Israel@75 tour

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“We spent the day packaging cabbages,” Rick said.

The group also visited the Ethiopian Jewry Heritage Center in the Florentine section of Tel Aviv and learned about the two rounds of airlifts in the 1980s and 1990s that brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel. The group listened to a talk by a central figure in the second round of airlifts, which brought in 14,000 immigrants.

Back in biblical times, there were Ethiopians living in Israel, before they ended up in the Horn of Africa.

“They were cut off from the world,” said Cherie, referring to the relocation. “They were living there thinking they were the only Jews in the world.”

The situation in Ethiopia was dire both times the Israel Air Force flew cargo planes into neighboring Sudan to bring thousands of waiting Ethiopians back to Israel.

“These people walked hundreds of miles through the desert,” Cherie said. “They’re finally home.”

Other visits for the group included the Netanya Museum and its exhibits commemorating the Jews who fought alongside the British in the world wars and the Neot Kedumin Nature Reserve, a re-creation of a biblical-era park.

On Shabbat, the Zettle- moyers parted from the group to visit the Lehigh Valley’s Partnership2Gether sister region, the rural Yoav, including going down into the caves 150 feet below ground at Beit Guvrin National Park. “Yoav is much further developed than when the partnership started,” said Rick, remembering his and Cherie’s first trip to Israel years ago.

The highlight of the anniversary celebration portion of the trip was a concert at a