92 Friday, February 21, 1986 THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS NEWS GOT A QUESTION? Ethiopian Jews Face Grim Emigration Prospects Call the Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. • In cooperation with these Jewish Welfare Federation member agencies: • Fresh Air Society • Hebrew Free Loan Association • Jewish Community Center • Jewish Community Council • Jewish Family Service • Jewish Federation Apartments • Jewish Home for Aged • Jewish Vocational Service and Community Workshop • Midrasha—College of Jewish Studies • Resettlement Service • Sinai Hospital • United Hebrew Schools New York (JTA) — A State Another problem, according Department official said last to Aron, is that of leadership in Monday that the prospects for the Ethiopian community. They the emigration of the some 9,000 already have 12 different organ- Jews who still remain in Ethi- izations,"and they cannot opia are grim and that the situa- decide on one leader or organiza- tion is not likely to change in the tion to represent them, he said, near future. adding, "The Etniopians in "Ethiopian Jewry's present Israel are very, divided. They situation is without prospect at unite in order to achieve their all," Princeton Lyman, United goals." States Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs, told the plenary session of the Na- tional Jewish community Rela- tions Advisory council (NJC- Lebenbom Elected RAC) at the Waldorf Astoria NJCRAC Official Hotel. "I do not anticipate any dramatic breakthrough in the situation," in the near future, he added. Lyman explained that most of the emigration of Ethiopian Jews in the last few years, including the airlift known as "Operation Moses" which brought about 10,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel more than a year ago, took place through the Sudan. But this is no longer possible since the removal of Sudan's moderate, pro-Egyptian presi- dent Gaafar Nimeiry last spring and the establishment of a radical regime amidst political turmoil all over the country, Lyman said. He said that "Operation Moses" has become a major political issue in the David Lebenbom Sudan, viewed by many Sudan- For the first time since its 1937 ese as an "insult to Sudan's na- founding, the Jewish Community tional honor." In view of this development, Council of Metropolitan Detroit is Lyman asserted, "it is impos- represented by an officer for the sible to conceive of the Sudan as National Jewish Community Re- a pathway for Ethiopian migra- lations Advisory Council (NJCRAC). tion in the near future." David Lebenbom, Council's The situation of Ethiopian Jews is complicated by the immediate past president, has elected to serve as a attitude of the military-Marxist been NJCRAC vice chairman. Elec- pro-Soviet government in Ethi- tions were held at NJCRAC's an- opia, Lyman said. "The govern- nual plenum in New York City ment objects to free Jewish this week. emigration. They resent the at- During the past program year. tention of the international com- Lebenbom chaired NJCRAC's munity to the Jews of Ethiopia. Commission on Jewish Security But at the same time they are and Individual Freedom. He also sentitive to the international at- served as a member of the Com- tention to the Jews." he said. mission on Equal Opportunity. In Lyman said that relationships addition, Lebenbom has served on between the U.S. and Ethiopia the NJCRAC Commission on are not good, and that makes it Church-State and Interreligious difficult for Washington to ex- Relationships. Prior to serving as Jewish ert any influence on the issue of Community Council president Ethiopian Jews. from 1982-1985, Lebenbom held Another speaker at the plen- positions as Council vice ary session was Chaim Aron, president and secretary. He also chairman of the Immigration sat on Council's Executive Com- and Absorption Department of mittee and served as a member of the Jewish Agency, who focused the Internal Relations-Culture on the problems of integrating Committee. Ethiopian Jews into the main- stream of Israel's society. Apart from the problem of ad- justing to a modern Western society, the Ethiopian commun- ity in Israel today has its unique problems, Aron said. He dis- Isaac Stern closed that about 40 percent of Here For Concert the community is of one-parent Violinist Isaac Stern will ap-. families — either a mother or a pear in concert at 8 p.m. March 4 father with one child or more. at Ford Auditorium. He said many of the Ethiopians Tickets are available at the who came to Israel left their Ford Auditorium box office, Hud- spouses or families behind. son's and Ticketworld.