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In the years 1955-1956, 27 youths were brought to Israel from the Jewish-Ethiopian community (then called Falasha). They were sent to the KfarBatya religious youth village for their education.The first group completed its education after three years and returned toEthiopia in order to educate and train the youth of the community andwork on its behalf. The second group spent eight years in Kfar Batya andother institutions, returning to Ethiopia for the same purpose.Most of the young people tell difficult personal stories, as they weretroubled by feelings of detachment, abandonment and rejection-payinga high personal price for the purpose to which they had dedicated theiryoung lives. As Yitzhak Ben-Zvi, Israel's second president, put it, they were"the first bridge" between Israel and the Jewish community of Ethiopia.Their pioneering activity on behalf of their people ultimately led toOperation Moses, Operation Solomon and various other operationswhich must remain covert. Today, most of the young people from thesetwo groups reside in Israel, and the story of their adventures and personalsacrifices is told here for the first time.