December 6, 2006 / 15 Kislev 5767

On  December 5, a delegation of members of the New York State Assembly visited the Meron Jewish Agency Absorption Center in Safed.  The 25-member delegation included those of Jewish origin, African-Americans, and Latin Americans, who took interest in the absorption process of Ethiopian immigrants in Israel. 

The absorption center's director gave the visitors an overview of the unique features of the Ethiopians' absorption process, and how the immigrants and the absorption center's staff dealt with the stress resulting from the Katyusha rocket attacks during the recent war.  The delegation met with the staff members, who are themselves immigrants from Ethiopia, and then visited homes of immigrants, where they were treated to the traditional Ethiopian coffee as well as Injera – the traditional Ethiopian bread.  The delegation members marveled at the efforts made by the Israeli government, the Jewish Agency, and of course, the devotion of the absorption center's staff in assisting the new immigrants, and the fact that the immigrants received full rights as Israeli citizens immediately upon landing in Israel.

Photos Credits: Leon Levitas