40 years ago, on November 21, 1984, Israel began a historic mission to airlift thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. This initiative, known as Operation Moses, rescued nearly 8,000 people and was the first of two covert missions of its kind. The second, Operation Solomon, took place in 1991 and set a world record, still held today, for the most passengers on board a commercial flight.
At the time, Ethiopian Jews were living in difficult conditions amid civil war and famine, with restrictions preventing them from leaving the country. Together, the two operations rescued a total of 22,000 people and are considered among the most successful humanitarian efforts, underscoring Israel’s commitment to preserving Jewish identity worldwide and welcoming every Jew back to the Jewish homeland with open arms.
Photo: EL AL Archives, Yaacov Katz
