Full Breakdown
Mimi Biyadgilon: From Ethiopian Village to Senior Social Worker in Israel
6/28/2026, 12:33:39 AM
Background & Context
In 1991, Operation Solomon airlifted over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) from Addis Ababa. Among them was Mabrat “Mimi” Biyadgilon, who arrived in Netanya at age 14 with her parents and six siblings.
Early Life and Education
The family spent 18 months in the Ashdod absorption center, then moved to a modest Netanya apartment. Eight children lived on a bare minimum; the father’s Parkinson’s disease prevented work, and the mother, unable to master Hebrew, raised the children alone after a divorce. Seasonal cleaning and restaurant jobs supplemented the household. Visits from a Hebrew-speaking social worker later inspired Mimi’s career choice. She attended Youth Aliyah boarding schools and completed grades 10-12 at Bnei Akiva ulpana in Arad, a four-hour commute from Netanya.
Timeline (Chronology)
1991-93: arrival and absorption-center stay. Mid-1990s: Youth Aliyah boarding schools and Arad ulpana. Late-1990s: national-service tutoring in Haifa. Early 2000s: cleaning jobs to fund college. Age 25: began social-work studies at Haifa University; age 28: married a former army technician employed by Elbit Systems. 2025: completed a master’s in social work at Tel-Aviv University (pending graduation). Present: senior social worker for Rishon Lezion municipality, serving Hebrew-Amharic clients.
Crisis Response and Impact
Mimi’s bilingual work supports Ethiopian-Israeli integration. After the October 7, 2023 attacks, she helped deliver tragic news to families of Nova Festival massacre victims, counseled evacuees from the Gaza border, and assisted residents whose homes were damaged by missile strikes during the recent Iran-Israel conflict, demonstrating the importance of culturally competent social services in emergencies.
Verbatim Quotes
- “She was a very strong woman who always encouraged her children to study,” — Mimi Biyadgilon, recalling her mother
- “Ulpanat Arad was like my second home. I had very, very nice teachers. During summer vacation, I was able to stay at school and work at various maintenance jobs there.” — Mimi Biyadgilon, on her schooling in Arad
- “I was a good girl and tried my utmost to conform. I wanted mother to be happy and proud of me,” — Mimi Biyadgilon, describing personal motivation
- “My studies were most interesting but also challenging, and required a lot of effort. It was a tense wartime period, so I had to show resilience in juggling my many responsibilities.” — Mimi Biyadgilon, reflecting on her master’s program
Looking Ahead
Mimi expects to graduate from her master’s program later this year and plans to expand bilingual social services in Rishon Lezion, continuing to support vulnerable Ethiopian-Israeli families in future crises.
