Batia Eyob - Director

Batia was born in the capital city of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, in 1973. At the age of 10, Batia and her older sister (then 11) made Aliya without their parents 1983. After two and a half years of being on their own, they were reunited with their family in 1986 not in Israel as planed, but in Montreal Canada.

While in Montreal she attended Herzliah High School and graduated with Trilingual High School Diploma in French, English and Hebrew and in 1996 she graduated from Concordia University with a BA in Applied Social Sciences. After working for a year as a research assistant for B'nai Brith Canada: The League for Human Rights, Batia and her sister moved back to Israel in 1997.

Since she moved back to Israel, she attended Hebrew University of Jerusalem for her MA in Israeli Society and Politics; worked for two years as a consultant and coordinator to Ethiopian non-governmental organizations in Shatil; and recently worked for Israel At Heart, an NGO that tries to improve Israel's image by brining young college students from Israel to communities across the United Sates, Canada and Europe.

Batia believes that the Ethiopian Jews are one of Israel's most under-invested-in assets. She says "if we want positive citizens and role models, we need to bridge the socioeconomic, educational and social gaps quickly before we end up with a "black underclass" in the Israeli society".

After 4 years of teaching, Alelign moved to Addis Ababa, Copenhagen and finally Los Angeles, where he received respectively, a B.A. in social work, a B.A. in public administration and a M.B.A in management and public administration.

Upon completing his studies, Alelign returned to Ethiopia to embark on a 30-year tenure in the Ethiopian government. Under 3 separate administrations he served variously as Director and Director General of Community Development Programming, Department Head of the Ministry of Foreign Trade, General Manager of Import/Export Corporation, and Head of Inland Revenue Administration, receiving many honors in the process.

In 1997 Alelign made Aliyah and in April of 2001 he began his tenure at the IAEJ. Alelign seeks "to empower our community to integrate fully into Israeli society . . . to help meet its needs and make it stronger."

Leah Batvivo, Researcher
Leah was born in the village of Geina and made aliyah with her family in 1984 via Sudan as part of Operation Moses. Upon arrival in Israel they lived in an absorption center in Eilat until they moved to Holon in 1986.

Leah served in the army as a teaching soldier and went on to receive her undergraduate degree from Ariel College in criminology and education.

Leah believes the strength to make changes is in the hands of the community itself. When doing research Leah always bears in mind that " No one knows what is best for the community better than the community itself."

Nurit Tizazu - Institutional Advocate & Media Coordinator

Nurit Tizazu was born in Ethiopia and lived with her family in the Tigray region. She made Aliyah to Israel in 1983 with her grandparents after spending two and half years in Sudan. Two months later her parents also arrived in Israel.

Nurit graduated from Amit Kfar- Batya High School in Ranana. Following graduation, she completed two years of National Service. During her first year she worked in Rehovot and was in charge of social activities at a local school, and also worked with children with difficulties. For her second year of service she taught Hebrew, Jewish Customs, Israeli History and Hebrew Song and Dance in the Jewish community in Pittsburgh.

Nurit has a B.A in Public Communication and Political Science from Bar-Ilan University. In 2003 she began her M.A study in Public Administration and Auditing also at Bar-Ilan.

Nurit is the Media and Lobby Coordinator at the IAEJ.

Moran Peled, Editor and Manager of 'Kav Haofek', the magazine of the IAEJ
Moran Peled was born in 1970 on Kibbutz Kinneret which is in the Jordan Valley. In 1979 Moran moved with his family to Menahamia where he lived most of his life. He graduated Makif Amal high school in Tiberius.

In 1994 after serving as a field paramedic in the army, Givati unit, Moran moved to Jerusalem. He received his BA with honors from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem in the field of Hebrew Literature and Philosophy. He continued to study Comparative Religions for two years.
Moran's diverse work experience includes: working for a year as a social affairs reporter for 'Kol Hair' - Jerusalem's local news paper and two years as an editor of youth radio shows in 'Reshet Alef'. He also worked as an editor and broadcaster for adult radio shows. Today, in addition to his work at the IAEJ, he writes regularly for 'Eretz Acheret' Magazine which deals with Jewish and Israeli issues. He also edits and broadcasts radio shows focusing on literature and books.

During the year 2004, Moran has been studying toward a teacher's certificate in Literature and Bible studies in the 'Kerem' Institute for Humanistic Jewish education.
"In everything I do and will do in the future there is an education factor." Say Moran, "Especially today when our country faces such difficult problems with absorbing new immigrants, education takes a major role for new immigrants and Israelis".
Moran is happily married to Simcha Tsadok-Peled and has been residing in Jerusalem for the past eight years. He has three bothers and a sister. His parents live in Menahamia.

Moshe Semo Was Born in Ethiopia in the Wallkiat district in 1973.
Moshe immigrated to Israel in 1980 together with his family after crossing through Sudan. Upon arrival in Israel the family lived at the absorption center in Ofakim in the South of Israel. After a few months the family moved to Carmiel in the North.

Moshe graduated from Kfar Haroeh Yeshiva and served in a combat unit in the IDF. Following his military service, Moshe studied law. Moshe has been working as a lawyer specializing in family, labor, contract, and injury claims law since November 1998.
Moshe also has a B.A. degree in Education from Bar Ilan University.

Since completing his studies, Menashe has involved himself mainly in the field of social welfare, working as:

• An instructor in the learning center for new immigrants in the caravans of Givat HaMatos in Jerusalem
• A parliamentary advisor for Members of Knesset
• A civil rights lobbying coordinator for Members of Knesset
• An administrator of a project of parliamentary assistants working on social issues, sponsored by the Israel Sephardi Education Foundation
• An assistant to the Prime Minister on issues relating to the Arab community
• A member of the board for the NGO "Springs of Education and Tradition" which runs mathematical marathons for students in development towns
• A member of the board for the Israel Association for Friendship with Kurdistan and the manager of the Center for Kurdish culture
• Advisor on issues of social welfare, media, and public relations in MiMizrach Shemesh, a center for Jewish social leadership

Today, Menashe is working for the Israel Association for Ethiopian Jews in the strategic research unit.