The Exodus of Ethiopian Jews to Israel
Their culture goes back thousands of years – When they were forced
to the mountains of Gondar Ethiopia – When they were not allowed
to own land – When they were called Falasha, strangers, hyena people –
When they were Jewish
The Story
 They
were told that a conversion to Christianity meant a better life
Often the promises vanished – like vapor
Their hope lies now in the promise land - Israel
And they return to the faith of their birth
But how will they go from mud huts to a westernized civilization?
And what will they leave behind?
After waiting for years and years they pack up everything they own —
and they say goodbye to family —
who must wait even longer...
The Falash Mura—a term for those of Jewish origin who have converted
to Christianity— are learning the faith of their Grandparents. The
Ethiopian Jews practice an ancient form of Judaism –
one that many believe can be traced back to King Solomon and the Queen
of Sheba.
Generations have longed to be re-united with their brethren in Israel.
For three decades the Beta Israel have been migrating back
“home.” Their journeys have often been clandestine and treacherous.
Many perished.
In 1984 and again in 1991 massive airlifts transported thousands of Ethiopian
Jews to Israel – and a better life.
The Falash Mura remain behind.
Families are separated.
The Falash Mura have left their meager villages in anticipation of their
aliyah to Israel and now live in even worse conditions in Gondar.
They want for food, shelter and health care. Many have waited 8, 9 or
10 years.
“Take Us Home” is a documentary film which tells the story
of the Ethiopian Jews - and the Falash Mura. It travels back to the tiny
villages in Ethiopia and forward to the life that awaits them in Israel.
It preserves their disappearing culture and way of living. And it reveals
the very real problems that such a drastic change of location and culture
can cause even as the benefits of a “western” lifestyle are
enjoyed.
This story must be told.
Production Team
Aileen LeBlanc — Producer/Director
Aileen LeBlanc is a producer, director and journalist whose work in television,
film and public radio has earned more than 40 regional and national awards.
Her documentary, Dayton Codebreakers began national broadcast
in April, 2006. It is distributed by American Public television.
After an initial career in theatre as a lighting designer, Aileen began
her broadcasting life as a weekend cameraman for the local news at an
ABC affiliate in Wilmington NC. Over the next 11 years she held positions
in public service, promotions and creative service and management at a
CBS affiliate. For two years she owned and managed an advertising / marketing
agency.
Aileen then applied for a production job in public radio and was given
her own show
“Sounds Local” which she produced and hosted for seven years.
She brought the program to Ohio in 1999 when she was hired at WYSO in
Yellow Springs as News Director. Her public radio work has been heard
on NPR, RTE, CBC, Monitor Radio, Pacifica and Voice of America.
Dayton Codebreakers was nominated for three regional Emmy awards.
Michael King — Director of Photography
King with one of the families at a compound in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Michael is a devoted independent producer/ director of photography with
over twenty years of industry experience. His credits include the underground
cult classics, Deadbeat at Dawn, The Manson Family and
many award winning independent documentaries, shorts and commercial/industrial
productions.
He photographed Steven Bognar’s 2003 Sundance Film Festival short
film, Gravel, which is currently airing on the Sundance Channel. In the
fall of 2003, he photographed Daniel McCormack’s production, Turning
the Corner, the first feature project to utilize Panasonic’s new
AJ-SDX900 24p, DVCPRO50 camera system. A recent DVD release, No Pain,
No Gain, directed by Samuel Turcotte, won a Silver Award at the 2004 Houston
Int’l Film Festival for best first time director.
Michael was nominated for a regional Emmy for his work on the documentary,
Dayton Codebreakers in 2006. A graduate of Wright State University's BFA
Film Program, he has extensive experience as a cinematographer / producer
delivering quality projects in time and on budget.
Michael Bashaw Sandy Bashaw — Composers/Performers
Even before the Wright Brothers, Dayton, Ohio was home to inventors and
a place of innovation. In that same spirit, Michael &
Sandy Bashaw create original and innovative music and art. The Bashaws
perform, compose, teach, and create art in many different configurations
and venues.
They work together as a duet, collaborating on song composition and film
scores. They perform at small clubs and coffeehouses with a ensemble called "Puzzle
of Light." For special events, college concerts and performing arts
venues they present Theatre of Sound – Sound Sculpture Concerts
using large-scale experimental sculptural instruments designed and built
by Michael.
Michael Bashaw’s fine art sculpture is found in both public and
private collections. He has worked as an artist in residence in hundreds
of schools, sometimes creating (with students) permanent sculptural works.
Sandy’s professional work began with folk music, recording for
the Vanguard Recording company: she has been a published songwriter since
the late 1960s.
The Bashaws composed and recorded the soundtrack for Dayton Codebreakers.
Orly Malessa, Assistant to the Director
Orly Malessa was born in Ethiopia into a family of "Beta Israel"
(Ethiopian Jewry). In the early 1980s she walked with her family
from Tigray, Ethiopia to the Sudan and spent years in refugee camps waiting
to be taken to Israel. She has a B.F.A. degree in Television and
Cinema Arts and is working on her M.A. in Communication, Technology and
Society Studies.
Malessa is devoted to the promotion of her community in Israel and she
takes part in many voluntary programs. As an artist, on her own
films, she reveals some of the troubling current issues in the Ethiopian
community.
Her first narrative film "mirrors" won the "Best Israeli
Drama"
award at the Jerusalem Film Festival for 2004.
Malessa has worked on film productions in various capacities in Ethiopia
and Israel including:
- "Be and Become" (2005)
- "Operation Mosses" (2007)
- "Children of the Bible" (2007)
Peter Wells, Development
Peter Wells is an independent consultant to individuals and non-profit
organizations regarding endowment planning and funding.
He served with the Jewish Federation of Greater Dayton for 32 years,
27 years as CEO. During that time he was chief fund-raiser for the
annual endowment and capital campaigns, raising funds both local and overseas,
for Operation Moses, Operation Solomon, and Operation Promise. His
work included community relations, leadership development, and managing
the foundation department.
Wells has been recognized by NCCJ, received the Distinguished Service
Award from his National Professional Organization and an honorary Doctorate
degree at Hebrew Union College.
Elliot Karp, Development
Elliot Karp is a private consultant providing professional fund-raising
development and organizational consulting services to not-for-profit organizations.
He has specialized and extensive experience in all aspects of fundraising
and financial resource development including strategic development, major
gifts cultivation, volunteer and professional training and education,
and solicitation as well as significant achievement in directing successful
annual, capital and endowment campaign initiatives.
Karp has a Masters Degree from the Benjamin S. Hornstein Program in Jewish
Communal Service from Brandeis University. He served more than 13
years as Director of Financial Resource Development for the Jewish Federation
of Cincinnati. He has held senior management positions with Jewish
Federations in Columbus, Ohio and Philadelphia, where he served as Director
of Leadership and Human Resource Development for six years. He has
also served as National United Jewish Appeal, Brandeis University, Hebrew
Union College and the Jewish Agency for Israel. |
