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Ethiopian Jewish "Sigd" celebration, Jerusalem December 2005

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Nir > The Ethiopian Jewish community, named Beita Israel, lived in seclusion for over 1,000 years. Only reconnected to the Jewish world in the last century.

Nir > According to Ethiopian tradition, their roots go back 3,000 years to the era of King Solomon. Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon in Jerusalem and together they had a son Prince Menlik. When the prince reached adulthood he undertook an expedition to Jerusalem to visit his father. King Solomon, who foresaw the destruction of Jerusalem, entrusted the Prince with the Ark of the Covenant for safekeeping in Ethiopia. A group of Jerusalem nobility accompanied the ark. According to the Ethiopian tradition, these Jerusalem noblemen were their ancestors. Prince Menlik himself bore the dynasty of Ethiopian kings.

Nir > Researchers theorize that Ethiopian Jewry origins go back 2,000 years and that they arrived to Ethiopia from either Egypt or Yemen.

Nir > The Ethiopian Jewish community, living for so long in complete seclusion, were convinced they were the last Jews left on the face of the Earth. They practiced all the religious rituals with which they were familiar including male circumcision on the eight day from birth, Kashrut (Kosher) rules dealing with food, the holiness of the Sabbath and they prayed, three times a day, facing the holy city of Jerusalem, yearning to return.

Nir > Their family structure was very patriarchal the extended family living together with the elders, the fathers, at the top of the pyramid.

Nir > Like there brethren in many parts of the world Ethiopian Jews suffered persecution for their beliefs and refusal to adopt Christianity. In the Middle Ages their lands were confiscated, villages plundered and many murdered. They were nicknamed Falash - intruders, homeless and without property.

Nir > Despite the hardships, this community preserved their traditions with great devotion and generations were educated on the value of yearning for a return to Jerusalem, the Holy City, home of the Temple, pure and holy.

Nir > In 1975 Israel formally recognized Beita Israel as a part of the Jewish nation. In 1977 Israeli PM Menachem Begin instructed the government to bring them home. The Ethiopian government refused to release them and millions of dollars were transferred to the government of Sudan for them to be allowed refugee status in its territory.

Nir > The rumor spread quickly to villages all over Ethiopia a route to Jerusalem via Sudan. Thousands left their homes overnight and set out on a long and dangerous journey to Sudan through unbearable desert heat, thirst and hunger, avoiding bandits and the Ethiopian military.

Their family structure was very patriarchal the extended family living together with the elders, the fathers, at the top of the pyramid.

> Their family structure was very patriarchal the extended family living together with the elders, the fathers, at the top of the pyramid.

Their family structure was very patriarchal the extended family living together with the elders, the fathers, at the top of the pyramid.

Camera: Canon (Canon Eos 20d) |

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Original size: 2968px x 1979px |

Current: 400px x 267px |

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Keywords: ceremony jew ethiopia umbrella israel sudan operation shlomo ethiopian nir moshe beita sigd sigad 150414971512 1488150014931503

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