Thursday, March 28, 2024 -
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Report from the Israel that Americans never see

walked into the synagogue, as I have on hundreds of other Friday nights throughout my life. Except this time, I was quickly approached by an elderly man wielding a six-foot staff who immediately questioned whether I was in the right place, or whether I was looking for another synagogue. After confirming that this was the Ethiopian synagogue, I affirmed that indeed, it was my intended destination. I was then asked my name, origin and purpose in being there. After explaining I merely desired to pray the evening service together with them, I was welcomed in warmly. Twenty minutes later, I well understood the unexpected interview I originally received. Not only did all the men carry tall staffs, but both men and women were dressed in […]
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Chaim Goldberg is a columnist with the IJN. He holds rabbinical ordination from Yeshiva University and a graduate degree in psychology from The Hebrew University in Jerusalem. Currently, he lives in Jerusalem where he works as an educational psychologist and teaches at gap-year programs.


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