Gondar, Ethiopia - 20 May 2009 1. Various Ethiopian Falash Mura (people who claim to be descendants of Ethiopian Jews who converted to Christianity) praying at synagogue in Gondar 2. Various Terualem Getnet, Falash Mura, spinning cotton at home in Gondar and photos of her family who are in Israel 3. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Terualem Getnet, Falash Mura: "I want to go to the 'Promised Land', where my children are. I am very sad because I haven't been able to go to the place where my children are, when they call me I am sad and I am crying a lot. I hope that soon I will get the same opportunity and be with them." 4. Andebet Yimenu, Ethiopian Jew and friend walking to house in Gondar 5. Various Andebet Yimenu in compound with wife and 9 month old baby 6. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Andebet Yimenu, Ethiopian Jew: "Life is very difficult for me - I am responsible for a family but we have little money. When we were back in our village we had a farm and we owned property. Now here, we have to pay to rent a house, so it's hard." 7. Various exteriors of compound with synagogue, school and feeding centre and sign and Star of David 8. Various Getnet Awoke, Teacher of Judaism, in classroom 9. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Getnet Awoke, Teacher of Judaism: "I am very unhappy about the situation at the moment, and sorry for the families who have been separated. I don't think the government of Israel would take these decisions if their own families were involved. I sometimes feel that it's because we're from the Third World and that's why they don't want to accept us. It's obvious that they accept that we are Jewish, but the Israeli government has to spend a lot of money on the Ethiopian Jews who go to Israel - such as housing, training and other things and so I believe it might be because of that they don't want us. But I hope the situation will change very soon." 10. Various metalworkers and weavers Addis Ababa, Ethiopia - 19 June 2009 11. Various Estie Eyob, Representative of Jewish Agency in Ethiopia in her office in Addis Ababa 12. SOUNDBITE (Hebrew) Estie Eyob, Representative of Jewish Agency in Ethiopia: "The Aliyah (immigration to Israel) from Ethiopia, to check who deserves it (the status, proving who is and isn't of Jewish descent) is one of the most fascinating jobs and it is also very complicated - this is why it could take a considerable amount of time to get approved or not." Mevasseret Zion, Israel - 3 June 2009 13. Wide of Jewish Agency immigrant absorption centre 14. Medium shot of traditional Ethiopian wooden tents 15. Medium shot of Falash Mura who migrated to Israel 16. Medium shot of Nana (no last name given) cleaning 17. Close up on container with Ethiopian flatbread, Nana opening container 18. SOUNDBITE (Amharic) Nana, no last name given, Falash Mura immigrant to Israel: "We waited 10 years in Addis Ababa after moving from our village. My family and I have been separated nearly 14 years. My mother is now waiting in Addis Ababa to be allowed to come to Israel." 19. Wide of residents sitting outside their homes in absorption centre Gondar, Ethiopia - 20 May 2009 20. Various Jewish children praying LEAD IN Thousands of Ethiopians who claim to be Jewish are waiting to be relocated to Israel. Many have been separated from their families who have already taken the 'aliyah' (journey) to the 'Promised Land'. The process of being accepted as a descendant of an Ethiopian Jew is complicated and many say their future's uncertain - as the Israeli government decides who will and won't be accepted. STORYLINE: Men in prayer shawls sway back and forth in makeshift synagogues and children in skullcaps sit on mud floors learning the Hebrew alphabet and Jewish holidays. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/5f9eb32149abab9426f5424f719e888d Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork

• published: 23 Jul 2015
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