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Friday. August 4, 1950
THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE
Page Seven
] THANKS TO KAY KYSER - "Professor" Kay Kyser sports a
new gown Thursdays on his NBC television show.' As a token of
thanks for the CARE packages they have received due to his
appeals on the program, a group of students at the Paris ORT
(Organization for Rehabilitation Training) School made the gown
for Kyser. * i
Making the presentation are (left) Mrs. Ludwig Kaphan, national
president, and (right) Mrs. Max Kornreich, president of the New
York region of Women's American ORT.
New Hope Brought By New DP Cutoff Date
Benno Karpus, who had given up hope of ever reaching the United
States because, having reached Germany on December 24, 1945, two
daya after the stipulated cutoff date, he missed being eligible under
the DP Act of 1948, breaks into a joyous smile as he presents his docu*
ments, now acceptable under the Amended DP Act, to a HIAS, Hebrew
Immigrant Aid Society, aide In Munich, Germany. The new cutoff date,
January 1, 1949, will render an additional 15,000 — 20,000 Jewish DPs,
like Benno Karpus, eligible for immigration to the United States.
QUIZZ BOX by Rabbi S. J. Fox
The Falashas
QUESTION Who are the "Fal-
a»has?" (T. B.. Boston.)
ANSWER: The Jews of Abys
sinia are referred to as “Fal
ashas.’’ The latest statistics re
port a Falasha population of
abou 50,000. They call them
selves “Beta Isreal," which
means “The House of Israel.”
For many years they believed
themselves to be the only Jews
left in the world.
*****
QUESTION: Why are they call
ed “Falashas"—what is the
origin of this name?
ANSWER; The name “Falasha”
was given them by the peo
ple of Abyssinia. It is an old
Abyssinian term meaning
“stranger” or “immigrant.”
They are called so because the
populace of the rest of the
country was impressed by their
strict adherence to the Jewish
way of life. Consequently, their
mannerisms and ways are “for
eign” to the rest of the country.
* * * + *
QUESTION: What is the origin
of these Jews?
ANSWER: There seems to be
no clear-cut historical an
swer. However, many interest
ing theories have been widely
accepted. According to their
own claims they left Jerusalem
during the reign of Menelik,
son of Solomon and the Queen
of Sheba. Some claim some an
cestral strain leading afl the
way back to the Queen of She
ba’s marriage to Solomon.
Tlii- is a replica of the original shekel,
coined eirea 138 B.C.E., or about 2,088
years ago, which the Zionist Organiza
tion of America has reproduced to stim
ulate interest in the current drive for
1,000,000 ZOA shekel registrants. The
shekel now is a symbol of affiliation
with Zionist aims and a basis for repre
sentation to the World Zionist Congress.
One side of the ancient coin (topi
shows a jeweled cup under two letters,
“Shin” and “Bet”, indicating “Shnat
Bet", or second year. The wording
around the coin, in old Hebrew, reads
“Shekel Yisrael.”
The reverse side (bottom) shows a
flowering lily and the inscription “Ye-
rushalayim Hakedosihah”, (Jerusalem
the Holy). The shekel was originally
issued by Simon Maccabeus, who be
came high priest of Judea in 143 B.C.E.
Coinage continued for about five years
and was discontinued upon Simon's
death. •
Watch for cross arms on a post
Keed the warning that they give
Guess who stands to gain the most
H you Usten, look and live!
After taking up coastal resi
dence they penetrated into the
mainland of North Africa. Other
writers believe them to be
either the descendants of the
prisoners of Shalmaneser or the
Jews who were driven from
Judea when Titus destroyed
Jerusalem. Some nineteenth
century writers claimed they
stem from the Himyarites cap
tured in Ethiopia by King Ca
leb, who converted a number
of non-Jews.
*****
QUESTION: What are some of
their distinguishing eharac-
teristies?
ANSWER: Most interesting is
the fact that they are com
pletely ignorant of the Hebrew
language. Their Bible and other
Jewish works are written in
CHAl’LAIN M. IJFSHUTZ
reported on his way for duty
with troops in Korea.
“Ghoez”—the classical lang
uage of Abyssinia. They are
extremely observant in their
religious practices and very
sincere in their beliefs. They
know little if anything about
the Talmud.
Demobilized Israeli Soldiers
Learn Trades at ORT Schpol
1 t VS
SOUTHEA8TEN FAIR A GANZA PLANNED—Directors and met
bers of the Advisory Council of the Southeastern Fair Associate
are shown above looking over plans for the 86th annual Soutl
eastern Fair A Ganza and National Educational Exposition to be held <
Lakewood Park in Atlanta, September 27 through October 7. Seate
left to right are Mrs. Geno Berkey, chairman *ot the Woman’s Depar
ment; Tap Bennett, director of the Livestock Show, and Mrs. Edr
Turner, dean of the High Mueeum of Art. Standing are John Fraacl
director of the Poultry Show, and Roy Davis, assistant super Intend©:
of the Atlanta City Schools.