Update on Women's Philanthropy Community Work

The recent Women’s Philanthropy Board Retreat featured a very special and inspirational guest – Yuvi Tashome-Katz. Yuvi is an amazing leader within the Ethiopian Jewish population of Israel.

She co-established and leads an Israeli non-profit called Friends By Nature - Empowering Community that brings together a diverse group of Ethiopian-Israelis and other Israelis, secular and religious, all committed to multiculturalism, helping youth at-risk and the success of immigrant communities in Israel. 

Friends By Nature runs programs for at-risk Ethiopian-Israeli youth and their families – focusing on developing young leadership, increasing volunteerism, civil society, community renewal, strengthening the family unity, and increasing a connection to the land of Israel.  The original model of Friends By Nature founded in Gedera has now expanded and is being implemented to great success in an additional seven communities -- Kiryat Gat, Yavne, Be'er-Sheva, Beit-Shemesh, Netivot, Ashkelon and Rishon Le-Zion, and has the potential of growing to benefit all 56 geographical centers of the Ethiopian Israeli community.

Within the PJ Library Community, Yuvi is well known to young families. Her trek through the Sudan when she was only 5 years old is told through the children’s book “Yuvi’s Candy Tree” by author Lesley Simpson and illustrator Janice Lee Porter.

In addition to speaking and participating at the Women’s Philanthropy Board Retreat on September 22, Women’s Philanthropy was pleased to bring Yuvi Tashome-Katz to meet with, teach, and share information with the following organizations:

  • Camp Mountain Chai
  • Beth Israel of San Diego
  • The Ken
  • Coastal Roots Farm
  • Kavod Elementary

Jewish Federations throughout North America have played a significant role in the story of the Ethiopian Olim over the past thirty years.

Today, the next chapter of their story is being written. The 144,000 Ethiopian Israelis living in Israel need to know that we still remember them and we are still partners in their quest to be respected and productive members of Israeli society. The Women’s Philanthropy Board and our Federation’s Israel Connections Initiative are proud to have made it possible for leaders, teens and younger children to learn more firsthand from Yuvi.

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