The Nahmias Cipher Report

Thousands of Israelis, many of whom originally from Ethiopia, take part in a demonstration against the discrimination of Ethiopian-Jews in Israel. the protesters march from the Israeli Parliament to the city center in Jerusalem, on January 18, 2012. Keren Manor

Ayanna Nahmias, Editor-in-Chief Last Modified: 01:22 AM EDT, 6 January 2012 ETHIOPIA – At the end of 2011, Jews, Muslims and Christians celebrated major holidays commemorating the end of their religious calendars. Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Christians in the Diaspora celebrate Christmas on the traditional 25th of December. However, all Ethiopians celebrate the holiday on the [...]

This year Rosh Hashana commenced on the evening of 28 September 2011 which is actually the first day of Tishrei, the seventh month of the Hebrew calendar in the year 5772. Rosh Hashana (Hebrew: ראש השנה‎, literally means “head of the year,” and is commonly referred to as the “Jewish New Year. Rosh Hashanah is [...]

“The real differences around the world today are not between Jews and Arabs; Protestants and Catholics; Muslims, Croats, and Serbs. The real differences are between those who embrace peace and those who would destroy it; between those who look to the future and those who cling to the past; between those who open their arms and those who are determined to clench their fists.” ~ Bill Clinton

Some people who read this post may believe that it is impossible for this to happen in 2010; however, I can attest to the veracity of one aspect of this story. Recently my mother attended a school sponsored event in Potomac, Maryland. Upon her arrival the hostess glanced at her and imperiously informed her that the kitchen was in the back. My mother with aplomb, informed the lady that she was attending the event on behalf of her grandson who was a student attending the school. Upon hearing this, the woman grudgingly accepted my mother’s proffered hand before stepping aside to let her pass. As my mother entered, the woman wiped her hand on her dress.

Like the Bene Israel and Cochin Jews of India, the Lemba people did not fit neatly into most peoples’ perceptions of “what Jews look like.” As previously discussed in this blog, the Jewish diaspora is as varied as the people of the earth, however, in addition racism plays a large part of the discomfort people have with the concept of Jews of Color. The identification of the Lemba as Jews would have probably passed largely unnoticed except for their sub-Saharan ancestry.

An insidious killer spread by man’s basic nature, where upon in a process of creation, victims assassinate themselves.

ZRUBAVEL is the first feature film created by a team of Ethiopian-Israeli filmmakers. In this poignant story of one Ethiopian family’s struggle to become Israeli, a chain of events ignites a clash of generations and reveals a universal story of family conflicts, assimilation and personal identity. First Prize, Drama, Haifa International Film Festival 2008. Israel, 2008, 72 minutes, Hebrew and Amharic with English subtitles.

Racism in all of its manifestations is reprehensible, yet individuals afflicted with this particular malaise always seem to find a justification for their prejudice, which allows them to assert that they are not racist. We all have our particular preferences and biases, and I am not immune.