Project NACOEJ
(North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry)
 Project
NACOEJ was launched during Sunday School classes in 2003/04.
It is a grassroots, non-profit organization aimed at helping
Ethiopian Jews survive in their homeland, where they face
rampant famine, disease and oppression. Its other mandates
include assisting Ethiopian Jews move to Israel, easing their
adjustment to Israeli society and preserving their unique,
age-old culture.
Temple Jeremiah adopted Project NACOEJ as its tzedakah
project for 2003/04. We wanted our children to know their
personal action can make a difference in the world. Each Sunday
School class selected its own tzedakah project for
this cause during the year. Ways of helping included: sponsoring
an Ethiopian child, purchasing a hand-made Ethiopian product
and donating school supplies to Ethiopian children moving
to Israel. A chart was on display at temple, showing how much
money was raised and how many school supplies were collected
for this worthwhile project.
As part of Temple Jeremiah's year-long tzedakah
drive in support of Project NACOEJ (North American Conference
on Ethiopian Jewry), our Religious School classes adopted
their own projects to help Ethiopian Jews. The display of
Ethiopian-made products was just one of the ways our school
children strove to make a difference in the lives of Ethiopian
Jews, both those living in their homeland and in Israel.
Display of Ethiopian Products
Sunday, December 7, 2003
Temple Jeremiah students and congregants were treated to
a display of Ethiopian products. Items included
tallits, hats, pictures, seder plates and woven products.
This was a wonderful opportunity to purchase hand-made crafts
from Ethiopian Jews and learn more about their plight.
In addition, Lynn Hazan, a Chicago Jewish activist who has
traveled to Ethiopia, made presentations about the Ethiopian
Jews to our Religious School students and parents, who were
captivated by her talk.
The display of Ethiopian products was a huge success, generating
over $3000, which will go directly to Project NACOEJ.
Temple Jeremiah hosted a display of Ethiopian-made products
for sale. In addition, Lynn Hazan, a Chicago Jewish activist
who has traveled to Ethiopia, made presentations on the plight
of the Ethiopian Jews at our Religious School classes.
National
Photo Exhibit:
"Children of the Lost Tribe of Dan: Portraits of Ethiopian Jewry"
Debut: Sunday, March 14, 2004
Temple Jeremiah was pleased to be the site for the Chicago-area
premier of the photo exhibit, "Children of the Lost Tribe
of Dan: Portraits of Ethiopian Jewry", which opened March
14, 2004 and remained on display through the month of March.
This exhibit shows Ethiopians in two contrasting worlds, Ethiopia
and Israel, and is a moving account of human courage and determination.
Photographer Win Robins spoke to congregants
March 14. In addition, Barbara Ribakove Gordon, founder and
CEO of NACOEJ, talked about her inspiration and hopes for
Ethiopian Jews. Ms. Gordon was on the first American mission
to Ethiopian Jewish villages in 1981. Defying the Ethiopian
government's orders, her group trekked through mountains
to visit the Jewish community there. It later reported back
to Israeli officials on the rampant povery and illness they
witnessed. A few months later, NACOEJ was born.
"Sharing an Ethiopian Shabbat"
Friday, March 19, 2004
This special Shabbat worship program integrated
Ethiopian rituals with our own.
- Lynn Hazan, a volunteer with
NACOEJ, wove personal stories and folklore
from Ethiopian Jews.
- Ethiopian Shabbat traditions
were experienced through prayers, songs
and food
- Ethiopian cuisine was added
to the traditional Shabbat dinner.
Signed copies of photos from the exhibition are available
as gifts from the photographer for a donation. For further
information, call the school office at 847-441-0202.
Temple
Jeremiah Receives the Fain Award!
March 14, 2005
In recognition of its work with Ethiopian Jewry, Temple Jeremiah
recently received the Irving J. Fain Award for Excellence
in Social Justice Programming. Rabbi Paul Cohen, Temple President
Howard Lanznar and Education Director Dr. Anne Lidsky officially
accepted this prestigious award at the Consultation on Conscience
March 14, 2005 in Washington, D.C.
The award is the result of a year of social action on behalf
of Ethiopian Jews and was truly a group effort. "It would
never have happened without our treasured volunteers who sorted
and sold embroideries, built photo stands and involved themselves
with full hearts and spirit," said Dr. Lidsky.
Temple Jeremiah celebrated receiving this prestigious honor
at our May 20, 2005 worship service.
For more information on NACOEJ, log onto their website at
www.NACOEJ.org. | 
