Born in Addis Ababa, Tirsit Legesse Bishaw remembers her community’s longing for Jerusalem. Not Israel, but Jerusalem, or Yerusalem, as Ethiopian Jews call the city. Gradually, five of her older siblings made aliyah. When Tirsit was 11, her mother decided to reunite the family and made aliyah with her three youngest children. With her older siblings to take them in, Tirsit bypassed the experience of an absorption center. “I landed straight into Israeli society. It was an immersive experience,” she recalls.
During high school, she became interested in politics, foreign affairs, and diplomacy. With the yearning for Jerusalem running through her veins, she headed straight to Hebrew University and began studying political science. Over the course of her studies, Tirsit decided to continue her academic career in the field of criminology. She began her master’s degree immediately after graduating.
Today Tirsit is the Vice President of Program Development and Partnerships at Olim Beyahad, an NGO that promotes the integration of Ethiopian Israelis into the workforce. She is leading the way, focusing on the education-academia-employment continuum, working to inspire young Israelis of Ethiopian descent to enter academia, while also encouraging universities and employers to level the playing field.
To this end, Tirsit has participated in various Knesset committee meetings, and is currently working on two projects: with the Ministry of Education, training talented teachers of Ethiopian descent so that they can advance into leadership positions. “There are currently 600 Ethiopian-Israeli teachers, but only two principals throughout the entire country,” Tirsit laments.
The second project, with the Ministry of Economy and Industry, is encouraging public and private sector employers to hire and promote Ethiopian Israelis. To date, nearly 1,300 people have graduated Olim Beyahad’s programs, and 87% of them have secured quality employment. “Each gainfully employed person is an inspiration to their families and communities,” reflects Tirsit. “I hope that by the time my children grow up, they won’t encounter any glass ceilings or barriers.”
“I’m a woman of Ethiopian descent with two degrees from Hebrew University. Wherever I go, I shatter stereotypes. I am proof that you can aim for the stars and succeed. At the same time, we need systemic change: creating opportunities for people from different backgrounds to realize their academic and professional potential.”