Messianic Rabbi Kokeb Gedamu, and his wife Menalu, are Ethiopian messianic Jews who were part of the Beta Yisrael people in Ethiopia. During the communist rule of Ethiopia, Kokeb and his wife escaped through the desert to Sudan, where the Lord miraculously delivered them from the hands of the Muslims. In Sudan they had their 1st daughter Ruhama in 1990 while they helped lead the Ethiopian refugees in their church.
The Lord then opened the doors for them to go to Egypt, where they continued to lead in the Ethiopian refugee churches, while having their second son Ebenezer in 1993. Finally in 1994, their long journey ended after seven years of exile, when they made Alliyah (immigration) to Israel, where they had their final daughter Tsiona, in 1996.
While in Israel, Kokeb led 6 Ethiopian congregations all over Israel as senior Rabbi. Through his ministry, many young Ethiopian Jews were brought into the kingdom of God. This brought a lot of national media attention to him in the newspapers, radios, and TV stations of Israel. Though he struggled and was discouraged many times, he never lost his vision to help his Ethiopian brothers and sisters. In the beginning of 2000 the Lord called him to move to Canada where he went to Bible School and in 2001 he moved to Philadelphia to establish Congregation Burning Bush, for Ethiopians living in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
Kokeb is an ordained Rabbi and member of IAMCS (International Alliance of Messianic Congregations And Synagogues). He currently works hand in hand with the MJAA (Messianic Jewish Alliance of America) as the chairman of Operation Tikvah and also along with Rabbis and leaders in the messianic movement. He also speaks in different congregations and churches in the USA and abroad.
Rabbi Kokeb is also the author of 2 very popular Ethiopian books regarding marriage, with a third on the way. His 1st book (“Before The Marriage”), and his 2nd (“After The Honeymoon”), were both very popular among the Ethiopian and around the world. Kokeb also leads many marriage seminars all over the US and the world, helping single people and those struggling in their current marriages
The whole Gedamu family is actively involved in the ministry. Menalu is the worship team leader at CBBGP, prayer leader, and counselor. Ruhama attends congregation Beth Yeshua regularly where she is part if the teen worship team and dance group. Also she helps take care of the kids at CBBGP. Ebenezer and Tsiona are also regular attendees of both congregations where they take part in the children’s’ ministries.
While in Israel, Kokeb led 6 Ethiopian congregations all over Israel as senior Rabbi. Through his ministry, many young Ethiopian Jews were brought into the kingdom of God. This brought a lot of national media attention to him in the newspapers, radios, and TV stations of Israel. Though he struggled and was discouraged many times, he never lost his vision to help his Ethiopian brothers and sisters. In the beginning of 2000 the Lord called him to move to Canada where he went to Bible School and in 2001 he moved to Philadelphia to establish Congregation Burning Bush, for Ethiopians living in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
Kokeb is an ordained Rabbi and member of IAMCS (International Alliance of Messianic Congregations And Synagogues). He currently works hand in hand with the MJAA (Messianic Jewish Alliance of America) as the chairman of Operation Tikvah and also along with Rabbis and leaders in the messianic movement. He also speaks in different congregations and churches in the USA and abroad.
Rabbi Kokeb is also the author of 2 very popular Ethiopian books regarding marriage, with a third on the way. His 1st book (“Before The Marriage”), and his 2nd (“After The Honeymoon”), were both very popular among the Ethiopian and around the world. Kokeb also leads many marriage seminars all over the US and the world, helping single people and those struggling in their current marriages
The whole Gedamu family is actively involved in the ministry. Menalu is the worship team leader at CBBGP, prayer leader, and counselor. Ruhama attends congregation Beth Yeshua regularly where she is part if the teen worship team and dance group. Also she helps take care of the kids at CBBGP. Ebenezer and Tsiona are also regular attendees of both congregations where they take part in the children’s’ ministries.
