Tlahun describes his family tree, his village, and the local history. He began from a young age to herd the sheep and cattle and to help his father with farming work that was done with bulls. He also learned blacksmithing from his father. When his father did not come to work, Tlahun would take his place in repairing his Christian neighbors’ farming tools. His father also taught him to sew, how to heal open sores on cows, and how to make and repair tools.

Tlahun relates that on Sabbaths, his father used to teach him the Hebrew alphabet from a scroll he had obtained from a Christian Kes. At the age of 13, he was sent to learn religious studies in Amharic and Hebrew from a Kes who taught in the village. Tlahun describes the studies, his experiences, and the special atmosphere in the Kes’s house. He describes the customs of ritual purification that he observed when he returned from the Christian Kes’s house. After studying for two months, Tlahun began to behave wildly. His studies were ceased, and he returned to his parents’ house. Within a short time, he ran away. He studied for a few semesters in the schools in Wasaba and Ambover. When the school in Ambover broke up for winter vacation, he returned to his parents’ house and had to stay there.

During the winter months, strong winds used to blow in the area, similar to a tornado, that could break trees and tear the roof from a house. Tlahun relates what happened during these winds, and the efforts they took to protect themselves.

When he was 15, his father began to look for a bride for him, and on two occasions almost managed to arrange a match for him. He only understood this in retrospect. The third matchmaking attempt was successful and Tlahun got married when he was 18. He describes at length the traditions and customs connected to matchmaking and weddings. Tlahun describes how the entire community participated in the preparations for the wedding, the “kishra” ceremony, and other ceremonies held during the wedding. He also explains about the customs connected to the couple’s life during their first years of marriage. He then talks about the significance of acts of respect between people and toward older people.

Tlahun had two daughters. He built a home and owned cattle, sheep, and land. As a child, he had visited his grandfather in the city of Gondar and was enraptured by city life. After marrying, he had an opportunity to live with his brother-in-law in Addis Ababa. Tlahun debated how he could leave his family and his livelihood and move to the distant city, but after consulting with his wife he set out on the adventure. He sadly describes the difficult and emotional parting from his parents.

When he arrived in Addis Ababa, he decided to get a driving license and to look for work as driver. He studied for the theory test himself, and after four attempts passed the practical test as well, but did not find work as a driver. One day, when he was in the process of joining the police force, his brother-in-law took him to a store owned by Israelis named “Eli-Store” in the Piazza district. He was hired and left the police force. Due to his fluency in Amharic and English, his competence in math, and because he was Jewish, Tlahun was rapidly promoted and became store manager. Tlahun lists the advantages and disadvantages of life in the big city.

After two years, he received a letter from his wife asking to return with their children to her parents’ house. Tlahun went to visit his family and discovered that his children no longer recognized him after his prolonged absence. Shortly after his visit, his wife and her father asked him to allow his family to join him, but Tlahun did not have enough money to support a family in the city. Only his wife and his younger daughter eventually joined him.

Tlahun’s brother, Rahamim Eliezer, encouraged him to obtain passports for himself and his family so they would be able to immigrate to Israel. Tlahun’s family travelled to Gondar, where they joined his older daughter, but they were unable to obtain passports. They returned to Addis Ababa empty handed. They finally managed to obtain the necessary permits in Addis Ababa and received passports. Mr. Yonah Bugala put Tlahun in touch with an Israeli who was active in Ethiopia and brought Jews to Israel for work. As the project was not meant for families, Tlahun had to part once again from his wife and daughters when he immigrated to Israel. In Israel, he worked to bring his family to Israel and eventually the family was reunited.