These Are My Names

Written and Directed by: Ruth Mason (30 min. 2010)

Monday May 9, (Community Yom Haatzmaut Celebration)

Park Synagogue, 3300 Mayfield Road, Cleveland Heights

For Ethiopian Jews' multiple names reflect the richness, wisdom and beauty of their culture -- and every name tells a story.

In the film, young Ethiopian Israelis share their journeys toward their names: stories of love and connection, survival and loss, anger and pride. The characters' original names – changed without their consent upon arrival in Israel – take them back to their childhoods in mountain villages, to the hunger and fear in Sudan, to longing for loved ones who died or disappeared on the journey to Israel, to denial of their identity…and reclamation of their roots.