Ashdod Travelers guide

'Selichot' Tour 165 The Goel Yisrael synagogue is nothing like the synagogues of the Ethiopian immigrants in their country of origin. It is built from straight walls of white stone, and the only design element present is at the front of the building where there are three narrow windows which are pointy on top. The interior of the synagogue is simple and plain, and the women's section is decorated with stained glass reminiscent of old drawings from the Holy Land. In the corner of the hall there are two touching photos : One is of the late Rebbetzin Yelganish Zipora pleading among a large audience of women in white, and the second is of the community elders before they immigrated to Israel. "The choice of architectural style is not by chance," says the Rabbi of the Ethiopian community in Ashdod, Rabbi Michael Maharat, after whose mother, Rebbetzin Yelganish, the synagogue is named. "I see myself as an Israeli in every respect, and it was important to me that the building fit in with the general modern style. Our intention is to integrate ourselves in the country, and therefore I am not in favor of maintaining customs that were rooted in the past among the Ethiopian Jews, such as sacrificing a lamb or a goat for Passover, when a son is born, forty days after childbirth, or on other occasions. Much to my joy, these customs are fading from the world". However, Rabbi Maharat ascribes much importance to keeping the Israeli traditions, and he conducts weddings, Bar Mitzvahs, Shabbat Hatan and of course makes sure to celebrate the holidays according to Jewish law. He immigrated to Israel with his family when he was about 13 years old, the son of a family of Kessim. His father, who was a Kes, ordained his brother, who is today a Kes in the city. More about: The Ethiopian Jews in Ashdod In Ashdod there are about 1,500 families of Ethiopian decent. Although many of the young people have distanced themselves from tradition, they still come to the synagogue on the holidays. Those who "steal the show" are the adults, who come dressed in their best traditional attire. Women and men alike wear wide white scarves, woven from white cotton and decorated with colorful threads called Netala. The white decorated dresses of the women are called Habeshah Kemis, and on their heads they wear Shash scarves.