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President Reuven Rivlin on Sunday morning laid a wreath and spoke at the official memorial ceremony for Ethiopian Jews who perished on the journey to Israel. Also speaking at the ceremony was Prime Minister Binyain Netanyahu, Minister for Immigrant Absorption Sofa Landver, and Rachel Tania Rubel representing the bereaved families. Also in attendance was Mayor of Jerusalem Nir Barkat, Ethiopia’s Ambassador to Israel, and other senior figures.

“I stand alongside the monument which tells your story – the story of the villages and towns from which you came, the story of the home left behind, the story of the long and painful journey which you chose to undertake, a story of yearning, of longing for Zion. This story, is one of your heroism, of a strong and determined community,” said the President as he began his address. He continued, “My brothers and sisters, Israelis of Ethiopian origin. I often ask myself if, while you decided to set out on the journey, did you imagine the price, the price of your devotion to Jerusalem, which you were forced to pay. A heavy price; financially, physically, spiritually, and in the difficult acclimation.”

The President reiterated the importance of the absorption of immigrants as a society and said, “This aliyah places demands not only on the new arrivals, but first of all on the country to where they are arriving, that it should be fitting of the journey which they made to it. True, mistakes have been made despite the best intentions, many times we did not understand the challenges which lie before you. Yet one challenge which is clear, is that Israeli society is obligated to continue to readdress the failures, and ensure that Aliyah to Israel becomes more and more attractive and fitting. An exemplary society, such as Israeli society, is forged out of striving, out of sweat and tears, and crucially, out of hard work and constant improvement. There needs to be a great effort also in the everyday way we relate to the immigrants from Ethiopian, and also in spreading the community’s story of devotion, the story of those who perished, and those who were held captive, so that it is an integral part of the Israeli story.”

PM Netanyahu addresses the event

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem/Photo: Mark Neiman, GPO)