Most Ethiopian Jews would agree with both sentiments. But six years later, the thrill of their rescue from persecution and anti-Semitism has worn off. In its place is the daily struggle of integration. Israel's Ethiopian Jews have traveled a long road from the hills of Africa to an all-white, very Westernized society. Most members of the community live in segregated, dirt-poor towns.
Unemployment runs well above the average.
Families have confronted a breakdown in traditional patterns as women and children experience newfound independence. There are bright spots in the Ethiopian absorption. Several hundred Ethiopians are enrolled in colleges and another 400 high school students are in pre-university enrichment programs. Dozens of Ethiopian officers serve in the Israeli military services, and several people are in PhD programs. Despite such progress, the challenge of integration has vexed members of the Ethiopian community and the Israeli government.