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Rev. Dr. DeeDee Coleman of Detroit at the Israeli embassy in Ethiopia just

before the last flight of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. With her and the kids are
Tobi Ash, center, Yael Eckstein, senior vice president of the International
Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and Natan Sharansky, chairman of the
Jewish Agency for Israel.

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Detroit pastor witnesses final airlift
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32 October 24 • 2013

The demonstrators say the government
has abandoned their relatives in Gondar,
Ethiopia; they want hundreds more peo-
he looked into their eyes and saw ple to be permitted to make aliyah.
The Jewish Agency for Israel (JAFI)
hope, joy, excitement, wonder
and even fear. Detroit Rev. Dr.
has coordinated the movement of
Jewish families from Ethiopia to Israel.
DeeDee Coleman cannot speak Hebrew
The American Jewish Joint Distribution
and doesn't speak the language of the
Falash Mura — Ethiopians with Jewish
Committee (JDC) helped tend to their
roots whose families lived as Christians
medical needs and provided other
humanitarian aid. The Falash Mura live
for generations to escape persecution —
in absorption centers in Israel for 18-24
but she says she clearly understood what
they were experiencing as about 450 of
months. They receive food, clothing and
them boarded an Aug. 28 flight to Israel.
medical care, learn Hebrew and get job
Coleman, pastor of the Russell
training. They also learn to adjust to the
Street Missionary Baptist Church in
dramatic cultural differences of Israeli
Detroit, was invited by the International
society.
At Ben Gurion International Airport
Fellowship of Christians and Jews to wit-
ness the historic journey. She traveled
near Tel Aviv, those who were part of
to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, with a small
the final journey kissed the ground as
group of other dignitaries.
they stepped off of two charter flights.
"It was very emotional; she said. "It
Hundreds of relatives already living in
Israel welcomed the immigrants. During
was almost like we were communicating
a moving opening ceremony with mem-
through tears, smiles and laughter. It was
bers of Israel's parliament and others, the
a glorious, wonderful expression of how
people can communicate nonverbally."
group chanted, "Am Yisrael Chair (The
Coleman boarded one of the final
people of Israel live!)
flights to airlift Falash Mura to Israel as
"I am a witness to these events, and I
part of Israel's Operation Dove's Wings, cherish the kindness I have received and
ending the three-year mission. Previous continue to receive from the Israeli gov-
airlifts dating back to 1985 have brought ernment," Coleman said.
Israel's Ethiopian Jewish population to
Coleman first traveled to Israel in
more than 130,000.
2007 with the American Israel Education
"I was overwhelmed as I witnessed
Foundation. She continues to host lead-
the fulfillment of Scripture taking place
ers on trips annually to educate them
in the lives of these precious people
about Israel's safety and security and
Coleman said. "I'm also impressed by
regional issues that affect Israel and the
the way Israel has taken its people in, to United States as a member of the speak-
welcome them home and give them a
ers bureau for AIPAC (the American
Israel Public Affairs Committee).
better hope for tomorrow:'
The mission was not without controver-
"I bring a voice of God to the whole
sy. The Times of srael reported hundreds
context of what Israel is dealing with; she
of Ethiopian-Israelis protested outside
said. "I'm honored to be a voice and have
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's
a story and to know the journey I'm on
office in Jerusalem as the flights came in.
right now is a God-driven journey:' ❑

JN Contributing Writer

