Gain some insight into the Ethiopia’s past and present with first-hand eyewitness accounts in three presentations this March at Lone Star College-CyFair.

Join Librarian Elise Sheppard for “Ethiopian Excursion: A Close-up and Personal Visit to the Country” talks 10 a.m. March 7 (with the Academy for Lifelong Learners A.L.L. classes) and 1:30 p.m. March 18 (as part of Windows on the World W.O.W. presentations.). Sheppard, who traveled to Ethiopia in January to visit her friend, Israeli Ambassador to Ethiopia Belaynesh Zevadia, She will share some highlights of her visit such as hiking and visiting scenic areas; places to visit in the capitol city of Addis Ababa; economic development; updates on the recent African Union Summit; the people of Ethiopia; the philanthropic work in medicine and education done by Israelis and others.

Then come back at 10 a.m. March 19 (with the Learning, Inspiration, Fellowship and Enrichment L.I.F.E. events) for “Reflections on Ethiopian Jewry” to get an eyewitness account of the 1980's secret evacuation of the ancient Jewish Ethiopian community.  Suzanne Jacobson, Senior VP of Development at the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston, will relate how the agrarian refugees walked to camps in the Sudan, were airlifted out to safety and a new, technologically advanced life in Israel.

For event information, go to LoneStar.edu/cyfair or contact Sheppard at 281.290.5248 or Elise.J.Sheppard@LoneStar.edu.