Cause Specific

When fund raising among young adults, it helps to
have an issue.

JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER

hile Ethiopian Jews in
Israel are experiencing
an identity crisis, so are
some younger members
of the American Jewish commu-
nity.
Their issues are diametrically
distinct -- Ethiopian Jews are
having trouble fitting into Israeli
society, and American young
adults don't feel much connection
to Israel. The American Jews also
prefer to direct their philan-
thropic efforts directly to a cause.
A group of Detroiters is working
to kill the proverbial two birds
with one stone.
Recently, six members of Fed-
eration's Young Adult Division
(YAD) spent five intensive days
in Israel, meeting with politicians
and Ethiopian leaders and par-
ticipating in tours and seminars
in order to fully understand the
issues surrounding the Ethiopi-
an community there.
They returned with a propos-
al to develop a health-education

W

program for Ethiopians in De-
troit's Partnership 2000 region in
the Central Galilee.
"Our idea is to develop a pro-
gram that's culturally appropri-
ate [for Ethiopians]
because there are large
differences between Is-
raelis, Ethiopians and
Russians living in Is-
rael," said Josh Opper-
er, a co-chair of the
YAD Ethiopian Project.
"Some of the Ethiopi-
ans are going through
an identity crisis be-
cause they don't know
where they fit into Is-
raeli society. Their cul-
ture was based on oral
tradition, and only a
few can read their na-
tive language.
"Their lives were
centered on extended
family, but in Israel
that's changed because
the children are inte-

grating into Israeli society better
than the parents."
The group's proposal was ac-
tually a counter-response to a
suggestion from an Israeli pro-
fessor who solicited the help of
YAD to fund an HIV treatment
program for those Ethiopians liv-
ing in the Partnership 2000 re-
gion.
Participants pointed out that
of the 5,000 Ethiopian immi-
grants in the Central Galilee, be-
tween 18 and 20 are HIV positive.
"With so few people who are
HIV positive, we felt we needed

something with broader impact," project. Twenty-five percent of
said Brian Tauber, a co-chair of every increase YAD receives for
the Allied Jewish Campaign will
the YAD Ethiopian Project.
"There are incredible barriers fund the health education and
to teaching Ethiopians sex edu- awareness program. YAD is also
cation, which is taboo in the exploring partnerships with oth-
Ethiopian culture. If you can in- er Israeli organizations and ex-
tegrate it into a general health isting programs through the
program, you can educate the Israeli ministries of health, edu-
greater population in a manner cation and absorption.
Accompanying Mr. Tauber and
it can understand."
Mr. Opperer to Israel were YAD
YAD expects to raise between
$30,000 and $35,000 a year for President Aaron Sherbin, YAD
Campaign Chair Eric Gould and
the next two years to fund the
Herb Aronow and Barbara Klein.
The YAD delegation met with various
Federation staff member Jim
Ethiopian Jews in Israel.
Rosenberg also participated.
In the coming weeks, these
participants will schedule infor-
mational parlor meetings to dis-
cuss the project.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you
see communities around the
country take on Ethiopian-relat-
ed issues," Mr. Opperer said.
"World Jewry was somewhat un-
realistic about how the Ethiopi-
ans would integrate into society.
There are still so many issues
that need to be dealt with." ❑

Correction

The Nov. 29 community page
caption for the Balfour Cel-
ebration photograph omitted
the name of Paul Borman.

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