Glossary
What is Sigd? Who are the Kessim? What's the difference between Beta Israel and Falash Mura? All essential community terms — in Hebrew, English, and Amharic.
32 terms
Aliyah from Ethiopia
Approximately 95,000 Ethiopian Jews made aliyah in three waves: Sudan (1984-1985), Solomon (1991), and Falash Mura (2003-ongoing).
Gondar
A city in northern Ethiopia and a historic center of Ethiopian-Jewish life; served as a gathering point of those awaiting aliyah to Israel.
Government Committees on the Ethiopian Community
A series of government committees that examined absorption policy, discrimination and equality toward Ethiopian-Israelis, leading to programs and policy changes.
Operation Moses
Covert November 1984 - January 1985 operation: ~8,000 Ethiopian Jews from Sudan to Israel. Climax of the Sudan journey.
Operation Solomon
May 24-25, 1991: 14,325 Ethiopian Jews flown to Israel in 36 hours via 35 aircraft from Addis Ababa.
Over-Policing
A phenomenon in which a particular group experiences heightened, disproportionate police enforcement — a central issue in Ethiopian-Israeli discourse.
Visit Certificate (Igeret Bikur)
A temporary identity document issued to immigrants from Ethiopia at the start of the aliyah process, before receiving a permanent Israeli ID.