Sirak M. Sabahat

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Sirak M. Sabahat (born December 5, 1981) is an Israeli actor. He is known for his role in the film Va, vis et deviens.

Contents

[edit] Biography

[edit] Early life

Sabahat was born in the village of Walita, in Southern Ethiopia, the first-born of four brothers. He is a Falasha Jew.[1] In 1991, he and his family left Awassa (south of Ethiopia) for Israel. They walked thousands of kilometers to Addis Ababa, and lost many friends and relatives during the trip. They waited in the capital city for 5 months before being sent to Israel during an operation called "Operation Solomon"[1] in which 50,000 Ethiopian Jews were brought to Israel in 3 days.[2] For eight months, they stayed in Kiryat Shmona without contact with the Israeli population, because the government thought they needed an adaptation period first. Then they were moved to live in caravans near Nahariya, and in 1995 they finally arrived in Ramla.

Sirak went to a boarding school near Kfar Saba. He received his Diploma in 1999, which was followed by military service. Then he studied acting in the University of Haifa, where he became the head of the Ethiopian Students Association.

[edit] Career

In 2004, Sabahat participated in a reality show on Israeli TV, and was chosen as best actor in the "project". He eventually starred in Mihaileanu's film Va, vis, et deviens (2005), for which he was nominated for an Israeli Academy Award. He has also acted in stage productions. Sabahat is currently a presenter for a childrens' show on Israel's Channel 1.

[edit] Filmography

[edit] Actor

  • Va, vis et deviens (2005) .... Schlomo (adult)
  • ... aka Live and Become (Australia, Canada, Ireland, and UK)
  • ... aka Go, See, and Become (International: English title)
  • ... aka Vai e vivrai (Italy: dubbed version)

[edit] Self

  • "Comme au cinéma" .... TV Episode dated 22 March 2005 .... Himself
  • ... aka Comme au cinéma: l'émission (France: long new title)
  • ... aka Comme au cinéma: le magazine (France: long new title)

[edit] Quotes

"When I saw white people, I was so in shock because no one told me there was white Jews."

[1]

“In Ethiopia we were called Jews. In Israel we were called Ethiopians.”

[3]

[edit] Footnotes

[edit] External links