Born in Frankfurt, Hanan Aynor (then Hans Sonneborn) left Nazi Germany in 1935 and joined Kibbutz Ashdot Yaacov in pre-state Israel.

During World War II, he served in the British Army behind enemy lines in occupied France. At the war’s end, Aynor joined Aliyah Bet operations in Europe, aiding Holocaust survivors to reach Palestine, including serving as official translator for the ship Exodus during the months it was detained in the port of Marseilles.

After Israel became independent, Aynor joined the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Over the next four decades he served his country in Brazil, Canada, the United Nations and twice as head of the Ministry’s African desk, as well as ambassador to Mexico, Senegal and Ethiopia. Aynor headed the Israel- Africa Friendship League until his death.

Aynor formed a strong attachment to Ethiopia and dreamed of bringing its Jews to Israel. Keren Hanan Aynor has become his legacy, helping to ensure a future for Ethiopian Jews in Israel. < /p>