The traditions of Ethiopian Jews are the inspiration for an upcoming Shabbat dinner in Midtown Atlanta sponsored by several local Jewish organizations.
Known to have faced persecution and forced conversions, Ethiopian Jews have flocked to Israel, where the group’s current population is about 168,000. In the 1980s and 1990s, a large group of Ethiopian Jews, known as Beta Israel, were flown to Israel to escape the Ethiopian Civil War.
The Atlanta Jewish community has supported the Israeli-Ethiopian Jews for more than 25 years by increasing their opportunities for education, employment, and economic security.
On Friday, Dec. 13, OneTable will explore the food, culture, and traditions of the Ethiopian Jewish community with a vegetarian, kosher-style Ethiopian dinner of lentils, chickpeas, and sponge-like injera bread.
OneTable is focused on empowering young adults to make the most of Friday nights by sharing Shabbat dinners, Jewish rituals, and traditions. Volunteer hosts post their dinners on a custom platform, like an Airbnb for Shabbat, and open their homes to registered guests. Recent themes include winter nights Shabbat in Kirkwood, Hanukkah Shabbat in Midtown, and MLK Community Shabbat in Summerhill.
The location will be revealed upon registration, which is being offered on a sliding scale. The location has parking available onsite, and is a 10-minute walk from the Arts Center MARTA station.
Global Shabbat is sponsored by JDC Entwine, Atlanta Jews of Color Council, Young Leadership Division of the Jewish Federation of Greater Atlanta, and OneTable. Proceeds will be donated to the Ethiopian Jewish community of Yokneam, Israel.
