Ethiopian Jews have waited for generations to live their dream; returning to Israel. This week, the last of the Falash Mura bid farewell to Ethiopia, the Jewish school in Gondar closed, and their dream of returning to Israel came true. While some see this as the end to the story, this is only the beginning.
Ethiopians face significant problems integrating into Israeli society, particularly when it comes to employment. The Megemeria Collection is the product of a unique initiative to help Ethiopian immigrants succeed in Israeli society.
A privately funded initiative run by Yvel, a world renowned jewelry design studio, aims to offer not just a job, but a career path, in jewelry crafting. The school, which is named after Andrea Bronfman, the late wife of billionaire philanthropist Charles Bronfman, “gives [Ethiopian immigrants] a chance to acquire professional skills in line with their abilities, providing them with an opportunity to join the Israeli workforce, earn a living, overcome poverty and become part of Israeli society,” says Orna Levy, who runs Yvel with her husband and is herself a fourth generation jeweler from the world-famous Moussaieff jewelry dynasty.
The first-of-its-kind school offers one-year training programs to immigrants who were selected from absorption centers. All students receive stipends to cover their living expenses while learning. Now run on donations, the school aims to become self-supporting by offering the jewelry for sale.
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Upon completing the course, the graduates receive a certificate from the Industry, Trade and Labor Ministry as licensed jewelry crafters. Afterward, they have the option of continuing at Yvel as full-fledged employees or seeking work elsewhere.
The Megemeria collection is a line of jewelry that features inspirational Amharic and Hebrew inscriptions on 24 K gold-plated brass or sterling silver. All profits of the jewelry go into an account run by the school to fund the costs of running the school. Celebrities like Miss Israel, Yityish Titi Aynaw, have been seen wearing a pendant from this unique collection. And now, by popular demand, the Megemeria Collection will be available online priced from $55-$300.
Click here to support the Megemeria initiative.
