Ferede Aklum

Ferede Yazezew Aklum (May 15, 1949 – January 7, 2009),[2][3] sometimes known as Farada Aklum or Ferede Yazazao Aklum, was a Mossad agent and Zionist activist best known for helping 900 Ethiopian Jews immigrate to Israel. His contributions helped pave the way for Ethiopian Jews to get to Israel via Sudan through Operation Moses and Operation Solomon.[4] He continued being an activist in Israel following his own aliyah. He died on a trip to Addis Ababa and is buried in Beer'Sheeva.[5]

Ferede Aklum
Aklum in 1982
Born
Ferede Yazezew Aklum

(1949-05-15)May 15, 1949
DiedJanuary 7, 2009(2009-01-07) (aged 59)
Addis Ababa
Resting placeNew Be'er Sheva Cemetery.[1]
OccupationMossad Agent
Spouses
  • Eneish Berihun-Yishayahu
  • Semira
    ​
    (died)​
Children8

Early life

Aklum was born in the Medabay village of the Tigray in Ethiopia to Yazezew Aklum and Avrehet Worku.[6] He grew up in the Adi Worewa village.[7] His father insisted he focus on formal education, so Aklum walked several kilometers to school in Shire. He eventually earned a teaching degree at the College of Addis in Addis Ababa. After earning his degree, he became headmaster of a school and mayor of the Indabunga Municipality.[8][9]

Sudan

After Moshe Dayan disclosed Israel was selling arms to Ethiopia,[10] the Ethiopian government began targeting Jewish activists. Aklum was identified as a Zionist and fled to Sudan.[11]

Arriving without money, he sold his wedding band to contact the Mossad.[12] This led to Mossad agent Danny Limor searching for him in Kharkoum. After making contact, the two spent the next 18 months secretly helping Jewish refugees cross into Sudan and travel to Israel. The refugees had to travel via Europe because Sudan had severed ties with Israel.[13] Aklum finally left Sudan in September, 1980 when it became apparent the Sudanese authorities intended to imprison him for his activities.[14]

Israel

Upon arriving in Israel, Aklum reunited with his family and began studying electrical engineering. The plight of Ethiopian Jews eventually led him back to a life of activism including leading the Association of Ethiopian Jews.[15]

The fictional character, Kabede Bimro (portrayed by Michael Kenneth Williams) in the movie Red Sea Diving Resort,[16][17] is based upon Ferede Aklum.

References
  1. Yilma, Shmuel (2019). The Power of One. Israel: Yerusalem Forum. p. 74.
  2. "Ferede Yazezew Aklum". Museum of the Jewish People. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  3. Yilma, Shmuel (2019). The Power of One. Israel: Yerusalem Forum. p. 20.
  4. "Ferede Yazezew Aklum". Museum of the Jewish People. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  5. "Our Man in Addis Ababa". The Librarians. 3 December 2017. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  6. "Ferede Yazezwo Aklum". Jews of Ethiopia. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  7. Yilma, Shmuel (2019). The Power of One. Israel: Yerusalem Forum. p. 23.
  8. "Ferede Yazezwo Aklum". Jews of Ethiopia. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  9. "Ferede Yazezew Aklum". Museum of the Jewish People. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  10. Greenway, H.D.S. (7 February 1978). "Dayan Discloses Israel Is Selling Arms to Ethiopia". Washington Post. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  11. Yilma, Shmuel (2019). The Power of One. Israel: Yerusalem Forum. p. 33.
  12. Somfalvi, Attila (7 June 2019). "Unsung hero: The Mossad agent who led Ethiopian Jews to the Promised Land". Ynetnews. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  13. Yilma, Shmuel (2019). The Power of One. Israel: Yerusalem Forum.
  14. Yilma, Shmuel (2019). The Power of One. Israel: Yerusalem Forum.
  15. "Association of Ethiopian Jews, 1974, 1978-1982, 1986 | the Center for Jewish History ArchivesSpace". Center for Jewish History. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
  16. "The Real Heroes of the 'Red Sea Diving Resort' Rescue". Haaretz. Retrieved 16 January 2022.
  17. "Savior Stories". Jewish Currents. Retrieved 17 January 2022.
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