up human interest stories, too, reporting items before checking all the facts.) If you ask the majority of Israelis, we do not differentiate in the manner implied in the question. People here tend not to think of human beings as numbers; rather, each is a world unto her/himself.
The recent concert of Abate Brihon in Jerusalem illustrates one essential aspect of what it's like here. (Pity I can't find a clip on-line of his current group.) He used to be with "Ras Deshen". http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=660425
The new quartet (named "longings" in Amharic) includes a pianist from Lithuania, a Beta Israel singer, and a native born Israeli bass player. The program was based on medieval Hebrew poetry from 11th century Spain, expressing the Jews' longing for Jerusalem while in exile; Abate wrote the Ethiopian-influenced musical arrangements, and there was also a lot of improvisation. The on- stage communication between all the musicians against the backdrop of the Jerusalem Old City walls said more than one could ever explain on-line. This is our culture; we are one nation, together in Jerusalem, capital of Israel.

Answer 7

Russian Jews are an incredibly gifted bunch. They've been an asset to Israel.

Answer 8

ethiopians
but a lot of israelis would probably disagree with me
i dont live in israel all the time, maybe 1/2 the time.

Answer 9

they are different!!! people from the former Soviet Union are educated, most of them are doctors and engineers, professors, they contributed a lot to this country.
you can't say the same thing about the Ethiopians.

Answer 10

It sounds like a backward way of trying to poll if Jews in Israel are racist or not. Interesting question, but as an American Jew my opinion in this would not be valued by you. I am curious as to when did you stop beating your wife/girlfriend though?

Good Luck!!!