UJIA Ethiopian Bar/Bat Mitzvah Twinning Programme

Now in its 12th year the UJIA twinning programme continues to grow from strength to strength with children from all over the UK twinning with an Ethiopian counterpart.

The concept most recently launched in Glasgow on September 2006 when UJIA Programmes Glasgow showed the award winning film "Live and Become" at the Glasgow Film Theatre with over 150 people attending. Jonathan Tuck (formerly from Glasgow) came from Manchester to address the audience with a moving presentation when he spoke about his experiences 'twinning' their son David with an Ethiopian boy. He also spoke of their visit to Tsfat where they met their Ethiopian Family and how they were made so welcome.

It wasn't long before Glasgow formed their first Bar/Bat mitzvah group and held monthly meetings where the children came together to learn all about their 'twins' and the Ethiopian lives and cultures. The Ethiopian children learn how to use computers in the absorption centre and through a translator letters are e-mailed to their 'twins' in Britian and very quickly relationships are formed through e-mailing. It is really special seeing their friendships develop through shared common interests.

The children made an art collage which was then sent to Israel and is now displayed on the walls of the Merkaz Kelitah -- they learnt how to cook Ethiopian food, and about the different festivals that are celebrated and most importantly they all took part in fundraising initiatives either individually or as a group. There were 14 children in this group - six boys with individual 'twins' two girls who shared and the six remaining boys also shared their 'twin'. As a group the children raised £3,000 by bag-packing in a local supermarket, running a car-boot sale and by running their own initiatives. In total, in 2006, Glasgow contributed £9,000 to the twinning programme.

One of the families who were involved were the Weingarten family whose son Nicholas was 'twinned' -- they in fact visited the absorption centre on two different occasions as well as coming out to Israel with the Banks family for the Bar Mitzvah celebrations in the summer.

In 2007/2008 UJIA Glasgow saw 16 children join our Bar/Bat Mitzvah club and again brought in a total of nearly £10,000 towards the project from either individual 'twinnings' or from fundraising. This summer UJIA had four Glasgow families join with the another thirteen British families who made their journey to Israel to celebrate with their Ethiopian 'twins'. This is what Barbara Haniford said of her daughter Nancy:

Nancy's experience started in November 2007 where she attended the UJIA Bar/ Bat Mitzvah club for the 'twinning' of the Ethiopian Jews, who were living in Israel. At the club she made many new friends and found it to be very sociable. Taking part in various activities, including cooking Ethiopian food, learning about their culture and the Ethiopians journey to Israel. Her 'twin' was identified and she started corresponding with Ailanish Jember. She recalls getting her first letter and picture from Ailanish and the excitement she felt.

"Meeting Nancy's 'twin' for the first time in Israel was exciting and emotional. Words cannot describe the feelings and emotions that we went through over the two days. Nancy's highlight of the trip was her day spent with her twin in the desert. For the rest of the family the 'twinning' ceremony at the Great Synagogue in Jerusalem, followed by the luncheon and Israeli dancing with all taking part was a truly memorable experience. Addresses given by the chief Rabbi of Israel and the highest ranking Ethiopian Officer in the IDF were extremely poignant in relation to explaining the journey of the Ethiopians and their integration into Israeli society."

"This has been an amazing experience one we will never forget and comes highly recommended!"

2008/2009 -- Art Project - MURAL

This year's project will be assisted by Mrs Tahel Littauer who is a professional art therapist and works in a rehabilitation centre in Glasgow. Tahel is Israeli but has lived in Glasgow for many years now. She has already started working with the children -- they will be choosing a word that means something special to them and they will illustrate that word -- Tahel will also be working with the Ethiopian children during the Chanukah holidays in Israel and they will be participating in the same project -- once finished the projects will be swapped -- this is something very special and we look forward to the outcome!

Through this amazing twinning project so many children (as well as their parents and siblings) throughout Britain will be "touched" by the Ethiopian Story -- this Bar/Bat mitzvah club really does make it a "living bridge" between Jewish children from two different countries who seem a world apart but actually have so much more in common than they think!

You can see photos from UJIA Glasgow's 'twinning' in our photo gallery. Please click here.