FIDEL - Association for the Integration and Success of Ethiopian-Israelis

Walking Together in Solidarity! 🌍💙

This week, the incredible youth from our Fidel Youth Center in Ashkelon took part in a deeply powerful and moving event – the International March of the Nations held right here in the city!

We are so proud of our teens for standing strong in this massive showcase of global solidarity with Israel and against antisemitism worldwide. 🤝✨

Check out some of their inspiring moments from the march! 👇

We are thrilled to celebrate the successful graduation of our Amharic Language Course in Ashdod, proudly held in partnership with the Ashdod Absorption Center (Moked Klita)!

Launched with the mission to provide practical language skills, deepen the connection to the rich Ethiopian heritage, and build cultural bridges, this course faced extraordinary challenges. Midway through the semester, operations had to be temporarily paused due to the security situation and wartime escalation ("Am Kalavi" operation). But our students? They didn’t miss a beat! 💪

The moment it was safe to return, they jumped right back into the classroom with unmatched energy. The numbers speak for themselves:
• 📈 An impressive 89.5% graduation rate! (17 out of 19 participants successfully completed the program).
• 📚 9 intensive sessions covering reading, writing, essential vocabulary, everyday phrases, and deep dives into Ethiopian cultural traditions.

This incredible milestone proves once again that language is the ultimate bridge to identity, belonging, and community strength.

A massive thank you to our dedicated instructor, Degfau Sandeke, for his exceptional teaching, big heart, and for leading this cohort to such an inspiring victory. To our wonderful new graduates—we are incredibly proud of your journey and dedication!

On the eve of Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Remembrance Day), we stand together in a unified call: Never Again.

Fidel Association bows its head in memory of the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. For us, remembrance is not just a look back at the past, but a moral imperative to build our future. We believe that "the world endures only for the sake of the breath of school children"—education is the primary tool for shaping society and ensuring that "Never Again" is a lived reality.

It is vital to remember that the shadow of Fascism did not spare the Jews of Ethiopia. During the Italian occupation of Ethiopia (1936–1941) under Mussolini’s regime, the Beta Israel community suffered under harsh decrees. Italian "Race Laws" were implemented in Ethiopia, leading to systemic persecution, confiscation of property, and severe violations of religious freedom.

History teaches us that the Fascist regime even planned to establish concentration camps for Ethiopian Jews as part of the "Final Solution" orchestrated by their ally, N**i Germany. Only the defeat of the Italian forces and the liberation of Ethiopia in 1941 prevented this horrific plan from being realized.

Our ability to remember these atrocities, alongside the incredible resilience of the human spirit, is what shapes our next generation—a generation of leadership, mutual responsibility, and compassion.

We remember. We educate. We build.

📌 Sources and further reading can be found in the comments below.

This International Women’s Day, Fidel Association pauses to salute the extraordinary women who form the backbone of Israeli society. This year, the numbers tell a story of unparalleled resilience and courage:

The Front Lines: Women now make up 20% of the IDF’s combat force. With 8,500 female combat soldiers serving on the front lines, they prove every day that no goal is out of reach.

The Pillars of the Homefront: While 18% of the reserve forces are women, there are tens of thousands more "Homefront Heroes"—the wives and partners of reservists. They carry 100% of the burden at home for months on end, commanding the family’s routine, finances, and emotional strength while their hearts are on the battlefield.

The Healing Heart: 80% of social workers are women. They are the ones holding communities together across the country, providing the vital "social first response" in times of routine and crisis alike.

Yet, amid these powerful statistics, one number breaks our hearts: 742 days. This is how long it has been since Haymanut Kasau was last seen. On this Women’s Day, the struggle to bring her home is a struggle that belongs to every one of us.

To the warriors, the reservists, the women holding down the home, and those healing the soul—you are the strength of the People of Israel.

Happy International Women's Day!

Wrapping up a week of meaningful impact 💛

The Ashkelon Youth Center celebrated the closing event of its "Healthy and Active Lifestyle Workshop", led by the coordinator from .
The final session included a reflection on the journey, an enriching talk for participants — and, of course, the exciting presentation of certificates 🎓

We are proud of the young people who took part, learned, grew, and chose to invest in themselves and their well-being.
Thank you to all our partners and to everyone who continues to promote knowledge, awareness, and healthy choices in the community.

Wishing everyone a peaceful and healthy weekend 🌿

🌳 Tu Bishvat, the Jewish New Year of the Trees, originates in the Mishnah and has long been connected to agriculture, the land, and the natural cycles of life.

Despite a deep connection to nature and farming, Tu Bishvat was not traditionally observed as a communal holiday by the Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jewish) community. For centuries, the community lived in Ethiopia, largely disconnected from the main centers of the Jewish world.

Beta Israel preserved the laws of the Torah and the biblical calendar with great care. However, holidays that developed outside the Torah or within later rabbinic tradition such as Hanukkah and Tu Bishvat were not central to communal life in Ethiopia.

Today, within Israel’s diverse society, members of the Ethiopian Jewish community also celebrate Tu Bishvat, as part of the shared Jewish-Israeli cultural space.

🌱 Happy Tu Bishvat
A beautiful opportunity to deepen our roots, not only those of the trees, but our own.

At Fidel Be’er Sheva, we hosted the opening night for our girls’ group 🩷.
About 15 teenage girls joined us for a fun, hands-on flower-arranging workshop. Throughout the activity, they connected, got to know one another, and began building a strong, supportive group that will meet consistently throughout the year 🫶🏼.

Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend,

Last week, as Hanukkah was coming to a close, approximately 50 teens from the Ashkelon Youth Center of the Fidel Association took part in a moving visit to the Neot Avi Nursing Home in Ashkelon.

The visit was conducted in small groups of 15–20 participants at a time, allowing for a gradual arrival and a more personal, respectful experience, while ensuring comfort and a sense of safety for both the residents and the youth. For some of the teens, this was their very first visit to a nursing home; for others, it was a return visit. For all of them, it was a meaningful and impactful experience.

The decision to visit Neot Avi was intentional and values-driven. Having visited in the past, we recognized how important it is for young people to occasionally step beyond the walls of the youth center. At the same time, visits to hospitals are not always possible due to parental consent, so we chose a nursing home as a meaningful, safe, and educational environment.

Not all residents are in regular contact with their families, and some of the teens do not have grandparents. For many of the participants, this was their first encounter with members of the older generation—an opportunity to cultivate generosity, compassion, and empathy.

The activity was thoughtfully planned in advance and included preparatory conversations for those who chose to participate, ensuring a supportive and intentional experience for everyone involved.
What stood out most was the deep compassion shown by the youth, alongside the joy and excitement expressed by the residents.

We are happy to share that this was not a one-time visit. These visits are expected to continue on a monthly basis, with the goal of turning this volunteer initiative into a lasting tradition at the youth center.

Because the light of Hanukkah does not end when the candles are extinguished—it continues through our actions. ✨

Two years have passed since that terrible day, Simchat Torah, October 7, 2023.
Even two years later, the war is not over, and hostages remain in Hamas captivity.
Two years of pain, loss, and the ongoing search for hope amid the broken pieces.

At Fidel Association, we remember the victims, the families, and the hostages.
We continue to provide a space for coping, healing, and building resilience among youth across Israel.

The past two years have reminded us, more than ever, that resilience is something we build together.
May the memory of the victims be a blessing.
May the hostages return home soon.
May we continue to build a future of light and mutual responsibility.

Gmar Chatimah Tovah to all.
We wish all our communities a year of growth, renewal, meaningful action, and only good news.

May we continue to create change together, empower youth, and build a brighter future for us all.
And may our hostages be released safely 🙏

With love,
The Fidel Family