IN PICTURES: Large-scale Passover preparations underway in Ethiopia

Approximately 4,000 members of the Jewish community are expected to attend the Seder in Gondar, Ethiopia.

By TAMARA ZIEVE
Ethiopian Jews prepare for Passover (photo credit: LIOR SPERANDEO)
Ethiopian Jews prepare for Passover
(photo credit: LIOR SPERANDEO)
Members of the Jewish community in Ethiopia have begun extensive preparations for the Passover holiday.
Ethiopian Jewis prepare for Passover (STRUGGLE FOR ETHIOPIAN ALIYAH/PASSOVER).
Ethiopian Jewis prepare for Passover (STRUGGLE FOR ETHIOPIAN ALIYAH/PASSOVER).
They plan to bake around 100,000 matzot (unleavened bread). The process includes sifting the wheat, grinding the flour and baking the matzot over an open flame. They will also prepare wine from raisins.
Ethiopian Jews prepare for Passover (STRUGGLE FOR ETHIOPIAN ALIYAH/PASSOVER).
Ethiopian Jews prepare for Passover (STRUGGLE FOR ETHIOPIAN ALIYAH/PASSOVER).
Approximately 4,000 members of the Jewish community are expected to attend the Seder in Gondar. Gondar is one of the two cities, along with Addis Ababa, where 8,000 Falash Mura (Ethiopian Jews) whose ancestors converted to Christianity have been waiting for years in transit camps, hoping to receive Israeli government approval to make aliya.
Jewish Ethiopians make matzah in preparation for Passover at a compound while awaiting immigration to Israel in Gondar March 9, 2007 (ELIANA APONTE/REUTERS).
Jewish Ethiopians make matzah in preparation for Passover at a compound while awaiting immigration to Israel in Gondar March 9, 2007 (ELIANA APONTE/REUTERS).
The Jewish community in Ethiopia recently received bad news that the Israeli government had yet again delayed the approval of any further aliya, as the 2019 state budget was approved last week without any funds allocated for the Ethiopian immigration, despite prior government commitments.  
An Jewish Ethiopian woman gives matzahto a man ahead of Passover at a compound while awaiting immigration to Israel in Gondar March 9, 2007 (ELIANA APONTE/REUTERS).
An Jewish Ethiopian woman gives matzahto a man ahead of Passover at a compound while awaiting immigration to Israel in Gondar March 9, 2007 (ELIANA APONTE/REUTERS).