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Keis Berko Taganiye of Rehovot believes that the entire Ethiopian Community In Israel Must Fast for 40 Days
"Keis Berko Taganiye of Rehovot believes that the entire Ethiopian community in Israel, including children and elderly, must fast for 40 days "to remove the curse upon us, if it indeed exists." When he came here from Ethiopia, he dreamed that young members of the community would fit into Israeli society, get an education and remain faithful to tradition. But for years now it has not been like that.Yesterday some 200 activists from the community looked each other in the eyes and admitted: "In many cases, the Ethiopian family unit has broken up and we are facing a great deal of catastrophes. We didn't come to Israel to destroy our children's lives and certainly not to break up family units," Taganiye said.The participants at the conference, held in a Netanaya community center, came from all over the country. Many said the purpose was simply to save the children who were getting lost between the cracks.
Data based on a series of studies done over the past few years about Ethiopian youth in Israel leave no room for doubt: The situation is bad. The heads of the community understand that sweeping the phenomenon of juvenile delinquency under the carpet, out of shame, will merely bring further shame when it gets worse.Yaakov Melakmo, one of the community's activists, presented data showing that 24.4 percent of the Ethiopian youth in Israel tried drugs of one kind or another last year, double the national average. Most of those involved were school dropouts, and the youngest were about 15.Another problem is youth alcohol consumption. One of the community center workers told those gathered: "Every week there are community parties here, festive occasions. The youths sit drinking beer. Not one bottle and not two. Afterward the neighbors here suffer. Sometimes they even come to blows. Often the police have to be called."The participants in the gathering said it all starts with the collapse of the patriarchal structure at home. Melko Salomon of Rehovot, a community activist, said that in Ethiopia, a father would beat his son to teach him; here that would land him in jail. Thus the children go into the streets, are tempted and start going downhill.According to Salomon, the violence for many years was contained within the community. He recalls how a year ago, two Ethiopian boys fought over a bicycle. One took out a sharp object and stabbed the other, who died. "No one made a fuss," Salomon said. "But last month an Ethiopian youth murdered Ma'ayan Sapir and the country has not stopped talking about it." But, he said, it is not just that, but a whole series of violent acts that has made them realize that it is time for serious action.In Kiryat Malachi in the south, three young Ethiopian youths committed suicide over the past year. In another incident, social workers prevented a group of young girls from committing suicide together, "out of despair."
Shlomo Mamo was 19 when he hanged himself last year. "He was very frustrated. He had a fight with another youth near the house and the police arrested and charged him. The court sentenced him to 19 months imprisonment; he got angry and hanged himself," said his father, Ezra. Since then the father has tried to make the community aware of the problems among the youths. "I see other youths with serious problems, like my son. I want to prevent this, and that is why I called the gathering," he said.Salomon said that the only explanation for the phenomenon is "bad absorption. ... No one respects the elders, the community heads or parents anymore. ... We have to restore the hierarchy inside the family."
After lengthy discussions yesterday, the community leaders decided to start with an intensive propaganda campaign among the youth to prevent any further acts of violence. The community heads plan to hold further meetings and confer with experts. "The fact that we are meeting is significant. This is the first time we are seriously discussing the problem," one of them said.
Source: Yuval Azoulay and Ayanao Fereda Sanbetu. Ethiopian community admits to deep-seated problems. Haaretz.com (5 July 2005) [FullText]
Data based on a series of studies done over the past few years about Ethiopian youth in Israel leave no room for doubt: The situation is bad. The heads of the community understand that sweeping the phenomenon of juvenile delinquency under the carpet, out of shame, will merely bring further shame when it gets worse.Yaakov Melakmo, one of the community's activists, presented data showing that 24.4 percent of the Ethiopian youth in Israel tried drugs of one kind or another last year, double the national average. Most of those involved were school dropouts, and the youngest were about 15.Another problem is youth alcohol consumption. One of the community center workers told those gathered: "Every week there are community parties here, festive occasions. The youths sit drinking beer. Not one bottle and not two. Afterward the neighbors here suffer. Sometimes they even come to blows. Often the police have to be called."The participants in the gathering said it all starts with the collapse of the patriarchal structure at home. Melko Salomon of Rehovot, a community activist, said that in Ethiopia, a father would beat his son to teach him; here that would land him in jail. Thus the children go into the streets, are tempted and start going downhill.According to Salomon, the violence for many years was contained within the community. He recalls how a year ago, two Ethiopian boys fought over a bicycle. One took out a sharp object and stabbed the other, who died. "No one made a fuss," Salomon said. "But last month an Ethiopian youth murdered Ma'ayan Sapir and the country has not stopped talking about it." But, he said, it is not just that, but a whole series of violent acts that has made them realize that it is time for serious action.In Kiryat Malachi in the south, three young Ethiopian youths committed suicide over the past year. In another incident, social workers prevented a group of young girls from committing suicide together, "out of despair."
Shlomo Mamo was 19 when he hanged himself last year. "He was very frustrated. He had a fight with another youth near the house and the police arrested and charged him. The court sentenced him to 19 months imprisonment; he got angry and hanged himself," said his father, Ezra. Since then the father has tried to make the community aware of the problems among the youths. "I see other youths with serious problems, like my son. I want to prevent this, and that is why I called the gathering," he said.Salomon said that the only explanation for the phenomenon is "bad absorption. ... No one respects the elders, the community heads or parents anymore. ... We have to restore the hierarchy inside the family."
After lengthy discussions yesterday, the community leaders decided to start with an intensive propaganda campaign among the youth to prevent any further acts of violence. The community heads plan to hold further meetings and confer with experts. "The fact that we are meeting is significant. This is the first time we are seriously discussing the problem," one of them said.
Source: Yuval Azoulay and Ayanao Fereda Sanbetu. Ethiopian community admits to deep-seated problems. Haaretz.com (5 July 2005) [FullText]
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