Several Ethiopian Jews arrived in Israel at the end of this week with the help of the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ); Pastor Nicholas Otieno: We see the prophetic hand of God in the return of the Jewish people from Ethiopia and wish to support that.
Despite the current global circumstances that include travel restrictions and even closures, more representatives of the Ethiopian Jewish community are making Aliyah, or “going up” to Israel. Over 300 Jews made their way from Ethiopia to Tel Aviv at the end of this week despite Ben-Gurion Airport being temporarily closed as of two weeks ago.
As a COVID-19 precautionary measure, those who arrived will now be under quarantine for two weeks.
Their flight into Israel was sponsored by the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem (ICEJ), and according to The Jerusalem Post, one of the passengers was a 6-year-old boy who needed emergency heart surgery and was transported to the hospital upon arrival.
President of the ICEJ, Dr Jürgen Bühler, said, “This is a difficult time for everyone, but we are so grateful that these Ethiopian immigrants were granted special permission to make the journey home to Israel last night. They have endured very tough conditions in Gondar and were expecting to come to Israel any day now, only to see their hopes dashed by the recent airport closure.”
Pastor Nicholas Otieno from Nairobi, Kenya, highlighted the biblical significance of Jews continuing to return to the land of Israel saying, “We see the prophetic hand of God in the return of the Jewish people from Ethiopia and wish to support that.”
In 2020, regardless of travel uncertainties, over 20,000 Jews made Aliyah to Israel from over 70 countries.
Ezekiel 36:22-24
“Therefore say to the house of Israel, ‘Thus says the Lord God: “I do not do this for your sake, O house of Israel, but for My holy name’s sake, which you have profaned among the nations wherever you went. And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord,” says the Lord God, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes. For I will take you from among the nations, gather you out of all countries, and bring you into your own land.
