This week, SAR High School had the profound privilege of welcoming Rabbi Sharon Shalom, who shared his extraordinary journey from Ethiopia to Israel. His story was both personal and historical—a moving account that brought to life the courage, faith and enduring hope of the Ethiopian Jewish community.

Rabbi Shalom spoke passionately about the heritage of Beta Israel and their deep, unwavering love for Eretz Yisrael. As a child, he was part of a daring and miraculous rescue mission: Israeli commandos brought him and many others across the Sudanese border to safety in Israel. That mission—one of the many heroic efforts to bring Ethiopian Jews home—is dramatized in the Netflix film The Red Sea Diving Resort.

Today, Rabbi Shalom serves as a rav in Kiryat Gat and teaches at Ono Academic College, continuing to inspire others through his scholarship and leadership. Among the many stories he shared, one in particular left a lasting impression on the students. Years after his rescue, Rabbi Shalom received a phone call from one of the very soldiers who had carried him to freedom. The commando, now a middle-aged man, had a deeply personal request: he asked Rabbi Shalom to officiate at his son’s wedding.

In that moment, as Rabbi Shalom reflected, the miraculous promise of the State of Israel came full circle. A boy once rescued by a chayal had grown into a rabbi, now serving the family of the soldier who saved his life. It was a moment of redemption, of gratitude, and of profound connection.

Rabbi Shalom’s story offered the students a powerful perspective on Jewish history, identity and the modern State of Israel. His personal journey—from being rescued as a child to becoming a leader and teacher in Israeli society—highlighted the resilience of the Ethiopian Jewish community and the opportunities made possible by Israel’s founding and ongoing mission. His visit was a meaningful reminder of the responsibility we all share to learn from the past and help shape the future.