Chassida Shmella is a young and dynamic non-profit 501(c)(3) organization founded by members of the Ethiopian Israeli community living in North America. We began in late 2004 when we saw the need to share our rich history and religious customs with our fellow Jews and non-Jews alike in North America who did not know much about us. We also saw the great need to form an organization to help Ethiopian Jews maintain their ties to Israel and for us to advocate for our community in Israel and in North America.
Our goal is to preserve the rich 3,000 year old legacy that is unique and vital to the full history of the Jewish people. We also want to build bridges with the various other Jewish communities that make up a rich tapestry of customs and share with each other our common beliefs and goals while preserving our unique stories as well.
Chassida Shmella is unique in creating programs to teach our heritage through participatory programs that teach about Ethiopian Jewish culture through the perspective of the Ethiopian Jews ourselves. We also are creating programs to bring Israelis/Americans/Ethiopian Israelis together as one people. We advocate for the acceptance and assimilation of Ethiopian Jewish Culture to the larger Jewish community. We wish to assist Ethiopian Jews in advancing through inter-community networks, educational opportunities and communal partnerships.
Our main goal has always been to help the Ethiopian Jewish community in North America to fully integrate into the greater Jewish community while preserving our uniqueness as well. We chose our name carefully to express this connection, and uniqueness:
Chassida is Hebrew for ?Stork, " the loving bird that cares for its young and the orphaned young of other storks. The stork epitomizes kindness.
Shmella means stork in Amharic, the language of Ethiopia.
For thousands of years, storks have migrated from Jerusalem to Ethiopia. When the stork would appear overhead in Ethiopia, the Jews would welcome it with this song: Shmella, Shmella, agerachin Yersalem deh na? ?Stork, Stork how is our beloved Jerusalem??


 Sigd in Israel | |  Sigd in NYC |
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.gif) Rabbi Shalom |
Special guests at dinner, joining us from Israel: Kessoch/rabbis from the Ethiopian-Israeli community- Kiddush: Kes Vanda Eil Mentessnout Speaker: Rabbi Sharon Shalom, Author of: Sinai to Ethiopia ? Q/A to follow Also joining us- Princeton Professor Ephraim Isaac & other leaders in the Jewish community |
It's not too late to become a sponsor for this amazing Sigd celebration. |
$40/ after October 23rd: $45 Location: Upper West Side Please Click here to donate, and buy tickets here.Thank you! Buy tickets here
SIGD celebration follows on: Sunday, November 3rd:
Celebration at B'nai Jeshurun. 257 West 88th Street, between B?way & West End Ave Sigd: prepaid: $40/ at the door: $45 |
 Israel Celebrates Ethiopian Jewish Holiday |
Kes Mentessnout, Rabbi Sharon Shalom & Professor Ephraim Isaac will lead the SIGD with chanting? Enjoy Ethiopian/Israeli finger food! Enjoy the amazing music of the Debo band - Addis Ababa Bete & dancers By continuing to support Chassida Shmella Ethiopian Israeli Jewish community , you will enrich your own Jewish life and learn some of the Ethiopian Jewish customs. |
 the Debo band |
Please join us for the Ethiopian Israeli Jewish Community our 4th annual SIGD celebration. On Sunday November 3 ,2013music Debo band - Addis Ababa Bete and with Dancers. |
Please Click here to donate, and buy tickets here.Thank you! Buy tickets here
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 Sigd in Israel | |  Sigd in NYC |
|
.gif) Rabbi Shalom |
Special guests at dinner, joining us from Israel: Kessoch/rabbis from the Ethiopian-Israeli community- Kiddush: Kes Vanda Eil Mentessnout Speaker: Rabbi Sharon Shalom, Author of: Sinai to Ethiopia ? Q/A to follow Also joining us- Princeton Professor Ephraim Isaac & other leaders in the Jewish community |
It's not too late to become a sponsor for this amazing Sigd celebration. |
$40/ after October 23rd: $45 Location: Upper West Side Please Click here to donate, and buy tickets here.Thank you! Buy tickets here
SIGD celebration follows on: Sunday, November 3rd:
Celebration at B'nai Jeshurun. 257 West 88th Street, between B?way & West End Ave Sigd: prepaid: $40/ at the door: $45 |
 Israel Celebrates Ethiopian Jewish Holiday |
Kes Mentessnout, Rabbi Sharon Shalom & Professor Ephraim Isaac will lead the SIGD with chanting? Enjoy Ethiopian/Israeli finger food! Enjoy the amazing music of the Debo band - Addis Ababa Bete & dancers By continuing to support Chassida Shmella Ethiopian Israeli Jewish community , you will enrich your own Jewish life and learn some of the Ethiopian Jewish customs. |
 the Debo band |
Please join us for the Ethiopian Israeli Jewish Community our 4th annual SIGD celebration. On Sunday November 3 ,2013music Debo band - Addis Ababa Bete and with Dancers. |
Please Click here to donate, and buy tickets here.Thank you! Buy tickets here
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 |
 Sigd in Israel | |  Sigd in NYC |
|
 Rabbi Shalom |
Special guests at dinner, joining us from Israel: Kessoch/rabbis from the Ethiopian-Israeli community- Kiddush: Kes Vanda Eil Mentessnout Speaker: Rabbi Sharon Shalom, Author of: Sinai to Ethiopia ? Q/A to follow Also joining us- Princeton Professor Ephraim Isaac & other leaders in the Jewish community |
It's not too late to become a sponsor for this amazing Sigd celebration. |
$38/ after October 23rd: $45 Location: Upper West Side Please Click here to donate, and buy tickets here.Thank you! Buy tickets here SIGD celebration follows on: Sunday, November 3rd:
Celebration at B'nai Jeshurun. 257 West 88th Street, between B?way & West End Ave Sigd: prepaid: $38/ at the door: $45 COMBO PRICE for both dinner and Sigd: $72 Doors open 3:30 pm/ Sigd program begins at 4 pm Payment and/or questions: Chassida Shmella website or contact: For more information ; (212)284-6532 [email protected]chassidashmella.org Please forward to your family and Friends . |
 Israel Celebrates Ethiopian Jewish Holiday |
Kes Mentessnout, Rabbi Sharon Shalom & Professor Ephraim Isaac will lead the SIGD with chanting? Enjoy Ethiopian/Israeli finger food! Enjoy the amazing music of the Debo band - Addis Ababa Bete & dancers By continuing to support Chassida Shmella Ethiopian Israeli Jewish community , you will enrich your own Jewish life and learn some of the Ethiopian Jewish customs. |
 the Debo band |
Please join us for the Ethiopian Israeli Jewish Community our 4th annual SIGD celebration. On Sunday November 3 ,2013music Debo band - Addis Ababa Bete and with Dancers. |
Please Click here to donate, and buy tickets here.Thank you! Buy tickets here |
The Ethiopian Jews of Israel - Personal Stories of Life in the Promised Land, by Len Lyons, photographs by Ilan Ossendryver, foreword by Alan Dershowitz |
And From Sinai to Ethiopia , by Rabbi Sharon Shalom |
In addition, hand made Ethiopian jewelry and Judaica, woven Ethiopian basketry, and significant books will be available for sale and book signings: |
Chassida Shmella Ethiopian Israeli Jewish Community Please show your generosity Be generous and help nurture We are grateful for any size donation. Thank you, in advance, for your much needed monetary support. All donations are tax deductible within the provisions of the 501(c)(3) non profit status. Volunteers, we also need support in these areas: administration, program planning, web design, computer skills. Contact us and make the connection. Kol Yisrael Aravim Zeh L?Zeh - in essence, we are one big Nefesh. Contributions are tax deductible. The Ethiopian Israeli Jewish Community relies on you; you are our family. Todah Rabah (Many Thanks) |
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 |
 Sigd in Israel | |  Sigd in NYC |
|
 Rabbi Shalom |
Special guests at dinner, joining us from Israel: Kessoch/rabbis from the Ethiopian-Israeli community- Kiddush: Kes Vanda Eil Mentessnout Speaker: Rabbi Sharon Shalom, Author of: Sinai to Ethiopia ? Q/A to follow Also joining us- Princeton Professor Ephraim Isaac & other leaders in the Jewish community |
It's not too late to become a sponsor for this amazing Sigd celebration. |
$38/ after October 23rd: $45 Location: Upper West Side Please Click here to donate, and buy tickets here.Thank you! Buy tickets here SIGD celebration follows on: Sunday, November 3rd:
Celebration at B'nai Jeshurun. 257 West 88th Street, between B?way & West End Ave Sigd: prepaid: $38/ at the door: $45 COMBO PRICE for both dinner and Sigd: $72 Doors open 3:30 pm/ Sigd program begins at 4 pm Payment and/or questions: Chassida Shmella website or contact: For more information ; (212)284-6532 [email protected]chassidashmella.org Please forward to your family and Friends . |
 Israel Celebrates Ethiopian Jewish Holiday |
Kes Mentessnout, Rabbi Sharon Shalom & Professor Ephraim Isaac will lead the SIGD with chanting? Enjoy Ethiopian/Israeli finger food! Enjoy the amazing music of the Debo band - Addis Ababa Bete & dancers By continuing to support Chassida Shmella Ethiopian Israeli Jewish community , you will enrich your own Jewish life and learn some of the Ethiopian Jewish customs. |
 the Debo band |
Please join us for the Ethiopian Israeli Jewish Community our 4th annual SIGD celebration. On Sunday November 3 ,2013music Debo band - Addis Ababa Bete and with Dancers. |
Please Click here to donate, and buy tickets here.Thank you! Buy tickets here |
The Ethiopian Jews of Israel - Personal Stories of Life in the Promised Land, by Len Lyons, photographs by Ilan Ossendryver, foreword by Alan Dershowitz |
And From Sinai to Ethiopia , by Rabbi Sharon Shalom |
In addition, hand made Ethiopian jewelry and Judaica, woven Ethiopian basketry, and significant books will be available for sale and book signings: |
Chassida Shmella Ethiopian Israeli Jewish Community Please show your generosity Be generous and help nurture We are grateful for any size donation. Thank you, in advance, for your much needed monetary support. All donations are tax deductible within the provisions of the 501(c)(3) non profit status. Volunteers, we also need support in these areas: administration, program planning, web design, computer skills. Contact us and make the connection. Kol Yisrael Aravim Zeh L?Zeh - in essence, we are one big Nefesh. Contributions are tax deductible. The Ethiopian Israeli Jewish Community relies on you; you are our family. Todah Rabah (Many Thanks) |
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