Creating Space. The Construction of Ethiopian Heritage and Memory in Israel / Créer l’espace: la construction d’une mémoire et d’un patrimoine éthiopiens en Israël

Abstract

Thirty years after the rst mass immigration of Ethiopian Jews to Israel, the status of the Ethiopian community today numbering over 138,000 still does not approach that of the general Jewish population. Many in the government, in non -governmental organizations, and in the community, have at long last come to view acknowledgment of the Ethiopian Jewish heritage as a miracle solution to the integration problem. By looking at what has been done regarding the heritage of Ethiopian Jewish immigrants to Israel, this article sets out to determine the role that heritage and memory (can) play in the community’s integration. I will review memorials, exhibitions, and “back to your roots’ trips,” and look at the expectations government authorities, private actors, and community leaders hold for them. I will argue that emphasizing the heritage of Ethiopian Jews thirty years after their arrival in Israelwill not have the anticipated effect on their integration.