ISEF Chairman Carlos Benaim's fascinating life journey, from the Moroccan port city of Tangier to developing the world's most iconic fragrances, is profiled in two major Israeli publications this summer.
ISEF in the Media
Breaking Barriers
Israel Hayom- Weekend Edition
February 12, 2012
By Yael Barnovsky
Two exceptional ISEF scholars were profiled in the weekend edition of Israel Hayom this month, sharing their incredible journeys and their thoughts on the progression of Israel’s Ethiopian community. With more than 350,000 subscribers, Israel Hayom is the nation’s most widely read newspaper, and we are proud to be featured in this inspiring story.
The article, Breaking Barriers by Yael Barnovsky, highlights three Ethiopian-Israeli medical students, excelling at Israel’s top universities. Their dream is to help many more young Ethiopians follow in their footsteps, and they speak openly about the cultural barriers and obstacles they’ve faced.
ISEF scholar Rachel Noga is 26 years old and a first year medical student at Tel Aviv University. Her parents made their way to Israel by way of Sudan in 1984.
“I believe that continuing one’s education is a way of life. My mother was 17 when she came to Israel, already pregnant with me. My mother gave up on so many of her dreams because she thought she had to do what was best for her family and children. There are seven of us. She paid a very high price for not pursuing her own career. Now that we are finally grown she has begun to study for her high school diploma, taking courses and working as a cleaning lady.”
Maru Gete is also an ISEF scholar. At 28, he is the father of two, and he looks back on how far he has come since his childhood in a small village in northern Ethiopia. Never having to learned to read or write, the first time he stepped foot in a classroom was in Israel, he moved here with his parents at the age of 8.
“When we arrived here, my father told us he was unsure if he would ever be able to truly assimilate. But he looked at us, his children, and he said ‘you are young, remember, education is the most important thing of all.’ Those words have stayed with me to this day.”
Today, Maru is a fifth year medical student at Ben Gurion University in Beer Sheva.
ISEF President Nina Weiner explains the importance of supporting young Ethiopians in their studies.
“Our hope is that we can help cultivate an entire generation of Ethiopian-Israeli physicians who will be the pride of Israel.”
She believes that by helping young Ethiopians achieve their dreams, it will have a ripple effect on the entire community.
As part of his ISEF scholarship, Maru volunteers as a mentor and tutor for Ethiopian youth in his community.
“I believe my biggest contribution will be to show that you can succeed no matter who you are. I want to be a role model for young Ethiopians and when I speak to them I always say, the most important thing is education.”
Check out even more ISEF stories:
Up by the Bootstraps Achievers Honored – Jerusalem Post
Giving Generations of Sephardim a Chance – New York Daily News
For Sephardic Students, A Sense of Empowerment – The Jewish Week
Using Education to Redress the World’s Unfairness – New York Sun
International Fellow Dr. Itsik Francis (above left, with former ISEF Chair Norman Belmonte) shared this, from two new ISEF supporters:
"They said they had never seen a foundation that behaves like a family. with such warm feeling. Perhaps we should change ISEF to 'International Sephardic Education Family'?”
