It Takes A Village to Rebuild A Special Place
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The Ethiopian Godjo, a cherished and popular gathering spot in the center of the Yemin Orde Youth Village, was destroyed in the wildfire that tore through the Village, December 2010. For the Ethiopian children and their families, the
Godjo reflected immense cultural pride as it stood as a primary place in the Village for meetings, celebrations, private conversations or contemplation. Indeed, the loss of the
Godjo was met with much sadness and regret throughout the Village.
But thanks to the skill and generosity of Itzik Gitto, a respected elder of the Ethiopian-Israeli community, a newly rebuilt
Godjo now stands tall at Yemin Orde! During the summer, Gitto came to Yemin Orde and, together with many of the children, rebuilt the
Godjo to reflect its original authentic design.
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Gitto’s expertise in building Godjos stems from years building these structures in Ethiopia and in Israel. His presence in the Village was particularly meaningful as according to Ethiopian tradition, fathers and sons always built their homes together. While Gitto worked with the children, he shared stories of his own childhood in Ethiopia and how he began to build homes at the age of 16 with his father.
“It all began with my wish to be successful already when I was your age,” Gitto told the children.
The Godjo is used as an important focal point throughout the year. New children to Yemin Orde participate in a scavenger hunt that helps familiarize them with certain prime locations around the Village. When they find the
Godjo, the children learn about its special significance in Ethiopian history and its importance to the Ethiopian community. The
Godjo proves to be a great source of pride to each Ethiopian child’s personal identity.
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The Godjo is also the site of many festive events. Annual Sigd holiday celebrations in November are held at the
Godjo. The Sigd holiday, which symbolizes the acceptance of the Torah and the desire to live in Jerusalem, is a national holiday in Israel. At Yemin Orde, this holiday marks a full day of festivities for all of the children and staff. Elders from the Ethiopian community come to the Village dressed in traditional clothing (even the children dress traditionally!) and everyone gathers at the
Godjo to dance, sing and read from the Torah. Ethiopian food is served for the entire Yemin Orde community, followed by an original play on Ethiopian history