In recognition of nearly two decades of service to the poor of Ethiopia, the Messianic Jewish Alliance of America Ethiopia Relief Project ,was honored by the Abyssinia Industry Award Organization, on behalf of the Ethiopian government, in a ceremony in Addis Ababa on July 21, 2024.

Since 2005, MJAA Ethiopia Relief, headed by Founder Joel Chernoff , has dug 61 clean water wells , and organized hundreds of free emergency medical clinics serving tens of thousands of Ethiopian Jews, known as the Beta Israel, who are the poorest of the poor. In the shadow of a cruel civil war raging in northern Ethiopia, the MJAA endeavors to keep the Beta Israel alive until they are able to make aliyah, immigrate to Israel, according to God’s prophetic purposes.

Due to the security situation, the Ethiopian government hastily organized the award ceremony, attended by former president Mulatu Teshome and a thousand dignitaries. Joel Chernoff, and MJAA Ethiopia Relief Executive Director in Ethiopia, Rekebnaha Gedamu, received the award trophy recognizing the project as one of three outstanding NGOs for the year 2023-2024, in carrying out its mandate in support of the poor. The Beta Israel are the primary beneficiaries of the MJAA Ethiopia Relief Project, though their Christian and Muslim neighbors also enjoy the benefits of clean water and medical assistance.

The MJAA Ethiopia Relief operates out of two offices in Bahir Dar and Gondar with an all-Ethiopian staff.

Former Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome warmly embraced Rekebnaha, thanking the MJAA for its nearly twenty years of ongoing aid, and for maintaining that assistance during the recent years of conflict that has augmented food insecurity among the poor, who face starvation, displacement and humanitarian crises.

As Yeshua said in Matthew 25:40, “Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.”