Approximately 140,000 Ethiopian Jewish people live in Israel today, but cultural differences and language barriers make it a struggle to adapt to Israel’s high-tech, fast-paced culture. In addition, the pain and chaos created by poverty and segregation cause high rates of divorce, criminal activity, and drug use within Ethiopian Jewish communities.

Emud HaEsh is establishing strong, Messianic, Hebrew and Amharic speaking congregations to support Ethiopian Jews in a familiar cultural context while equipping them to grow, worship, and learn in a way that helps them adapt and embrace the culture they are living in. They equip individuals with leadership, worship, and vocational training, support children with afterschool programs, and restore families through biblical teaching and parenting seminars. Their outreach efforts include helping single moms, feeding the poor, and rehabilitating Ethiopian prisoners addicted to drugs and alcohol by giving them skills to be productive citizens of Israel.