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Source: https://www.jns.org/on-sigd-an-israeli-diplomat-reflects-on-her-countrys-diversity/
Ethiopian Jewish Israeli Diplomat Reflects on Her Country
(JNS) Ariella Rada - My earliest memories are of my mother telling me stories about our ancestors in Ethiopia - from the persecution they faced for being Jewish to their hopes that their descendants would one day live in the Jewish homeland. A unique holiday for Ethiopian Jews, Sigd, centers on our yearning to return to Jerusalem. Our community commemorates the day with prayers on a mountaintop, symbolizing the biblical story of Moses receiving the Torah on Mount Sinai. The claim that Israel is an "apartheid state" or "a nation of white supremacy" is blatantly false. Israel is a melting pot with people from all backgrounds and cultures living side by side. As a woman of color, Israel became a home to me just as it did for others of many backgrounds. I now feel it is my destiny to tell my country's story and represent the Jewish people, especially as antisemitism rises worldwide. I often think of my grandfather, who longed to reach Israel but died before his dream became reality. One day, I hope to visit Ethiopia, go to his grave, and say: "Grandpa, we did it!" I want him to know that I fulfilled his dream of calling Jerusalem home and representing the country he loved so deeply. The writer serves as spokesperson and consul for media affairs at the Consulate General of Israel in New York.