November 28, 2012 / 14 Kislev 5773 5 pm Israel Time

The event will take place tomorrow at 15:00 at the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Ibim Absorption Center (north of Sderot)

500 Olim (immigrants) from Ethiopia who arrived in Israel in recent weeks during Operation Dove’s Wings are now living in the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Ibim Absorption Center in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council (north of Sderot).

Last week, the Olim were forced to sit in bomb shelters and protected rooms due to the very real threat of rocket fire from the Gaza Strip. Tomorrow, they will celebrate as they dance at a “Hachnasat Sefer Torah” ceremony. This ceremony, to inaugurate a new Torah scroll, is one of the happiest events within the Jewish lifecycle. The Sefer Torah was donated by Charles and Ariela Zeloof.

In July 2012, the government of Israel decided to increase the rate of Aliyah from Ethiopia in order to complete the process as quickly as possible. It was decided to reopen the Jewish Agency’s Ibim Absorption Center located in the Sha’ar HaNegev Regional Council, which will be able to accommodate up to 600 of the Falash Mura.  To date, 500 Olim have arrived at Ibim, amongst them 100 who arrived only a few hours after the beginning of Operation Pillar of Defense.

The event will take place tomorrow, Thursday 29.11.2012 at 15:00 at Ibim Absorption Center in the Sha’ar Hanegev Regional Council (north of Sderot). Religious and public leaders will be in attendance.

For additional information or to confirm attendance call Benjamin Rutland on 052 6091099.