New Docuseries "Tlushim" Explores Ethiopian-Israeli Identity

A new three-part documentary series titled "Tlushim" (Torn Apart) will premiere on September 26 on Kan 11 and the Kan Box platform. Created and directed by Avishai Melsan Tsegayohn, the series focuses on the experiences of the "1.5 generation" of Ethiopian Israelis, children of Operation Moses who grew up in Israel grappling with a sense of alienation and suppression.

The series follows members of the community who arrived in Israel in 1984 as children and faced a condescending and racist society that pressured them to abandon their identity and heritage. Now, as parents who have led recent community protests, they aim to revisit past traumas, embrace their ancestral culture, and reconstruct their personal and national narratives with pride.

Through candid dialogues with their elders, the participants seek to break down walls of silence and expose the trauma of their journey, the difficulties of integration, and the lingering issues that continue to shape their lives. Among the participants are actress Aviva Negusa, known from the series "Checkout," and comedian Shlomo Samuel.

Produced by Yoav Leshem and Arik Tal of Beyond Creative, "Tlushim" offers a sharp, uncompromising social commentary on deep-seated processes within Israeli society. The documentary journey highlights the importance of making space for all voices and stories, prompting a re-examination of how the next generation builds its identity in Israel.