Goodman Foundation Of Montreal Launches Scholarships For Ethiopian-Israeli Students

A TUA student was enthusiastic about the opportunity.  

“My parents came to Israel from Ethiopia in 1983. They walked through Sudan in order to fulfil the dream of Zion, to create a better future for our family in the Holy Land – Israel.” says Sarit, who is majoring in Engineering. “As a young girl, my mother loved studying but unfortunately, here in Israel, she had to work to support my brothers and me. A part of me wants to accomplish this dream for her, so that she can see me completing my degree with excellence, entering the engineering sphere and later continuing to advanced degrees.”

Most of the time, students like Sarit represent the first generation in their families to pursue higher education. Facing economic shortfalls, financial assistance like scholarships is a key to their success, especially at the graduate level. These kinds of scholarships encourage them to advance towards Master’s and Doctoral studies, and can lead to research opportunities both in Israel and the Diaspora, and teaching and tenure track positions.

The press release concluded, “It is the family’s fervent wish that these scholarships will have a snowball effect and attract others to support such initiatives aimed at positively influencing the status and perception of Ethiopian Jews in Israel and beyond. Combating negative biases toward the community is an overarching goal, in which education can play a critical role. In the future, the Foundation also hopes to support additional programs at both universities to raise awareness of the rich culture and history of Ethiopian Jewry.”