Keren Aynor Benefit for Scholarships for Israeli Ethiopian Students

Please join me on the evening of May 9^th, 2013, in the magical Atelier Collage gallery in old Jaffa, for a benefit for the Friends of Keren Hanan Aynor to raise funds for scholarships for Ethiopian PhD, MA and BA students. The featured speakers will be Micha Feldman who played a key role in the Ethiopian Aliya new MK Shimon Solomon, a Keren Aynor scholarship alumnus, who will tell his personal story; Aviva Dese, a current scholarship recipient and contestant on The Voice will provide the musical portion of the evening. To RSVP and for more details contact nili@kerenaynor.org.il

Keren Aynor was established in 1994 in remembrance of Hanan Aynor who was dedicated to bringing the Ethiopian Jews home, to Israel. Keren Aynor honors his memory by assisting talented and highly-motivated Ethiopian Israelis to acquire higher academic education and advanced professional degrees. The recipients of the Keren Aynor scholarship have, in the past, gone on to do great things. They have become doctors, lawyers, engineers, artists, and members of the Knesset. Their children will no longer need the support of Keren Aynor.

The previous recipients of the scholarship can testify to its invaluable contribution. Elias Yosef, who is a graphic designer, says Keren Aynor "….emphasizes helping students who are going into new fields, parents who want to advance their education, and students who have no one else to turn to for help.”

Dr. Hadas Matsree, who received the scholarship for her MD studies, explains Keren Aynor provides more than just financial support: “Of course, the financial assistance enabled me to work fewer hours and to focus on my studies, but ultimately it was the personal connections with people at the organization that really made the difference.”

At the benefit, guests will be able to hear the stories of the alumni of the Keren Aynor scholarship as well as arguments about the value of higher education and the importance of making sure all people have access to it. During the event, MK Shimon Solomon, an alumnus of the scholarship, will tell his personal story; a panel of Keren Aynor alumni will discuss the power of higher education; and Aviva Dese, a current scholarship recipient and contestant on The Voice will provide the musical portion of the evening.

The Atelier Collage, which is supplying the beautiful location for the benefit, is also donating a generous percentage of their art and jewelry sales from the evening to Keren Aynor. Atelier Collage was established as a non-profit organization (amuta) to benefit ethnic artisans that didn't have an outlet for their crafts. It has expanded to include Israeli artists that are willing to donate a portion of their jewelry or judaica sales to help others.  In addition we are open to help other amutot and serve as a venue that they can invite their members and friends to partake of an event.

The minimum contribution for the evening is 180 NIS. All donations are eligible for Israeli tax credit or U.S. tax deduction and will go directly to scholarships for the 2013-2014 year.  One will be able to participate in a lovely evening, buy a beautiful piece of jewelry or art, and go home in the secure knowledge that the evening was entirely to the benefit of Ethiopian Israeli students.

The Benefit for the Friends of Keren Hanan Aynor will take place between 7-10pm at the Atelier Collage 27 Netiv Hamazalot in old Jaffa. To RSVP and for more details contact nili@kerenaynor.org.il