{"id":15442,"date":"2017-02-06T16:21:31","date_gmt":"2017-02-06T14:21:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.zionism.co.il\/?page_id=15442\/"},"modified":"2018-02-19T22:11:59","modified_gmt":"2018-02-19T20:11:59","slug":"the-aliyah-of-ethiopian-jewry","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/www.zionism.co.il\/en\/quiz-topics\/its-worth-mentioning\/the-aliyah-of-ethiopian-jewry\/","title":{"rendered":"The Aliyah of Ethiopian Jewry"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\nThe Aliyah of Ethiopian Jewry
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\nNext year in Jerusalem
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The Jews of Ethiopia are called “Beta Israel”. According to tradition, the origin of Ethiopian Jewry is the Dan tribe. They reached Ethiopia in the period of the First and Second Temple. In 1956, the first group of 27 young Ethiopian men and women arrived in Israel.<\/p>\n

\nBeta Israel
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Beta Israel’s traditions are unique among all the traditions of the Jewish nation, mostly because it adheres to the oral tradition which preceded “Chazal”, the sages. The reason for their uniqueness is their lengthy separation from all the other Jewish communities which continued for many generations.
\nThe Jews of Ethiopia stood out in Ethiopia because of their rich, independent history, their religion, and their special customs and culture.<\/p>\n

\"BETA\"<\/p>\n

The Beta Jews had synagogues for the observant, purification houses for women and their own cemeteries. They maintained a wide range of religious services, including religious leaders (Kessim or Cohentoch). These characteristics distinguished the Ethiopian Jews from other religious groups in Ethiopia. In addition to the special traditions \u2013 a holy language, sacred writings, special religious holidays and customs \u2013 there are also customs and fields of activity, religious and secular, which are unique to the community. Among the original works of art of the Ethiopian community, pottery of Beta Jews and sacred songs of the Beta Jews can be found.<\/p>\n

\nThe Ethiopian Jews Make Aliyah
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\"haravo\"<\/p>\n

Starting in 1977, many Ethiopians have come on aliyah. There were several reasons for the increase in the number of Ethiopian immigrants. In 1973, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef ruled that the Ethiopian Jews were Jewish. At the same time, relations with the Ethiopian Jewish community were strengthened. Ethiopia was also undergoing internal developments, such as migration to urban centers, together with attacks on Jews. These factors raised the fear that the Jewish community in Ethiopia was in danger. By 1984, 7,000 Ethiopian Jews came to Israel. In 1984, Israel conducted “Operation Moshe (Moses)” in which another 7,000 Ethiopian Jews came to Israel and “Operation Malkat Sheva ( Queen of Sheba)” in which 12,000 more made aliyah. In 1991, “Operation Shlomo (Solomon)” brought 15,000 Ethiopian Jews to Israel.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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\nSONG OF THE VOYAGE\u00a0
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\nWords: Haim Idisis
\nMusic :Shlomo Gronich\n<\/div>\n

The moon watching over above\u2028
\nOn my back, the meager bag of food\u2028
\nThe desert beneath me, no end in front\u2028
\nAnd my mama promises my little brothers\u2026<\/p>\n

\u2028\u2028A bit more, a little more\u2028
\nTo lift you your legs
\n\u2028A final effort\u2028
\nBefore Jerusalem<\/p>\n

\u2028\u2028The strong moonlight scene
\n\u2028Our bag of food got lost\u2028
\nThe never-ending desert, the howls of jackals\u2028
\nAnd my mum calms my little brothers\u2026\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n

Another moment, a little more,\u2028
\nSoon we will be redeemed
\n\u2028We won\u2019t stop going, to the land of Israel\u2028\u2028
\nAnd in the night, bandits attacked\u2028
\nWith knives and a sharp sword\u2028
\nIn the desert, the blood of my mum, the moon my witness and I promise my little brothers\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n

Just a moment, a little more
\n\u2028The dream will be fulfilled\u2028
\nSoon we will arrive, to the land of Israel
\n\u2028\u2028In the moon, my mama\u2019s image\u2028
\nLooking at me. Mum, don\u2019t disappear from me!
\n\u2028If only she was by my side, she would be able to convince them, that I\u2019m Jewish\u2028\u2028<\/p>\n

A moment more, a little more\u2028
\nThe dream will be fulfilled\u2028
\nSoon we will arrive, to the land of Israel\u2028\u2028
\nA moment more, a little more
\n\u2028Lift your legs\u2028
\nA final effort\u2028
\nBefore Jerusalem.<\/p>\n

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