Yityish Aynaw’s Miss Israel of Ethiopian heritage, Belaynesh Zevadia‘s appointment as Israel’s first Ethiopian-born ambassador to Ethiopia, or Pnina Tamano-Shata becoming the first female Ethiopian-born Knesset member are ushering in a new generation.
While there is inspiration for the Ethiopian community, Israel, Jews around the world, and women in general, there is much work to be done in terms of inclusion.
According to one report who share Aynaw’s excitement about her new role as Miss Israel notes her history:, “Aynaw was born in Gondar and raised with her brother by her mother alone, after their father was killed when she was just two years old. When she was only 12, her mother died and she and her brother eventually emigrated to Israel.”
U.S. President Barrack Obama was moved by the story of Yityish Aynaw so much that he has asked to meet with her during his stay in Israel. She was able to attend the dinner, including Benjamin Netanyahu the Prime Minister, the speaker of the Knesset and the Chief of Staff of the IDF.
