“Once I have witnessed the redemption of the Jews, my people, I wish also to assist in the redemption of the Africans”, so said Theodore Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism.
Since the establishment of the State of Israel, successive Israeli governments have worked tirelessly to make this dream also come true. Israel is helping in the areas of medicine, trade, education , military aid and politics and chanichim on this Year Course Olami track will get to explore the evolution of Israel’s policies and relationships through a Jerusalem based class and trips to four African countries; Tunisia, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Kenya.
Starting in Tunisia, chanichim will visit this non-democratic country in the northern most part of Africa. Tunisia has consistently played a key role in pushing for a comprehensive Middle East peace settlement, and President Bourguiba was the first Arab leader to call for recognition of Israel in 1965 and more recently in 1993. Tunisia was the first Arab country to host an official Israeli delegation as part of the Middle East peace process and even maintained an interests section until 2000. Despite formal relations, many Israeli tourists visit Tunisia, a country where the standard of living is amongst the best of the developed world. Whilst the vast majority of the Tunisian Jewish community has made Aliyah, approximately 2,000 Jews still remain.
Following Tunisia, the journey will now move in a radically different direction to Ethiopia. With the second largest population in Africa and a history that dates to biblical times, today Ethiopia struggles as an emerging democracy and where much of the country struggles with poverty and hunger. Israel has been very involved in Ethiopia extending medial and agricultural aid and whilst all of the “official” Jewish community has already made Aliyah, there still remains a large group of people who claim Jewish descendents and are known as Falasha Mura. Those that have been approved for Aliyah by the Israeli government are due to leave Ethiopia by the end of 2008, however many others still claim Jewish ancestry.
The third country, Nigeria, boasts the largest African population and has been struggling with democracy for more than a decade. A country rich in natural resources, the direction that Nigeria takes in the future will be significant to the whole continent and any examination of Africa must include Nigeria. Israel continues to aid Nigeria on a plethora of fronts and the Olami trip will focus on one small area in a stable part of the country. The Igbo people who are based in Nigeria claim a Jewish ancestry and this will be a significant focus of the trip.
Finally Year Course Olami will visit Kenya. A country with strong relations going back many years, including providing vital refueling aid during the Entebbe rescue in 1976, Kenya is emerging from the third world helped, to a large extent by Israeli aid and advice. There is an established Jewish community in Nairobi and Olami will visit them as well as some of the many tourist sites in the country.
Year Course Olami: Israel, Africa and the Jews explores Israel’s role in assisting the development of many countries on the African continent, whether in the area of tourism, medicine, agriculture or business.
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