October 29, 2009 / 11 Cheshvan 5770

An aircraft that landed in Israel on October 27, 2009 carried a group of new immigrants to Israel – as well as an extraordinary story of an emotional family reunion.

Ababa is a 35-year-old Ethiopian Jew who immigrated to Israel many years ago.  He left behind in Ethiopia his two daughters, who were born to his girlfriend, from whom he had separated before making Aliyah.

Ababa wished to bring his two daughters to Israel, but their mother was opposed to their making Aliyah.

One year ago, the girls’ mother died in Ethiopia from a serious illness.  An Ethiopian court then granted the father permission to bring his two daughters to Israel.

The girls arrived in Israel on the night of October 27, and went to live with their father in Rehovot.  Their father, who is 35 years old, lives in the same building as his two brothers.

On the flight with the two girls were a total of 142 new immigrants, including 57 children. The immigrants were warmly greeted and brought to the Jewish Agency Tzahal 9 Absorption Center in Safed and the Jewish Agency Charuv Absorption Center in Beer Sheba.

A special ceremony will be held in the immigrants' honor on the Sigd holiday, November 16, at the Jerusalem International Convention Center (Binyanei Ha’uma) where they will receive their Israeli citizenship cards.