Ephraim Isaac facts for kids

Ephraim Isaac (born 29 May 1936) is an amazing Ethiopian expert on old Ethiopian Semitic languages and the history of Africa and Ethiopia. He started the Institute of Semitic Studies, which he leads from his home. He also chairs the Ethiopian Peace and Development Center.

He was the very first professor of Afro-American studies at Harvard University. Because of his great work, Harvard University gives out the Ephraim Isaac Prize every year. This award goes to the graduate who writes the best essay about African studies.

Early Life and Education

Isaac was born in Wallaga, Nejo, Ethiopia, in 1936. His mother was an Ethiopian Jewish woman, and his father was a Yemeni Jewish man. He doesn't know his exact birthday, so he chose May 29 as his official date. He went to school in Ethiopia when he was young.

A Career in Learning

Isaac has been a professor at many different universities. He has also written many important articles and books. In 1969, he became the first professor in Harvard University's Department of African and Afro-American Studies. He helped shape this new field of study. He taught there until 1977 and helped many students.

Isaac has also taught at these universities:

• Princeton University: He taught about Near Eastern Studies and introduced the first African language course.
• Hebrew University: He taught about ancient Semitic languages.
• University of Pennsylvania: He taught about religion and Semitic languages.
• Howard University: He taught at the Divinity School.
• Lehigh University: He taught about religion.
• Bard College: He taught about religion and history.

His subjects cover many areas, like Biblical Hebrew, rabbinic literature (Jewish religious writings), Ethiopian history, and ancient African civilizations. He was also a special researcher at places like the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Institute for Advanced Studies.

Working for Peace

Isaac is a dedicated peace activist. He has helped solve many conflicts and bring people together.

Helping Ethiopia Find Peace

Isaac (seated with hat) meeting with Haile Gebrselassie (second from right)

In 1989, Isaac created a special Peace Committee. This group of Ethiopian elders helped the government talk with different groups who were fighting. This led to a peaceful end to a 30-year civil war in 1991. The committee also helped raise money for a conference in Addis Ababa. This conference helped form a new government in Ethiopia.

In 1992, he helped organize a meeting of religious leaders. They solved serious disagreements within the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.

Between 1998 and 2000, he led a peace group to Ethiopia and Eritrea during a war between the two countries. His group was the only one both sides trusted. Since 2007, he has worked to bring back Ethiopian and Somali groups who were living outside the country.

He has also helped free many prisoners. In 2007, he helped release 30 Ethiopian political leaders. He has helped organize talks between political parties and seminars for police chiefs and judges. He also worked to promote human rights and peace. In 2009, he helped with a peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and a major group called the Ogaden National Liberation Front. He even helped free kidnapped people, including two Germans in 2012 and two Swedish journalists in 2013. He continues his important peace work today.

Other Activities

Isaac is the international chair of the Horn of Africa Board of Peace and Development Organization. He also used to be the president of the Yemenite Jewish Federation of America. In 1960, he started the Committee for Ethiopian Literacy. This group helped millions of people in Ethiopia learn to read and write in the late 1960s.

He is part of the team that reviews articles for two international academic journals. He also serves on the boards of many groups that promote understanding between different religions and cultures. These include the Temple of Understanding and the Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding. Through these groups, Isaac has helped with peace talks in the Middle East, Africa, and Ireland.

In the 1980s, he was active in the Harvard-Radcliffe Alumni Association against Apartheid (a system of racial separation in South Africa). In 1993, he signed an important document called "Toward a Global Ethic" with other world leaders, including the Dalai Lama. He was the first to suggest creating a "united nations" of world religions to promote peace. He also worked on the Northern Ireland peace process and helped with peace meetings in Jordan and other countries.

Awards and Recognition

Ephraim Isaac has received many awards for his hard work and dedication:

• Knight of the Royal Order of the Polar Star, First Class; given by the King of Sweden (2013)
• Morton Deutsch Conflict Resolution Prize, American Psychological Association (2013)
• Honorary D.Litt. (a special degree), Addis Ababa University (2004)
• Ethiopian "Interfaith Peace-Building Initiative Decree of Merit" (2004)
• Peacemaker Award from the Rabbi Tanenbaum Center for Inter-religious Understanding (2002)
• The "Ephraim Isaac Prize for Excellence in African Studies" was created by Harvard University in his honor (1999/2000)
• Honorary D. H. L., John Jay College, CUNY (1993)
• National Honor Society of Secondary Schools Award (1992)
• American Philosophical Society Fellow (1980–1981)
• National Endowment for the Humanities Fellow (1979–80)
• Outstanding Educators of America Award (1972)