The Hidden Exodus

On November 21, 1984, a seven-week clandestine operation to bring the “Bene Israel” — Ethiopian Jews — to Israel began. The unprecedented undertaking, code-named “Operation Moses,” was a three-way collaboration between the Mossad, the CIA and Sudanese State Security (SSS) to smuggle nearly 8,000 Bene Israel out of Ethiopia, where they faced hardship and persecution, in a massive airlift to Israel. Operation Moses turned out to be the beginning of large-scale, official Israeli efforts to facilitate Bene Israel aliyah that continued for decades thereafter.

Larry Rubinstein, Maine resident, ordained rabbi, and former Director of the Young Leadership Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal, was a key player in Operation Moses. Join us as he walks us through his riveting personal story against the backdrop of one of the most remarkable rescue missions in modern history. An array of homemade Ethiopian and Israeli delicacies to follow the presentation and Q&A, and the paintings of Ethiopian-born Israeli Artist Tigit Yoseph Ron (who came to Israel through Operation Moses)’ will be on display and available for viewing and purchase.

About the Guest Presenter:

Larry Rubinstein was ordained as a Rabbi in 1965 and served congregations in Omaha and Philadelphia for 13 years before going into administrative and fundraising work in the Jewish community. He served as Director of the Young Leadership Cabinet of the United Jewish Appeal, Director of the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and Senior Vice President of Brandeis University, where he ran the University’s first Capital Campaign in 1987and was Senior Vice President of the Jewish Theological Seminary of America. He also served in several other positions in the Jewish community. Before retiring to Maine, he also served as President of the Association of Alumni of Columbia College (Columbia University) and was a member of several other nonprofit Boards.

In Maine, Larry has served on the Board of the Bowdoin International Music Festival and was President of the Board of the Friends of the Kotzschmar Organ. He was on the Board of the Bicycle Coalition of Maine from 2004 to 2016, serving as Board President from 2011-2015. He currently serves as a Trustee Emeritus of the Portland Museum of Art and is the Immediate Past President of the Portland Chamber Music Festival. He is also a Board Member of ChoralArt, Opera Maine, and the Maine Policy Institute.

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