Beejhy Barhany was born in Ethiopia, raised in Israel, and moved to New York 20 years ago. She is the founder of BINA Cultural Foundation Inc., a cultural organization dedicated to the empowerment of the Beta Israel community within the US. She is also the founder of the annual Sheba Film Festival, a showcase of films portraying Beta Israel life and other aspects of Jewish and African cultures. She owns Tsion Café, an Ethiopian and Mediterranean Café in Harlem.