11 AM LOS ANGELES • 2 PM NEW YORK
Yerusalem is an Israeli documentary that tells the story of the Ethiopian “Beta Israel” Jewish community and their journey to Israel, focusing on the “Operation Solomon” and “Operation Moses” airlifts of the 1980s. The film explores the challenges and discrimination faced by Ethiopian Jews in Israel, particularly regarding their acceptance and integration into Israeli society, despite their long history of Jewish observance.
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VIEW THE TRAILER
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THE SCHEDULE
⇒ February 20-23, watch the film Yerusalem on your home device. A link will be provided to all who register.
⇒ Sunday, February 22 at 2:00 p.m. US Eastern Time, tune into the program with our distinguished panel of speakers. A link will be provided to all who register.
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MEET THE SPEAKERS
Mehereta Baruch-Ron, left, is a trailblazing Ethiopian-Israeli politician, activist, and public speaker who has made a significant impact on Israeli civic life and representation. Rising from a childhood marked by adversity — including a harrowing journey on foot from Ethiopia to Israel during Operation Moses — she went on to become the first woman of Ethiopian descent elected to the Tel Aviv-Yafo City Council. She later made history again as the city’s Deputy Mayor, championing issues of social justice, education, and civil rights. A powerful advocate for diversity, inclusion, and women’s empowerment, she is widely recognized for her work in bridging communities and creating equal opportunities for underrepresented populations.
Levi Zini, right, the director of Yerusalem, is a preeminent figure in Israeli documentary filmmaking, boasting over four decades of creating independent films and TV documentaries. From 2009-13 he was the Chief Commissioner of Israel’s leading documentary channel, Channel 8. A recipient of numerous accolades from both local and international festivals, he has twice been honored with Israel’s Minister of Education Award for Documentary Filmmaking. He is an active member of the Israeli documentary community, serving on the board of the Israeli Documentary Forum. He is also the founder and Art Director of the Tel Aviv-based Doc. Films production house.
Dr. Shmuel Legesse, left, is an international educator, community activist, and diplomacy expert. A Black African Jew from Ethiopia’s ancient Jewish community, he has devoted his career to strengthening Jewish unity, advancing Zionism, and fostering global dialogue. He has published widely on Middle Eastern affairs, Zionism, and Jewish identity, with a special emphasis on the contributions and struggles of Ethiopian Jews. His op-eds and essays emphasize that Judaism is not defined by race or geography but by covenant, faith, and shared destiny. He lives in Jerusalem and is the author of the forthcoming Moral Diplomacy for a Broken World: Inspired by the Vision of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks.
Richard Hurowitz, right, who will moderate, is a writer, investor, and the publisher of The Octavian Report, the quarterly magazine of ideas. He is the author of In the Garden of the Righteous (HarperCollins) on Holocaust rescue. He serves on the governing board of the Yale University Art Gallery and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations. He was a co-founder of the Renew Democracy Initiative. He received his BA in history from Yale University, magna cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. He earned a JD from Columbia University School of Law, where he was a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar and the editor-in-chief of the Columbia/VLA Journal of Law & the Arts. He is a member of the New York State Bar Association.
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Registration is by donation of any amount ($18 suggested, tax-deductible).
