People willing to look at Israel objectively likely would agree that the country is a remarkable nation, often defying odds and achieving what some might consider the impossible. Israel's achievements are illustrated once again in a story posted today by Bloomberg Businessweek.

Headlined "Israel Safest As Investors Discount War Threat," the article notes, "Israel, under threat of war from its neighbors since being founded in 1948, produced better risk-adjusted returns than all other developed stock markets in the past decade as the technology-driven economy attracted global investors."

Israel's miraculous economic saga, in the face of enormous odds, is a reflection of the will and ingenuity of its people. The Bloomberg story quotes legendary investor Warren Buffett, who has a large investment in Israel, as saying, "If you go to the Middle East and you're looking for oil, skip Israel. If you're going looking for brains, just stop at Israel. You don't have to go anyplace else."

The Birmingham Jewish Federation, by helping talented and motivated Jews from throughout the world come to Israel, and funding economic development programs and agencies, such as the American Israel Chamber of Commerce Southeast Region, has helped Israel become what it is today -- a remarkable state thriving in a hostile region, and one that is a beacon of freedom, democracy, human dignity and free enterprise.

BJF volunteer leader Amanda Weil will be joining our staff March 1. She was in Israel recently with a BJF group. Amanda is pictured here, at left, along with Brittany Saag, another member of the group, and two young Ethiopian Israelis who have been helped by SELAH, an agency The BJF funds. SELAH helps new immigrants to Israel cope with difficulties.

By Amanda Weil

TEL AVIV -- When we arrived at SELAH'S headquarters we were welcomed with bright smiling faces. I should have known then that we were about to have a profound experience. However, I didn't know what was coming. Everyone seemed happy.

As the SELAH people came outside to greet our Birmingham group, I noticed Demas, one of the Ethiopian brothers who would share his story later, standing behind me. I shook hands with several of the others, but continued to notice that Demas was inching closer. I finally turned to him and stuck out my hand and said, "Shalom, my name is Amanda." He stuck out his hand and with the warmest smile he responded, "My name is Demas, it is nice to meet you."

We all gathered inside around a large table. We heard from several people who had been helped by SELAH, but it was the story of these two young men, Demas and his older brother Dereve, that captured our hearts.

Demas, 17, and Dereve, 19, sat poised as they began telling their story. They arrived in Israel with their mother, older brother and two younger brothers in 2007. Their father had passed away in Ethiopia before they were able to move. The family was taken to an absorption center where they all worked hard to become acclimated to their new Israeli life. They had to find a place to live, enroll in school, navigate this new land in which they lived and learn a new language.

The two sat there, calm and composed, as they told their story. They were proud.

THE REAL STORY

Then, the real story began. Their mother became sick about a year and a half ago. She had just managed to move the family away from the absorption center and find an apartment for the six of them to live in, but now she was facing illness. She went through weeks of being in and out of the hospital and Dereve and Demas were off at boarding school.

Dereve spoke of how he had to leave school several times unexpectedly to go home to visit his mother who was getting sicker and sicker by the day. He spoke of seeing his mother in the hospital, hooked up to machines and fighting for her life, and, as he did, our group noticed how Demas' demeanor was changing.

This strong, young man who was sitting so tall and proud was now looking toward the floor, with his head in his hands. He had tried so hard to be strong as his brother was telling the story, but now we saw the tears streaming down his face. We all knew what was coming.

Their mother had been diagnosed with cancer, and her prognosis was not good. Within a few weeks, she was in intensive care and they had to tell her goodbye. They were scared; how were they going to live without a mother and a father? Who was going to guide them and who would take care of them? This is when SELAH stepped in.

Typically in this kind of situation, the children would be put into the government's care and most likely be split up, but it is the Ethiopian culture to take care of family. SELAH advocated for them, and, as a result, the oldest brother, who is 21 and a mechanic, was able to take custody of Dereve and Demas and their two younger brothers. Dereve and Demas continue to be in school and in order to get a better position in the military, they are specializing in engineering.

LOVING & CARING

Micah Feldmann, a man who has been engaged in helping with the immigration of the Ethiopian Jews for decades, now works for SELAH. He sat next to Dereve and Demas, translating every word from Hebrew into English. We could all tell that he was a father figure to them, and he deeply loves and cares about these young men.

They trusted him to tell their story to us because they were not completely comfortable speaking English, but after our meeting was over, I walked over to Demas who had been crying. I said to him, "You are like my little brothers," and again, that smile returned and he said in English, "You are my sister."

Ruth Bar-On, Founder and Director of SELAH, and Micah told us that there are 25 families just like this one, with 113 orphaned Ethiopian children who need care and love. SELAH, which means "rock" in Hebrew, is one of the 32 agencies that The BJF helps fund.

SELAH does everything it can to help new immigrants to Israel whose lives have been made difficult by tragedy and sadness. It is there to comfort them, and to teach them not only how to survive, but also how to thrive and be productive members of Israel's society.

I am so happy we got to visit SELAH and it was especially gratifying to see how dollars raised by The BJF do so much to help people in need. I've always been told to "do what you love, and if you love what you do, it will never feel like work." I am so grateful for the opportunity to work for The BJF starting March 1. I know I will love every second!

Above photo is by Edward Kaprov.