British families celebrate Bar/Bat Mitzvot in Ethiopian style

Twenty two families from London, Glasgow and Manchester travelled to Israel this summer to celebrate becoming Bar and Bat Mitzvah together with the children of Ethiopian immigrants. Participants in the UJIA Ethiopian Bar/Bat Mitzvah Programme joined 40 Ethiopian families and over 300 guests for an emotional ceremony in Jerusalem conducted in Hebrew, Amharic and English where the children were blessed by the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yona Metzger.

The UJIA Ethiopian Bar/Bat Mitzvah Programme is an educational scheme that prepares Ethiopian immigrants for this milestone event in their lives, whilst helping them to integrate into Israeli society. Now into its fifteenth year, over 500 Ethiopian boys and girls living in Absorption Centres in Tsfat have taken part in the UJIA programme created in partnership with the Jewish Agency for Israel and the Federation of Zionist Youth (FZY).

Since 2004, many of the Ethiopians have been "twinned" with children from the UK, creating a 'Living Bridge' between the communities, and this summer more British families flew out to join their Ethiopian "twins" than ever before. Working together across two continents, the participants learn about Jewish heritage and are prepared, practically and spiritually, for Jewish adulthood. Throughout the year participants also explore each other's cultures and the British children gain a unique insight into the history, customs and challenges of Ethiopian Jewry.

Karen Goodkind, Chair of the UJIA Ethiopian Bar/Bat Mitzvah Programme, said:

"Becoming Bar and Bat Mitzvah marks the start of a young Jew's journey into adulthood, but for the children of Ethiopian immigrants in Israel, it is also the start of their life in a new country. By taking part in this programme, British Jews are supporting Ethiopian immigrants to integrate into Israeli society and creating a 'Living Bridge' between our communities."

Visit our photo gallery to see more pictures from this event.