South Wing to Zion - Association for Ingathering and Absorption of Ethiopian Jewry

GOALS
To ensure the safety of those in Ethiopia waiting to make aliya, to bring them to Israel and to help them in their absorption process.

BACKGROUND
South Wing to Zion (SWZ) was established in 1991 to promote the immigration of Ethiopians of Jewish descent left behind during that year's Operation Solomon, particularly the Falash Mura. The organization has won a petition to the High Court of Justice requiring the procedure for examining aliya candidates from Ethiopia to beidentical to that for candidates from other countries. It also won recognition by the Chief Rabbinate that the Falash Mura are of Jewish descent and reaffirmation by the government of a previous decision to bring to Israel all eligible Falash Mura.

STRATEGIES
Lobbying decision-makers; protests; consciousness-raising among American Jews; petitioning the High Court of Justice; holding orientation conferences at absorption centers; leadership training.

HIGHLIGHTS

• The organization continued its campaign to implement the government's decision of December 2004 to bring the rest of the Falash Mura to Israel, including a 2003 High Court petition to order the government to do so.
• SWZ held orientations for new immigrants at 33 absorption centers and 125 conferences with veteran immigrants on their rights and obligations as citizens.
• The organization held a national conference for some 400 Ethiopian immigrants on absorption issues, assistance to those waiting in Ethiopia, community organizing there and in Israel.
• During last summer's war in Lebanon, SWZ representatives visited the North to provide humanitarian assistance and psychological support to Ethiopian immigrant families.