Mask Fund for Kids of Jewish Addis Ababa

If you knew that $5 could save a life, what would you do?  Well in Ethiopia, $5 can save two lives by giving masks to kids in Jewish Kechene Village in Ethiopia. We invite you to join us to help the Jewish community of Ethiopia.  

Each mask was made in Ethiopia by the Jewish community. The proceeds will go directly to the Jewish community to help the new synagogue, moving costs and help with the new community center.

Help the community stop the spread by buying a mask or donating for them to make them. The community of weavers and craftsmen make their own masks and sanitizer. By buying a mask you help men and women with employment and with protecting their community. 

We are Sam Litvin and Sintayehu Garedew.  Sam and Sint in Ethiopia, while Sam was traveling the world photographing disappearing Jewish communities and Sint, was the acting president of the Ethiopian North Shewa Zionist Organization in Addis Ababa.  They retained a good friendship even as Sint moved to United States and Sam to Israel.

As COVID arrived in Ethiopia, they both realized that never have we seen a threat to Jews in Ethiopia as we see today. The novel Coronavirus COVID 19 is a worldwide tragedy. The virus claims the lives of up to 80% of those who are over 80 years old in advanced economies. There are over 60,000 people in the Jewish village of Kechene on the outskirts of Addis Ababa where there is poor sanitation, cramped living, and no medical access.

Jews of Addis Ababa
 Many know of the Jews from North Ethiopia who walked from Gondar to Sudan to be brought to Israel in the operation Solomon. But few know that Jews have lived in Addis Ababa for hundreds of years.  Unlike the Jewish people of Gondar, Jews of Addis Ababa could not walk to Sudan to be rescued, and so they remain in Ethiopia to this very day.

The community lives at the doorstep of one of Africa’s biggest cities,  but the Jews there are relegated to living in large numbers in small shacks, with dirt floors and poor sanitation. Now, with COVID at the door,  this is a disaster waiting to happen. But you can help stop this.

Jewish people in Ethiopia as often is the case, are a repressed and underprivileged community.  Although they have been prized for their weaving, pottery, and blacksmith skills for hundreds of years, due to their ethnicity and religion, have been barred from owning land or economic and educational opportunities.

And yet, they have survived the adversity and have clung to their religion. They celebrate Jewish holidays and their heritage. They are resilient, warm, and generous and it is a duty to help those who need help. Because they need help today, but we may need help tomorrow. 

Project Goals
          1) Protect and save the lives of the most vulnerable people in the Jewish North Shewa region and Kechene village.
          2) Help raise the political and economic status of Jewish people in North Shewa 
          3) Create awareness of the culture and history of Jewish people of North Shewa.
          4) Create meaningful connections between the Ethiopian Jewish people and the greater world Jewry. 

Who We Are
    Belayneh Tazebku and Michael Moges of the Ethiopian Lovers of Zion Association (LOZA) in Kechene.
     Sint Garedew of North Shewa Zionist Organization and Sam Litvin of Our Jewish Story   
     Distribution volunteers of Ethiopian North Shewa Zionist Organization in Kechene.

The Plan

The Jewish community already has workshops with sewing machines provided by Friends of Beta Israel and  Temple Israel, expert weavers and distribution volunteers that can sew and distribute 400 masks a week.  With your donation, we can secure the most vulnerable in the community, the elderly who are the keepers of ancient traditions.  At the same time, we will help the community fight the economic downturn now and by creating the workshops with the sewing machines, ensure future economic security. 

Are You Ready??
 With our connections and your help, we can avert a humanitarian disaster.  We hope that you join us, and with a small contribution, help my people save our village elders, the keepers of our customs and traditions for thousands of years. 

Jewish community always pulls together to do the right thing in times of crisis. We know we can count on you to come through and help our least advantaged Jewish community.


Join us.  Jews of Kechene need your help.



For more information, read about the community here
https://kulanu.org/communities/ethiopia/ethiopias-kechene-jewish-community/
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/beta-israel-community-in-ethiopia-receives-humanitarian-aid-from-israel-636610
https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2015/07/25/a-shul-goer-in-life-will-abraham-find-a-place-in-death/
https://www.sdjewishworld.com/2014/05/22/temesgen-cd-evokes-memories-ethiopias-jews/
https://thejewishnews.com/2020/06/25/out-of-hiding-group-of-ethiopias-hidden-jews-find-aid-and-support-to-improve-their-lives-and-practice-judaism/
http://www.samthejewishguy.com/jews-human-rights-and-an-engineer-as-obama-visits-ethiopia/
http://www.samthejewishguy.com/bete-avraham-of-ethiopia-they-were-lost-but-now-theyre-found/
http://www.samthejewishguy.com/president-obama-at-solomon-and-queen-sheba-painting/
http://www.samthejewishguy.com/obituary-for-abraham/
https://kulanu.org/communities/ethiopia/kechene-jews-ethiopia/
https://kulanu.org/communities/ethiopia/ethiopias-kechene-jewish-community/
http://www.kulanu.org/wp-content/uploads/magazines/2010-spring.pdf
https://kulanu.org/communities/ethiopia/secret-jewish-communities/
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/why-jews-help-jews-in-ethiopia/
https://www.press.et/english/?p=26387#