Shuvu Banim Community Center for the Jews of Ethiopia

The story

At the corner of Shaul HaMelech Street and Mivtza Uvda Street, in Neighborhood Vav, stands a spiritual community center of the Jews of Ethiopia in Beersheba. It is listed in the synagogue list of the Religious Council in the city under the name "Shuvu Banim", and in the associations registry of the Ministry of Justice under the full name — "Shuvu Banim Spiritual Community Center for the Jews of Ethiopia in Beer Sheva" — from 19 March 1992. In its registered objectives nine things are written, and only the first is a synagogue: a mikveh and a house of culture, day nurseries, the study of languages and of Hebrew for new immigrants, activity groups for various ages, a center of assistance for families in obtaining their rights, services for the elderly of Ethiopian origin in the city, and religious study for adults and for the young. In its report for the year 2024 six hundred and five members are recorded. Beta Israel sat in the northwest of Ethiopia, at heights of two thousand to three thousand meters, around the Simien Mountains and Lake Tana. Their language of worship is Ge'ez, and their religious leadership — the priests, the kessim — is what interpreted the holy scriptures. Two great operations brought them to Israel: Operation Moses, which lasted from 21 November 1984 until 5 January 1985 and brought up six thousand three hundred and sixty-four Jews by way of the refugee camps in Sudan; and Operation Solomon, on 24 and 25 May 1991, in which fourteen thousand three hundred and ten people were brought up within thirty-six hours. In Beersheba there is registered also the Council of the Priests of the Jews of Ethiopia in the Negev, on Moyal Eliyahu Street, and in its objectives it is written to keep the heritage of the community as its forefathers kept it in Ethiopia.

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