Call Me Gebyanesh is a fictional story based on the experiences of Gebyanesh ("Gebby") Addisu on her first days of school in Israel as a third grader and an Ethiopian immigrant.

Gebby and her family are Jewish, and they were greatly discriminated against in their native Ethiopia because of their religion. They yearned to immigrate to Israel, their biblical homeland. Gebby expected to fit in with her Jewish classmates as soon as she arrived in Israel, but she quickly learned, as many immigrants have before her, that adjusting to a new country and culture is not so simple.

Family Picture: Mom, Dad, and Gebyanesh with two of her four brothers

Gebyanesh Visits North America

In September 2024, Gebby spent a week in Toronto as a student ambassador meeting with the Jewish community there. At the end of her time in Canada, Gebby made the trip around Lake Ontario to visit me in Rochester, NY. We shared three special days, walking along Irondequoit Bay, attending a performance by the Rochester City Ballet, visiting a local farm market, and talking, talking, talking.

The first and only other time I met with Gebby was at her Israeli high school when she was 17. Nine years later, it was a gift to have her visit Rochester and spend time with me and my family.

Gebby and me among the pumpkins

Gebby and my husband, Howard, shucking corn

Gebby receiving her Hebrew University diploma.jpg

Gebby receives her diploma
from the Hebrew University, Jerusalem

Gebby gives a speach
in Toronto