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Ethiopia’s Falasha Jews
Almost gone, forgotten
by Faith Powell
Zacharias Yona has black skin.
He was not a bar mitzva, he never
went to Sunday school. Zacharias
Yona’s mother has not heard of
Hadassah. The synagogue they
belong to has no stained glass, no
beautiful Torahs. In fact, it has no
building.
Zacharias is a Falasha Jew.
Close to 28,000 of these ‘forgotten
Jews’ live in hundreds of isolated,
poverty-stricken villages in
Ethiopia. They earn meager livings
in one of Africa’s poorest countries
as farmers or handicraftsmen. The
average yearly earning is $60.
The situation there is bad—no
one doubts that. The Ethiopian
Jews live in the middle of constant
civil war. The threat of slavery is a
reality for these people. Many
Falashas have been sold or killed
by the aristocracy. Missionaries
carry on intense crusades for
conversion. And yet, only 300
Falashas have made to aliyah to
Israel.
Zacharias’ father is the leader of
the Ethiopian Jewish community.
In thickly accented English,
Zacharias explained, "It was
always my father’s dream to bring
the Falashas to Israel And he
wanted to fulfill the dreams of the
others.”
What is the problem, then?
Until 1972, there was a question
as to whether these people were in
actuality Jews. “But, this matter
was never discussed in the
rabbinate,” insisted Zacharias.
“Israel’s two chief rabbis, Rabbi
Ovadia Yosef (Sephardic) and
Rabbi Shlomo Goren (Ashkena
zic) solved the problem.” In 1972,
both rabbis affirmed the Falashas
as Jews.
“Perhaps today,” he continued,
“some people still feel we are not
Jews.” Why? “Prejudice because
of color.”
Everyone worries, he says,
about the Jews in other countries,
but the Falashas are still forgotten
“There is some kind of a
conspiracy to keep the problem
silent,” Zacharias leans forward in
his chair, his eyes full of emotion
“And not to let the others who
could be helpful know about the
situation.”
In the letters, the news releases
and information papers sent out
by the organizations in support of
the Falashas, the situation of the
Ethiopian Jews and the attitude of
the Jewish public are paralleled
with Nazi Germany. Strong stuff,
but in the eyes of the Falashas and
their supporters, this is the making
of another Holocaust.
Some Jewish organizations have
made great efforts to help the
Falashas. ORT, the American
Association for Ethiopian Jews
(AAEJ), the Los Angeles Jewish
Federation and others have all
taken action in trying to ease their
plight. But the Falashas do not
think this is enough.
The other Jewish communities
and agencies, “always give us
excuses why we are not treated like
the others. Years ago they said we
were not Jews, then they said it was
not easy to bring the Falashas to
Israel because of the difference in
culture. They have other reasons,
other excuses, they said there was a
Marxist government, there were
Russians in Ethiopia, Cubans and
I don’t know what else.”
In 1977 Prime Minister Begin
made an arrangement with the
Ethiopian government and
brought 120 Falashas to Israel.
Others, nearly 180, have made the
trip to Israel on their own. The
I-aw of Return does exist for
Falashas
Zacharias thinks that Begin is in
favor of bringing Ethiopian Jews
to Israel but there are political
factors, opposition, preventing
him from continuing his efforts.
According to one of the press
releases by the AAEJ, Begin was
presented with petitions signed by
over 10,000 American Jews. Begin
then pledged to support Falasha
immigration.
The principal Falasha
synagogue at Woozaba. Ethiopia.
The families in Ethiopia, live
“hoping something will be done for
them. They don’t understand why
they are not treated as the others.”
Zacharias said slowly. “Only those
living in Israel know the truth.”
Since 1971, Zacharias has lived
in Israel, studying Middle East and
African studies. Until recently, the
Ethiopian Jews living in Israel
believed the promises that
something would be done. But letters
arrive from their villages weekly,
saying that Falashas are being
killed “in high numbers.”
The Ethiopian government has
no power in the region where the
Falashas live. It is in the hands of
the old aristocrats who do not
want the people they mastered for
so long to have full rights as
citizens. “So,” Zacharias said,
“They do with us what they want.
They kill, they torture, they take
away the land.”
And the Falashas feel that most
of the Jewish world is doing
nothing Some wonder what action
would be taken if the same thing
happened in France, Turkey, or
Iran.
“We are different,” he said,
"because we are black, that is the
only reason. I came to the
conclusion that this is the only
explanation. Before 1977, I
couldn't have believed it. But now I
believe it. I saw it with my own
eyes.”
Zacharias is ready to give his life
for Israel. He becomes confused
when "My brothers are being
killed in Ethiopia and the same
thing could have happened to me.”
Life is good for the Falashas in
Israel. There are no problems.
They feel no prejudice. Now
Zacharias has come to America to
tell us, the Jewish people, about the
situation of Ethiopian Jews. So we
can’t use the excuse, “we didn’t
know” if more and more Falashas
die because they cannot make
aliyah to Israel.
Zacharias and his people don't
blame the public so much as the
organizations. “All they give us is
more excuses, more reasons and
explanations.”
He feels anger and sadness as his
hopes dim. Zacharias wants to be
optimistic as he tries to understand
why “the others,” the Jews outside
Ethiopia, do not see the danger he
sees. It is strange, he thinks, “for so
long Falashas thought they were
the only Jews left in this world
Now they know they are not
alone...“just forgotten.”
Two birds of a
different feather
A beautiful dove flew one day to the seashore. He heard a cry.
"Help me, help me.” He looked and behind a rock was a pelican.
The pelican’s foot was caught underneath several small stones.
"Help me,” the pelican cried.
The dove looked at this strange creature and asked “What sort
of animal are you?" Why, I'm a bird, of course,” the pelican said.
“You can’t be a bird, I’m a bird and we are very different as you can
plainly see,” insisted the dove. “True,” responded the pelican,
“True, we are different and the same. I fly I have feathers. 1 lay
eggs "
The dove was puzzled. Here was an ugly feathery thing with a
big pouch under an enormous beak that claimed to be a bird. And
so they stood there, for three days and three nights, discussing bird-
things to determine the pelican’s right to be a bird.
Finally on the fourth day the dove said, “Pelican, all my flying
days 1 have seen birds in all shapes and sizes, but never one that
looked such as you. However, I am now ready to accept you as a
bird and therefore as my brother. 1 am ready to help.”
The pelican could not answer. The little dove was too late.
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Page 17 THE SOL THER\ISRAELITE April 27, 1979