Israel - In Photos: Rare Snowstorm Paralyzes Jerusalem Area, Northern Israel -- VosIzNeias.com

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. Photo by Nati Shohat/FLASH90

Israel - The worst snowstorm in 20 years shut public transport, roads and schools in Jerusalem on Thursday and along the northern Israeli region bordering on Lebanon.

Elisha Peleg, an official in charge of emergencies with Israel’s municipality for Jerusalem, urged the city’s residents to remain at home and stay off the streets, telling Israel Army Radio the area had overnight seen its greatest snowfall since 1992.

He said 10 to 15 centimetres (4 to 6 inches) of snow had piled up in the city centre and more than that in outlying areas. “The downtown area is bathed in white,” Peleg said.

“The elders of Jerusalem don’t remember such a snowstorm in years,” Peleg also said.

Public transport had ground to a halt, and many vehicles that ventured onto roads were stuck, he added, urging citizens to remain at home.

“Make it a family day. In the afternoon, the temperatures are supposed to rise and you will be able to head out for some shopping,” Peleg added.

Israel Radio said a highway linking Jerusalem to Tel Aviv was blocked, and that much of the northern Galilee region was paralysed by snow, with 30 cm (12 inches) said to have accumulated in the city of Safed.

Eitan El Hadez, an Israeli from the coastal town of Netanya north of Tel Aviv, poses as an active skier on the plaza before the Western Wall (behind), Judaism’s holiest site, in Jerusalem’s Old City, 10 January 2013. The storm left about 10-15 cm of wet snow on the city. Eitan, who does not know how to ski at all, travelled four hours on public bus in the storm to get to Jerusalem in order to take pictures of himself in a sportsman’s pose. (Credit: EPA)
 

Tourists visit the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site, during a snow storm in Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel, 10 January 2013. The storm left about 15 centimeters of wet snow on the city. (Credit: EPA)

An Israeli holds his arms up as he sings prayers after praying at the Western Wall (behind), Judaism’s holiest site, during a snow storm in Jerusalem’s Old City, Israel, 10 January 2013. The storm left about 15 centimeters of wet snow on the city. (Credit: EPA)

Ultra Orthodox Jews walk along the Old City walls during a snow storm in Jerusalem, 10 January 2013. The mid-East region has been gripped by a cold wave accompanied by heavy snowfalls since a few days. (Credit: EPA)

An Ultra Orthodox Jew wades through the snow next to the Old City walls in Jerusalem, during a snow storm in the city, on 10 January 2013. The mid-East region has been gripped by a cold wave accompanied by heavy snowfalls since a few days. (Credit: EPA)

Ultra Orthodox Jews walk along the Old City walls during a snow storm in Jerusalem, 10 January 2013. The mid-East region has been gripped by a cold wave accompanied by heavy snowfalls since a few days. (Credit: EPA)

View of the snow-covered Jaffo Street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Jerusalem Light Train on a snowy day on Jaffo Street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Jerusalem Light Train on a snowy day on Jaffo Street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the snow-covered Ben Yehuda street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the snow-covered Ben Yehuda street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the snow-covered Ben Yehuda street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israelis seen on a snowy winter evening at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City. January 09, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israelis seen on a snowy winter evening at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City. January 09, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

General view of the Old City Wall under heavy snow in Jerusalem on January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

General view of the Old City Wall under heavy snow in Jerusalem on January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

View of the snow covered streets on a winter evening in Jerusalem. January 09, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israelis seen playing in the snow on Ben Yehuda on a winter day in Jerusalem. January 09, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

The Jerusalem Light Train seen driving on Jaffo Street in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 09, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

An Orthodox Jewish man seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen walking through the alleys of Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the the Hurva sunagogue, otherwise known as Tiferet Yisrael, at the Jewish quarter in Jerusalem’s Old on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

View of the distinctive golden Dome of the Rock, ( or the Temple mount) from the Jewish quarter in Jerusalem’s Old on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

The Dome of the Rock is seen in the background of where an ultra orthodox Jewism man seen walking on rooftops in Jerusalem’s Old on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

View of the distinctive golden Dome of the Rock, ( or the Temple mount) and the Western wall from the Jewish quarter in Jerusalem’s Old on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen near a snowman in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen posing for a photograph near a snowman in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Ultra orthodox Jewish men seen building an igloo at Safra square in Jerusalem, on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

Israelis play in the snow in the Saker Park in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israelis play in the snow in the Saker Park in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the Tower of David and the Old City walls in Jerusalem, on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Ultra orthodox Jewish men seen playing near the Old City walls in Jerusalem, on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

An Orthodox Jewish man wears a prayer shawl as he prays at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen walking with a Torah scroll as they pray at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen praying at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the Tower of David and the Old City walls in Jerusalem, on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

An Orthodox Jewish man seen walking on the snow-covered Jaffo Street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

An Orthodox Jewish man seen walking on the snow-covered Jaffo Street in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israeli president Shimon Peres seen with a snowman in the garden of Peres’ residence, on a snowy winter day in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

An Israeli man wears his prayer shawl as he walks through the snow in Gush Etzion, near Jerusalem, January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

Israelis play in the snow in Gush Etzion, near Jerusalem, January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash 90)

Orthodox Jewish men seen at the Western Wall, in Jerusalem’s Old City, on a snowy winter morning. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the Montefiore windmill in the Mishkenot Sha’ananim neighborhood in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of the snow covered streets in the Mishkenot Sha’ananim neighborhood in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View of Jerusalem’s Old City seen from the Montefiore neighborhood in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

View seen from the Montefiore neighborhood in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Snow-covered roads in Jerusalem on a snowy winter day. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israelis play in the snow in the Independence Park in Jerusalem. January 10, 2013. (Credit: Flash90)

Israel - In Photos: Rare Snowstorm Paralyzes Jerusalem Area, Northern Israel -- VosIzNeias.com

Ethiopia's last Jews prepare for 'Promised Land'

Ethiopia's last Jews prepare for 'Promised Land'

Members of Falah Mura say they feel frozen in limbo, not quite at home in Ethiopia, eager to become Israeli, and suffering from long separation from family members who have already left

AFP

Published:  01.12.13, 07:29 / Israel Jewish Scene

It was one of the most daring operations in Ethiopian history: Israel's 1991 airlift of Ethiopian Jews, when nearly 15,000 people were crammed into a series of non-stop flights lasting 36 hours.

Clutching only a few belongings, in planes with seats removed to make more space, they left a nation their ancestors had called home for two millennia for a land they knew only from scripture.

Homecoming

Israeli ambassador visits her Ethiopian hometown / Itamar Eichner Nearly three decades after immigrating to Israel, Belaynesh Zevadia returns to her village in Ethiopia, this time as Israel's ambassador Full story

More than two decades later, some 2,000 descendants and relatives of those Israel had identified as original Jews are set to join them in the Holy Land.

All that's left of Ethiopia's Jewish population, called the Falash Mura, or "wanderers" in Ethiopia's Amharic language – is expected to move to Israel over the next 18 months, the end of an ancient chapter of Ethiopian history.

"It is God's promise to us to go to the Promised Land and fulfill his prophecy... but that doesn't change the fact that I am Ethiopian," said Gasho Abenet, 25.

Ethiopia's remaining Falash Mura live in Gondar in the north of the country, supported by the Jerusalem-based organization The Jewish Agency for Israel, where many have waited for years to complete bureaucratic hurdles and win approval to move.

Many say they feel frozen in limbo, not quite at home in Ethiopia, eager to become Israeli, and suffering from a long separation from family members who have already left.

"Once... you're in this halfway status of being internal refugees, you're certainly better off in Israel than being internal refugees in Ethiopia," said Steven Kaplan, professor of religion and African studies at Jerusalem's Hebrew University.

Many Jews in Ethiopia – a small minority in a country where officially 62% are Christian and 34% are Muslim – say they have been misunderstood and even discriminated against.

Housing rents are arbitrarily hiked, some say, and many report name-calling from those who do not understand or accept Judaism.

"It is difficult to live here in Ethiopia as an Israelite because we get insulted," 22-year-old Amhare Fantahun said.

For Gasho, it means never feeling fully at home in the land of his birth.

"The life that we are living here is a nightmare, we can never settle," he said, donning a black and white skullcap and a Star of David pin.

Disputed roots

Despite their feeling of apparent transience, the history of Judaism in Ethiopia dates back about 2,000 years.

The precise roots are disputed: Some say Ethiopia's ancient Jews – called Beta Israel, or "House of Israel" – are descendants of Jewish nomads who travelled first to Egypt, then on to Ethiopia.

Others say they are direct descendants of the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon.

The Falash Mura, descendants of the Beta Israeli – many of whom were forced to convert to Christianity in the 18th and 19th centuries – have observed a unique interpretation of Judaism for generations.

Practices include separating menstruating women from men and burying their dead in Christian cemeteries. They must learn Rabbinic law and Hebrew before moving to Israel.

In skullcaps and draped in prayer scarves, they gather every week in Gondar's makeshift synagogue, a corrugated iron shed painted the blue and white of Israel's flag, chanting verses from the Torah in Ethiopia's Amharic language.

The push to transport Ethiopia's Jews to Israel began in the 1980s, under Ethiopia's brutal Communist dictator Mengistu Hailemariam, who used Ethiopia's Jews as pawns and tried to trade them for weapons from Israel.

Many left Ethiopia illegally, travelling by foot to Sudan, where 20,000 people were eventually flown to Israel in Operation Moses in 1985, the precursor to the 1991 airlift from the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa.

The airlift, known as Operation Solomon, came as Mengistu lost his grip on power.

There are about 130,000 Jews of Ethiopian descent in Israel today. By March 2014, the immigration of Ethiopia's Jews to Israel is expected to finish, closing an ancient chapter of Ethiopia's history.

Under Ethiopia's Emperor Haile Selassie, departure for Israel was blocked as he said the country would lose a key cornerstone of its heritage.

"Haile Selassie said, 'If we did that we would lose one of the key elements in the Ethiopian tapestry. They represent a tradition that we all think we're descended from,'" said Stephen Spector, author of a book about the airlift.

New chapter

But for Israeli ambassador to Ethiopia Belyanesh Zevadia – who was born in Ethiopia and lived in Israel for 28 years – the end of the returns to Israel merely marks a new chapter in relations between the two countries.

"Maybe (we are) losing the culture, the Jewish culture," she said. "But there are so many of them coming back and investing here... so we are building the bridge between the two countries."

Gasho said the heritage lives on in other ways too, even though most of the Falash Mura have left the country.

"We Jewish who are living here in Ethiopia, we taught our wisdom and knowledge," he said. "Our culture is well understood throughout the community... learning, metallurgy, handcraftsmanship, it is all passed on," Gasho added.

At Addis Ababa's transit centre, where the Falash Mura gather before boarding a flight to Israel, new shoes and clothes are passed around as children play table tennis and table football under the beating afternoon sun.

Despite not knowing what to expect when they reach Israel, there is a sense of happiness from those about to leave Ethiopia for good.

"I am going to miss Ethiopia, of course, but this is life, so I have to go to Israel, and that is the path decided for me," said Malefeya Zelelu, 84, who waited in Gondar for 14 years before being approved to leave.

"I am now going to be an Israelite," he added, smiling widely.

http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4329630,00.html