I)ear,lXXlI partners and Friends,
I have just returned from a minisW trip in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, as you likely M-lOW from my last Shalom
Letter and other correspondence, and my heart is full. By the grace of God, the Outreach was an overwhelming
success!
\\'e were them at the invitation of the elders of one of the two Jewish Communities remaining in Ethiopia,
the BeitAvraham or "House Of Abraham." This abandoned but not forgotten community dwells in the very April 28 - May 14
poorest area of Addis and numbers somewhere between 40,000 and 60,000 people. About 18 months ago, while Turkey
in Addis Ababa ministering at a conference for pastors and leaders, the Lord spoke veq clearly to me about and Israel
returning to help this impoverished community with much needed medical assistance. When I approached TJCII Conference,
the elders with this offer, they immediately and enthusiastically accepted, despite the fact that they had never Road to Jerusalem
opened their doors to any foreigners to that point. We were the first outsiders their community ever allowed
hH May 29 -June 2
Keynote Speaker
I)uring the two week clinic, we were able to provide medical, dental and eye care to almost 7,000 people. Lancaster, PA
Tikkun Leadership Medicines and over 2,000 pairs of eyeglasses (many of them ground on-site to prescription) were all provided
Retreat completely free of charge. And perhaps the highlight, our two eye surgeons with their surgical teams performed
over 50 eve surgeries on some of the neediest patients you could ever imagine, returning sight to many that June
I 0 - 14 were either already blind or almost blind. Not only did they remove cataracts and in many cases reverse the
Dallas, TX devastating effects of trachoma, they actually performed cornea transplants on some of the patients. It was
Shady Grove truly amazing!
Church
MJBI Board Meeting One story in particular stands out. A mother brought in her infant son who was already blind due to cataracts.
Our surgical team was able to successfully operate on this adorable little child and remove the cataracts from
his tiny eyes. One of the doctors actually had to lie on him to keep him still since he was too small for the
restraints. He will now grow up with the gift of sight! (See photos on page 18.)
Another true miracle I want to mention happened the day after I arrived. One of the elders from the Beta Israel
Jewish Community heard about us and came to meet with me in our hotel. Initially we were not planning on
helping this comIimnitT as they have never allowed outsiders in. This communiD' is watched ve U closely by
Orthodox Jewish organizations. Many of the members were literally left behind on the tarmac by the last airlift,
and have been waiting for 8 or more years to go to Israel. They have to be ve U careful to protect their "Jewish"
status so they don't jeopardize their opportunity, to eventually make aliyah, which is the focus and hope of their
lives. The conditions they live in are deplorable, and their needs are so great that they asked us to help. We
were over,vhelmed and overjoyed! We were able to add an unplanned for satellite clinic right in the Synagogue
and treat hundreds with medical, optical and dental needs. I was humbled and honored to be invited to speak
before this ancient Jewish congregation that had given up all for their dream of returning to Israel.
\'iv heartfelt gratitude and the gratitude of our entire team goes to all of you that prayed for us and contributed
to'make this clinic possible. You need to know that we could not have done it without your help! A more tho>
ough report with pictures is included in this issue.
%ward this end, we have devoted this issue of Jewish Voice Today to the important topic of restoring the Jewish
roots of our Faith. I am sure vou will be enriched by the various articles we've included. So learn and enjoy!
Jonathan Bernis, President
Jewish Voice Ministries International
Jewish Voice Today 3
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