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The Falasha of Ethiopia |
| Section: CULTURE / PEOPLES |
| Author: Marc Shapiro |
| Publication: The world & I online |
| Issue Date: 12/1/1987 |
| Size: 4,992 Words, 28,835 Characters |
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Ethiopia's Falasha are perhaps the most exotic of all Jewish enclaves. This community of African Jews currently numbers approximately fifteen thousand. The Falasha live in northwest Ethiopia, around the city of Gondar in the Lake Tana region, and in secluded villages in the Semien mountains. The word Falasha, the common way of referring to these peoples, means "stranger" or "exile" in Ge'ez (Ethiopic) and is used pejoratively by other Ethiopians. The Falasha call themselves "Beta Israel," which means "House of Israel." Their history dates back thousands of years, yet their origin is shrouded in mystery.
There are probably more than a dozen theories concerning just how Jews came to Ethiopia. According to Falasha tradition, they are descended from Jews who accompanied Menelik, th...
. . .
...sha were allowed to go to Israel in exchange for arms. At present the Ethiopian authorities have not shown any willingness to cooperate with Israel, and thus it appears that the black Jews of Ethiopia will continue to exist, though perhaps not flourish, for some time to come. To what extent they will be able to maintain their religious traditions or will assimilate also remains to be seen.
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