Ethiopians and Druze

31-Mar-08

What do Ethiopian Jews in Israel and the Israeli Druze community have in common? Both live in Israel and are citizens. Both represent some very disturbing phenomenon in Israel as our thoughts turn to Israel on its sixtieth birth day.

A few years ago I was in the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem where they were preparing a display of the dramatic rescue of Ethiopian Jewry and their return home to Zion. From time immemorial the Jews of Ethiopia turned towards Holy Land and like Jews the world over, longed for 'next year in Jerusalem!" Now they were finally home. Many walked for weeks. not all made it as wild animals, slave traders and the elements took their toll. A modern Exodus story. Is there anything more dramatic or inspiring? A particular poster caught my eye. It captured the moment as young Ethiopian mother with her baby on her back take their first steps in the Promised land. The traditional colored, modest clothing and the wonder in her eyes was truly a scene worthy to be preserved. Next to that poster was one depicting another young Ethiopian woman. This one described her successful integration into Israel. Gone were the simple modest clothing. Tight fitting jeans and well you can imagine... What a happy young lady! She was now part of the global village. Israel was her a portal to the real world. Now she can look like any other hip hop young chick. How liberating. She has fulfilled the dream of millennia..thanks to Israeli government. When I shared my thoughts with a young female employee of the Agency, she could not understand my concern. "Indeed this was exactly the success that was hoped for. Ethiopian Jews have made it. They were "Israelis" finally. a new creation. How many light years was this from what her parents dreamt about for her? To instantly melt into the world village and be mistaken for a young African American in NY or LA! Something just did not seem right but my fellow Israeli Agency worker did not think so at all.

I had occassion to witness the yearly mass gathering of the Ethiopian community as they celebrate the ancient holiday that remembered Jerusalem. In Ethiopia they would gather once a year on a hill and face Jerusalem with prayer and praise, longing for the day ...as did Moses on Mount Moab where he longed for but could not enter the Land. Today in Jerusalem they gather in their tens of thousands, this time in Jerusalem overlooking the Temple Mount. How wonderful to see our brothers at home together with us and fulfilling their dream! Hundreds of elders and rabbis (called kayses) in their traditional festive best. Thousands of their flock gathered, facing the Temple Mount. Is there anything more heart warming?

Unfortunately, large parts of the flock have wandered from the path and are floundering in dangerous fields. I saw these lost sheep. The bus I was riding in was targeted as we drove by. Threatening looks and less than friendly words yelled at us by throngs of teenagers strolling slowly across the street showing us who owned the road. Was I in Jerusalem or in a no go neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. They looked and dressed like them. they walked like'Was it supposed to be this way? Were they saved from the long Exile for this..? The young Jewish Agency lady probably sees this as the price of progress.

On the other hand I saw other young Ethiopians that day. Calm, disciplined, dressed in a respectable fashion, part of a Benai Akiva youth group. Some were group leaders and were engaged in organized, constructive activities appropriate for the occasion. The look on their faces was one on purpose and respect for others and for themselves. What a difference. I wonder how they would fit into the Jewish Agency poster..?

The grave mistakes being made with so many Ethiopian youth have been made with the Jewish immigrants expelled from Arab lands in the fifties. Yes, a new Jew was created by Israel. There were Jewish Agency posters then too.

The common denominator to all the above is one word - identity. Do we appreciate who we are why we are here? It seems that many of our problems. both internal and external can be linked to that word - Identity- our sense of identity in this Land.

Which brings me to the Druze. The Druze community comprise about 2% of Israel's population. They are Arabs but have their own "secret religion" Known to be a simple rural people - fierce fighters when they must and loyal to the powers that be as long as they are treated fairly and especially if the government is indeed perceived to be in control and have clear political direction. During Israel's War of Independence, the Druze like everyone else believed the Jewish state had no chance and so they fought against the Jews on the side of the other Arabs. However when it became clear that the Jews were going to win, the Druze switched sides and ended up winner. The Druze like a winner. They have a very healthy sense of where the winds are blowing - a necessity of survival in the region. Their elders urged Israel to take their sons into the IDF thus insuring the pact between them and the Jews. Indeed the Druze community has always been held up as the example of cooperation and respect between the Jewish state and its minorities. This was true as long as they felt their patron was a winner. Since Oslo and subsequent retreats, the abandonment of our South Lebanon allies and Arab terror onslaughts, the Druze have been having second thoughts. The Druze are Israel's litmus test. If they are loyal and respectful of the Jewish state and Jews then we are ok. Just watch the Druze.

Last month there was a pogrom in Pe'kin, A Galilee village with a Druze majority and a few Jewish families. The excuse for the riot was a cell phone antenna. The result was all the Jewish homes were torched or ransacked. A Jewish police woman was abducted and ransomed for arrested Druze rioters.

This has been the latest example of the Druze smelling the changing winds. The list of Druze challenges to Israeli authority is well known and worrisome. This did not happen in the pre Oslo days. It did not happen when Jews knew why they were here and were not in a rush to join the global village. Identity. They see how Israel falls over itself to ape all things none Jewish and how she tries in every way to convince our neighbors to please take another piece of our heart(land). The Druze do not understand this but know something is not very kosher with their erstwhile patrons and model. So they are switching horses. The Druze like a winner.

So what do Ethiopian Jews and Druze have in common - Our identity - the first step in dealing with our problems. Identity. When we know who we are - the rest will be alot easier.

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	Ethiopians and Druze 31-Mar-08 What do Ethiopian Jews in Israel and the Israeli Druze community have in common? Both live in Israel and are citizens. Both represent some very disturbing phenomenon in Israel as our thoughts turn to Israel on its sixtieth birth day. A few years ago I was in the Jewish Agency in Jerusalem where they were preparing a display of the dramatic rescue of Ethiopian Jewry and their return home to Zion. From time immemorial the Jews of Ethiopia turned towards Holy Land and like Jews the world over, longed for 'next year in Jerusalem!" Now they were finally home. Many walked for weeks. not all made it as wild animals, slave traders and the elements took their toll. A modern Exodus story. Is there anything more dramatic or inspiring? A particular poster caught my eye. It captured the moment as young Ethiopian mother with her baby on her back take their first steps in the Promised land. The traditional colored, modest clothing and the wonder in her eyes was truly a scene worthy to be preserved. Next to that poster was one depicting another young Ethiopian woman. This one described her successful integration into Israel. Gone were the simple modest clothing. Tight fitting jeans and well you can imagine... What a happy young lady! She was now part of the global village. Israel was her a portal to the real world. Now she can look like any other hip hop young chick. How liberating. She has fulfilled the dream of millennia..thanks to Israeli government. When I shared my thoughts with a young female employee of the Agency, she could not understand my concern. "Indeed this was exactly the success that was hoped for. Ethiopian Jews have made it. They were "Israelis" finally. a new creation. How many light years was this from what her parents dreamt about for her? To instantly melt into the world village and be mistaken for a young African American in NY or LA! Something just did not seem right but my fellow Israeli Agency worker did not think so at all. I had occassion to witness the yearly mass gathering of the Ethiopian community as they celebrate the ancient holiday that remembered Jerusalem. In Ethiopia they would gather once a year on a hill and face Jerusalem with prayer and praise, longing for the day ...as did Moses on Mount Moab where he longed for but could not enter the Land. Today in Jerusalem they gather in their tens of thousands, this time in Jerusalem overlooking the Temple Mount. How wonderful to see our brothers at home together with us and fulfilling their dream! Hundreds of elders and rabbis (called kayses) in their traditional festive best. Thousands of their flock gathered, facing the Temple Mount. Is there anything more heart warming? Unfortunately, large parts of the flock have wandered from the path and are floundering in dangerous fields. I saw these lost sheep. The bus I was riding in was targeted as we drove by. Threatening looks and less than friendly words yelled at us by throngs of teenagers strolling slowly across the street showing us who owned the road. Was I in Jerusalem or in a no go neighborhood in Brooklyn, NY. They looked and dressed like them. they walked like'Was it supposed to be this way? Were they saved from the long Exile for this..? The young Jewish Agency lady probably sees this as the price of progress. On the other hand I saw other young Ethiopians that day. Calm, disciplined, dressed in a respectable fashion, part of a Benai Akiva youth group. Some were group leaders and were engaged in organized, constructive activities appropriate for the occasion. The look on their faces was one on purpose and respect for others and for themselves. What a difference. I wonder how they would fit into the Jewish Agency poster..? The grave mistakes being made with so many Ethiopian youth have been made with the Jewish immigrants expelled from Arab lands in the fifties. Yes, a new Jew was created by Israel. There were Jewish Agency posters then too. The common denominator to all the above is one word - identity. Do we appreciate who we are why we are here? It seems that many of our problems. both internal and external can be linked to that word - Identity- our sense of identity in this Land. Which brings me to the Druze. The Druze community comprise about 2% of Israel's population. They are Arabs but have their own "secret religion" Known to be a simple rural people - fierce fighters when they must and loyal to the powers that be as long as they are treated fairly and especially if the government is indeed perceived to be in control and have clear political direction. During Israel's War of Independence, the Druze like everyone else believed the Jewish state had no chance and so they fought against the Jews on the side of the other Arabs. However when it became clear that the Jews were going to win, the Druze switched sides and ended up winner. The Druze like a winner. They have a very healthy sense of where the winds are blowing - a necessity of survival in the region. Their elders urged Israel to take their sons into the IDF thus insuring the pact between them and the Jews. Indeed the Druze community has always been held up as the example of cooperation and respect between the Jewish state and its minorities. This was true as long as they felt their patron was a winner. Since Oslo and subsequent retreats, the abandonment of our South Lebanon allies and Arab terror onslaughts, the Druze have been having second thoughts. The Druze are Israel's litmus test. If they are loyal and respectful of the Jewish state and Jews then we are ok. Just watch the Druze. Last month there was a pogrom in Pe'kin, A Galilee village with a Druze majority and a few Jewish families. The excuse for the riot was a cell phone antenna. The result was all the Jewish homes were torched or ransacked. A Jewish police woman was abducted and ransomed for arrested Druze rioters. This has been the latest example of the Druze smelling the changing winds. The list of Druze challenges to Israeli authority is well known and worrisome. This did not happen in the pre Oslo days. It did not happen when Jews knew why they were here and were not in a rush to join the global village. Identity. They see how Israel falls over itself to ape all things none Jewish and how she tries in every way to convince our neighbors to please take another piece of our heart(land). The Druze do not understand this but know something is not very kosher with their erstwhile patrons and model. So they are switching horses. The Druze like a winner. So what do Ethiopian Jews and Druze have in common - Our identity - the first step in dealing with our problems. Identity. When we know who we are - the rest will be alot easier. Other articles:
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Ethiopians and Druze