Rishon L’Zion

Rishon L’Zion is 16 kilometers south of Tel Aviv and has a population of 228,200. It was founded in 1882 by European Jewish immigrants and was the second Jewish farm colony established in Israel in the century. Today there are 43,224 new immigrants that live in Rishon, representing 18.8% of the population.

Most of the Ethiopian Israeli population of Rishon lives in the Ramat Eliyahu neighborhood which has a reputation for its social problems; high unemployment, delinquency and lack of initiative on the part of its residents. In recent years the neighborhood has become representative of a “ghetto” of Ethiopian immigrants. In 2009, 3,983 Ethiopian immigrants resided in 1,594 households; in 2010, they represent 50% of the neighborhoods 13,000 residents, with 1,800 individuals aged 0-18. The neighborhood is increasingly becoming overcrowded, putting an unanswerable strain on social, educational and city services.

Friends by Nature formed its community Garin in Rishon in 2009. The Rishon community Garin consists of a core group of 12 families and 7 young singles who have succeeded in Israeli society and have chosen to live in the Ramat Eliahu neighborhood in Rishon L’Zion.  As a group, they are taking responsibility for the social and educational development of the neighborhood and the residents.  The Garin as a whole initiates innovative community activities aimed at developing community involvement and strengthening the local population in need.

The Garin members strongly believe in contributing to society and building an Israel for all of its citizens. The Garin provides support for its members and the community.

The Youth Center in Rishon addresses the critical needs of Ethiopian Israeli youth at risk. Today over half of the Ethiopian Israeli population is under the age of 19 and about 73% of all families of Ethiopian origin have children up to age 17. The percent of Ethiopian juvenile delinquents between the ages of 12-20 is 4.6%, over twice the number among non-Ethiopian Israelis. School drop-outs among Ethiopian Israelis show a higher percent, with a 3.4% drop out rate, versus 2.6% drop out rate in the general population. Experience in various programs has shown that Ethiopian immigrants succeed when resources are properly invested and the community is made a partner in the absorption.

The youth center, developed by the Garin in Rishon began by serving over 45 youth and is working to prevent school drop out and help these youth enter the army and mainstream of Israeli society. It works in cooperation with the local government as partners in the program. The Center focuses on youth aged 13 – 18 and activities aim at providing them with a variety of high-quality attractive activities, such as music and nature-related outings, that are positive alternatives to activities that put them at risk.

All the youth counselors live in the neighborhood, as part of the Garin group, and are always available. The fact that the center is run by young successful Ethiopians, provides tremendous power in showing that there is a possibility to succeed and there are options open to them in the future.

Leadership

The Garin in Rishion is headed by Qess Sami who was born in Ethiopian and came to Israel through Sudan in 1987 at the age of seventeen. A Qess is a community religious leader or Rabbi. The Ethiopian community’s religious roots and practices date back to before the destruction of the First Temple.

Qess Sami was inspired by his father who was also a Qess, and as Sami grew up he came to appreciate the role his father played in the community and the need that he filled carrying out religious rituals and counseling those in need. After coming to Israel Qess Sami finished high school, served in the army and completed his formal studies in sociology and education earning a B.A. degree from Bar Ilan University. When Qess Sami’s father died in 2003 he felt he had to follow in his fathers footsteps in answering the religious and spiritual needs of the Ethiopian community in Israel and after years of study became the first individual in Israel to become a Qess.

Qess Sami lives in Rishon L’Zion heading up the Garin and is a strong advocate for government recognition of Qessiem as official Rabbis for the Ethiopian community. He is married with five children.

Learn more about the Gar’in.
Learn more about the locations of the Gar’in.