Synopsis
Rebecca [Riki]: Ethiopian woman, aged twenty eight. Migrated to Israel at the age of nine, marching with her parents and other members of her family from Ethiopia to the Sudan. Married to Likou whom she met during her studies at the Haifa University. “I would never have married a non Ethiopian man” she declares “too many cultural customs to explain, until we reached an understanding”. The circumcision of her first son Pelleh was performed at her parents home in Ramlleh. Later in the evening, her father recounts the “exodus of the Ethiopian Jews”. Riki is standing at the end of the corridor without participating. “The law of impurity prohibits my participation with the others” she explains.“But the main thing is that I am with you”, Likou said passing by, and kissing her and Riki beamed. “
Riki resides in the Haifa suburb of Neveh Sha’anan. Two years ago she established an association she manages, serving the Ethiopian community in Haifa and environs together with three other Ethiopians with educational training. They teach the adults how to deal with the Israeli life style without losing their own identity and how to deal with their children in the new society. She also manages a club she has established for Ethiopian children where they can spend time after school. "What does it mean to be Israeli? First of all I am Jewish, then Ethiopian and finally Israeli. This is a mixture of cultures and I want to bring into this, my culture. Yes, I am a modern woman who wants to progress and acquire even more, but I do not want to forget my Ethiopian culture.”
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