Ethiopian Jews | Mehereta Baruch-Ron on how black Jews are the original Zionists

As a child immigrant from rural Ethiopia, Mehereta Baruch Ron could never have imagined she would one day become deputy mayor of Israel's largest city, the international metropolitan Tel Aviv. In this riveting conversation with Eylon Levy, she shares her powerful story of perseverance, identity, and faith, recounting her community's ancient connection to Jerusalem, the harrowing journey through Sudan, and the profound cultural shock upon arriving in Israel. We also explore the unique form of Judaism practiced in Ethiopia, its biblical roots, and the challenges faced by Ethiopian Jews both in Ethiopia and in Israel. This conversation sheds light on the complexities of identity, belonging, and the misconceptions surrounding Israel in the global discourse.

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Credits:
Co-Creator and Host - Eylon Levy
Co-Creator and Creative Director - Guy Ross
Executive Producer - Asher Westropp-Evans
Director - Lotem Segev
Graphics/Assistant Director - Thomas Girsch
Research - Dan Dimendberg

00:00 Coming Up
00:56 Monologue
02:33 Main Titles
02:48 Introduciton
04:55 Ethiopian Jews - guardians of biblical Judaism
12:11 Ethiopian Zionism
18:36 Growing up in Ethiopia
23:03 Journey to Jerusalem
27:33 Meeting European Jews and modern Israel
30:22 The Left and Israel