An Ethiopian Jewish child arriving in Israel in 2009. Photo The Jewish Agency for Israel via Flickr.

JNS.org – The International Christian Embassy of Jerusalem (ICEJ), a global pro-Israel ministry, is sponsoring the latest wave of Ethiopian immigrants to the Jewish state, supporting the Israeli government’s commitment to renew Ethiopian Jewish aliyah.

Last month, ICEJ gave over $500,000 to Keren Hayesod-United Israel Appeal to cover airfare for 523 Ethiopian Jews, who will arrive in Israel in mid-October in time to celebrate Sukkot, the Feast of Tabernacles.

ICEJ is working to raise funds to cover the first year of this wave, during which 1,400 are expected to arrive in the country.

“Our Christian supporters have always been generous and enthusiastic in giving toward our aliyah projects, especially when they take on such a humanitarian mission as this renewed Ethiopian return,” said Dr. Jürgen Bühler, ICEJ’s executive director. “These are people who are endangered by tribal conflicts and unrest while also suffering through times of severe drought and flooding. But now they will be lifted out of difficult and impoverished conditions, and finally be reunited with their families already in Israel.”

Also, the group will sponsor flights for 104 Jewish immigrants from France and the Ukraine. Since 1989, ICEJ has helped nearly 120,000 Jews from around the world immigrate to Israel.