Far too frequently, Ethiopian immigrants in Israel are harmed by companies, private individuals and public authorities who take advantage of their vulnerability and cultural unfamiliarity with the “rules of the game.” When such incidents occur, Tebeka has become the address for Ethiopian Israelis who seek advice, intervention and legal assistance. The result is a better-informed Ethiopian Israeli populace whose members are aware of their rights and responsibilities, and equipped with the tools to claim them.
Tebeka’s legal aid clinics operate in areas with high concentrations ...

Tebeka’s Legal Advocacy Project aims to protect the fundamental rights of Ethiopian Israelis and to promote policies and initiatives that support their successful integration in Israel. Beyond that, the Legal Advocacy Project ultimately serves to help safeguard the civil liberties of all Israeli citizens and contribute meaningfully to the just and equitable rule of law in Israel.
Impact Litigation: Tebeka litigates cases before the lower courts and Israel’s High Court of Justice involving claims of discrimination and equal protection violations, often with community-wide and national impact.

When Itzik Dessie, Founder and Executive Director of Tebeka, enrolled in law school, he was the first Ethiopian-Israeli in the faculty. "I had only been in Israel for nine years," Dessie recalls- "and was still struggling with Hebrew which wasn't my mother tongue. It was challenging enough to use it on a daily basis, let alone study in Hebrew and understand legal terminology. Towards the end of my studies, the media took interest in my story – that of the first Ethiopian Israeli law student. Luckily, it reached Eyal Rosovsky, then a partner at the firm of Chaim Zadok (Former Minister of Justice).

Legal Aid and Social Services: The Center for Children’s Rights aims to ensure the health, safety, education and social well-being of Ethiopian Israeli children and their families. Tebeka’s staff of attorneys and social workers provides legal advocacy, psychological counseling and cultural mediation for children and their parents in dealing with one another, with school officials, social welfare authorities and the courts.
Key issues addressed through the Center for Children’s Rights include:
• Discrimination against Ethiopian Israeli children in educational settings

Tebeka’s Youth for Justice Program operates under the umbrella of the Center for Children’s Rights. Its aim is to create a well-informed citizenry among Israel’s younger generation and to foster their lifelong commitment to community service. The program is designed to acquaint Israeli high school students of both Ethiopian and non-Ethiopian descent with the fundamentals of democracy, the Israeli legal system, and the importance of social justice. The curriculum encourages students to closely examine their rights and obligations as Israeli citizens. A group of highly dedicated Ethiopian and ...

At Tebeka we believe everyone is part of the solution and that we are all responsible for one another. With this in mind, Tebeka launched the Shomer Achi (“My Brother’s Keeper”) Project, which offers a unique opportunity to contribute to the promotion of social justice and equality in Israel. )
The program invites law firms and other supporters to sponsor a Tebeka attorney in order to provide free legal aid for Ethiopian Israelis in need of assistance. Tebeka attorneys work on cases involving civil rights, family law, labor law, health law, housing law, and other areas. Sponsors make a ...

The lack of sufficient access to information regarding individual rights and social entitlements is a serious obstacle to the successful integration of the Ethiopian community in Israel. Many immigrants are ill-equipped to maneuver Israel’s complex bureaucracy and utilize the full range of services available to them. To address these challenges, Tebeka coordinates workshops, conferences and lectures that aim to raise the community’s awareness about their rights and responsibilities in Israel. Tebeka hosts a regular radio show in Hebrew and Amharic, as well as publishes informative