The Falas Mura
Losing Lives in Ethiopia
Micha Odenheimer
First of all, my bottom line: The Falas Mura, and with them any Jews that may be left in Ethiopia, are being discriminated against because they are poor, African, and uneducated–and because of our abiding suspicion and animosity toward Jews who converted to Christianity. Ethiopia is the only country in the world where it [...]
Meeting Communal Responsibility
Yuli Tamir
The Falas Mura are apostate Falasim who refer to themselves as part of the Beta Israel. Movement from one religion to another went in both directions. Falasim adopted Christianity and Christians converted to Judaism. Many of the converts to Christianity were from the better-educated, upper class of Falasa society.
The reasons for the conversion of [...]
“Gather Our Dispersed from the Four Corners of the Earth”
Avraham Neguise
Gebyanesh Zemene Alemu was waiting in Addis Ababa with her three children since 1997, clinging to the hope of making aliyah, immigrating to Israel. Her married brother and sister and their families were also there. A woman in her thirties, Gebyanesh had her whole future to look forward to if only she and her [...]
The Ethiopian Diaspora
Shlomo Mula
The Ethiopian Diaspora was virtually unknown until approximately 100 years ago. Ethiopian Jews did not know that there were Jews with white skin. They thought of themselves as Jews keeping the commandments of the nation of Israel. This Diaspora maintains characteristics unique to this community in distinction from other Diasporas.
It is true that Ethiopian [...]
Are the Falas Mura Jews? A View from Tradition
Joseph Feit
In Ethiopia today there is a community that from all outward appearances seems to be a model Orthodox Jewish community. More than 4,200 children attend Jewish day schools, and thousands of adults attend daily communal prayer services and classes in Jewish education. Men put on tefillin and women immerse in the mikvah. Intermarriage is [...]
A Jewish Agency Response
Mike Rosenberg
After graduating from Johns Hopkins University in 1971, I made aliyah to Israel and made my home at Kibbutz Ma’ale Hachamisha where I became, and still am, a member. I have always been active in various Jewish and Zionist affairs–in the USA as an emissary, in my own kibbutz, the United Kibbutz Movement, and [...]
UJC and the Falas Mura
Stephen D. Solender
Recently, the leadership of United Jewish Communities (UJC) had very intensive and productive discussions with ministers and other officials in the Israeli government regarding the Falas Mura situation. We urged that the Israeli government accelerate the processing of the Falas Mura in Addis Ababa to determine, as quickly as possible, who among them [...]
A Falas Mura Guide for the Perplexed
Barbara Ribakove Gordon
The Falas Mura dilemma is extraordinarily complex, raising questions that fall into religious, legal, social, economic, and Zionist arenas. I will briefly indicate some of the most important questions to consider in this issue of Sh’ma, and comment on a few of the arguments. It is appropriate for me to say at once [...]
