It’s a wrap Ethiopian Jew discusses immigration experience, jewelry school for immigrants Wendy Weissman, assistant director, CRC
D
aniel Sahalo, an Ethiopian Jew who immigrated to Israel, spoke to the Tidewater community on Nov. 9 as part of the opening night of the Lee & Bernard Jaffe* Family Jewish Book Festival. Sahalo is the marketing and sales manager of Megemeria, a jewelry collection that is part of the Israeli jewelry brand, Yvel. This particular collection is created by the Megemeria jewelry school, which is comprised of Ethiopian immigrants who receive professional training in jewelry crafting and design. In addition to learning the trade of jewelry making, students acquire other essential skills, such as the Hebrew language and financial management, to help them
better integrate into Israel society. The social business initiative aims to create an economically sustainable enterprise with a positive community impact. At four years old, Sahalo journeyed with his family from Ethiopia to Israel. For eight weeks they walked through the desert until reaching a Red Cross refugee camp near the Sudanese and Egyptian border. After nine grueling months, his family was rescued from the refugee site and flown to Israel, the country where they began their new lives and continue to call home. Prior to the community event, Sahalo spoke to several other audiences, beginning with Three Oaks Elementary School in Virginia Beach. Sahalo was also featured on WTKR’s morning television program, Coast Live, where he showcased
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Daniel Sahalo prepares for his TV appearance on WTKR’s Coast Live.
the distinctive jewelry line and told his story. He continued his tour of Tidewater and spoke to students at Virginia Beach Middle School. When asked by one student about his immigration to Israel, Sahalo responded, “if you’re a Jew, that’s enough. We were welcomed and got everything we needed from the [Israeli] government.” During his visit to Tidewater, Sahalo met with several other student audiences, including Strawbridge Elementary, Cape Henry Collegiate, Thoroughgood Elementary, Hebrew Academy of Tidewater, and Ohef Sholom Temple’s Religious School. He also spoke to students at the Global Studies and World Languages Academy at Tallwood High School, which concluded with the group enjoying a taste of authentic Ethiopian cuisine. Sahalo was also interviewed by Gordon Robertson on the Christian Broadcasting Network’s 700 Club and by Lisa Godley, co-producer of WHRO’s call-in radio talk show, Another View. Sahalo spent nearly a week in Tidewater, sharing his message with thousands of people. Showing his incredible warmth and personality, as well as sharing his success as an immigrant in a country where he looked different, his story is one with lasting
impact. While not portraying the political perspective so many now expect, Sahalo presented Israel in a different light and made friends along the way. United Jewish Federation of Tdewater contributed funds to the Megemeria jewelry school. * of blessed memory
Daniel Sahalo at Three Oaks Elementary.
Daniel Sahalo at Thoroughgood Elementary.
20 | Jewish News | January 16, 2017 | jewishnewsva.org