Ashager Araro's reverence for dreams extends far beyond mere aspirations or poetic musings; for her, they hold profound significance embedded in Israel’s history, her ancestral roots, and her personal journey.
Born in Ethiopia, Ashager’s family yearned for a life in Jerusalem for generations. However, upon reaching their longed-for destination, the reality was far from their dreams. Struggling against social isolation and racial prejudice as a Black Jew, Ashager's parents fostered a fierce determination within her and helped her practice empathy toward her peers. This unwavering sense of self fueled her dream of a more equitable Israel, and she emerged as a champion for ethnic minorities, particularly for her own Ethiopian community.
Ashager went on to create Battae — Amharic for “home”— which serves as a sanctuary where fellow African Jews can find community and celebrate the richness of their heritage through food, dance, and education.
Join Gil as he gains a deeper understanding of Ashager’s remarkable story, how she utilizes her online reach, and endeavors to help Gil master his very first word in Amharic: "ameseginalehu" (Thank you).
More about storymarkTM
storymark is brought to you by itrek studios. itrek is a non-profit whose mission is to empower leaders to engage their networks in meaningful Israel experiences, fostering an understanding and appreciation of Israel's unique culture, diversity, and complex reality, which they carry back into their own lives and leadership roles. For more on itrek’s mission, visit itrek.org.
storymark is hosted by Gil Galanos. Our Producer and Editor is Elie Bleier. Our Associate Producer is Rebekah Sebastian. Special thanks to the itrek marketing team.
Connect with storymark
Want to continue the story?
Sign up for the storymark newsletter which will keep you up-to-date on show news and future guests: storymarkpodcast.org
Did you enjoy this episode?
Help us spread the storymark word!
Please rate and review storymark on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.
Want to see the faces behind the voices?
Follow us on Instagram: @storymark
Want to say hello or recommend a guest?
Drop us a note: storymark@itrek.org
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Popular Podcasts
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com