Ethiopian Bar Bat Mitzvah- Monthly club meetings

A Letter from Yoni

My name is Yoni and I am one of four Israeli Scout ShinShinim to the UK. As part of our Shnat-Sherut (gap year) we volunteer in different Jewish organisations in the UK. As part of my voluntary work with the UJIA, I help run the Ethiopian Bar Bat Mitzvah club meetings.

The club meetings that we run once a month take the kids on a journey. They learn about Ethiopian Jewry's life back in Africa, their voyage to Israel, and their current life in Israel. We teach the kids about the two cultures with an emphasis on the Jewish festivals. They learn the differences and similarities between Mainstream Judaism and Ethiopian tradition, and develop values such as loving one another and acceptance.

In addition, we work closely with South Hampstead Synagogue's youth workers, in order to give the kids a traditional Jewish aspect on their Bar/Bat Mitzvah.

The club is twinned with Ethiopian Olim from Tzfat. They exchange letters and gifts. This gives the kids an opportunity to hold a strong relationship with their twins from Israel. Additionally, there is an individual twinning track, where some of the club participants twin with Ethiopian Olim from Israel.

We can see from past years that this programme has a huge impact, and that the twins become a big part of the participants' Bar/Bat Mitzvah experience.

Take a look at one of our monthly Peulot (programmes) and please contact
Debbie Newman for more information on joining a club.

Yoni Michalowsky