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Facts About Palestine: What Are The Holidays of Ethiopian Jews
History without emotions
I wrote yesterday, about how when I visited Israel I was surprised to see many Ethiopian Jews, including in the IDF, and serving in the Gaza War with Hamas. I began to ask, “Who are they and what is their history?”
The answer was fascinating. Known as Beta Israel (Hebrew: בֵּיתֶא יִשְׂרָאֵל, Beyte Yisra’el; “House of Israel” or “Community of Israel”, Also known as Ethiopian Jews these are Jews whose community developed and lived for centuries in the area of the Kingdom of Aksum and the Ethiopian Empire that is currently divided between the Amhara and Tigray Regions of Ethiopia and Eritrea. Most of these people have emigrated to Israel since the late 20th century.
Here are some new questions and answers about this unique and interesting people.
Q. Do Ethiopian Jews observe traditional Jewish dietary laws?
A. Yes, however there are some differences. Beta Israel kashrut law is based mainly on the books of Leviticus, Deuteronomy, and Jubilees. Permitted and forbidden animals and their signs appear in Leviticus 11:3–8 and Deuteronomy 14:4–8. Forbidden birds are listed in Leviticus 11:13–23 and Deuteronomy 14:12–20. Signs of permitted fish are…
