Struggle to Save Ethiopian Jewry

Struggle to Save Ethiopian Jewry (SSEJ) is the principal organization supporting the approximately 13,000 Ethiopian Jews facing extreme poverty and political unrest while awaiting Aliyah. Established in 2000, the mission of SSEJ is to provide essential services to Jewish communities in Ethiopia, including food, medical care, and education, and to assist in integrating Ethiopian Jews when they arrive in Israel. Since 2020, the Mandel Foundation has provided increasing levels of support for these efforts, including a $1 million grant in 2025 to help establish a Jewish community compound in Gondar, Ethiopia. This new facility will consolidate SSEJ services and provide new school facilities, a synagogue, a mikvah, a feeding center, bathrooms, offices, an emergency food distribution center, and sports fields for the community. This investment aligns with the Foundation’s commitments to contributing to the vibrancy of Jewish life and building just, inclusive, compassionate, and democratic societies.