Take Us Home Documentary Film
   info@TakeUsHomeFilm.org

 

Ethiopian Jews

"Take Us Home"  — a Documentary film

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

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The Story

Take Us Home - DocumentaryThey 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.

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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.

About Our Production

View this short video about the production of this independent film.

Independent Film Production Crew for Take Us Home Film

How to Contribute

Aileen LeBlanc

aileenleblanc@hotmail.com
502-316-3856 cell
937-767-9223 Studio

Peter Wells

Chaver39@yahoo.com
937-681-1460 cell


In the News

Film Producer Aileen LeBlanc in Falasha Ethiopia

Film producer, Aileen LeBlanc, in Falasha village in Ethiopia. 

"I realize that I am a pampered American. As I anticipated our trip back to Gondar, I dreaded it and I knew why. I was too used to privacy and hot water, toilets and toilet paper, heaters and air conditioners, and beds without bugs. I knew that Ethiopia in August meant torrential rains: which invariably turn the mud-made streets into rutted rivers. And my experience on previous trips taught me...
[Read more...]