The interview with Ariel Goldstein explores his incredible travel experience to Ethiopia and provides valuable insights into the history, challenges, and existence of the Jewish community in this enigmatic land.
The conversation sheds light on the harsh realities faced by the country; widespread poverty, orphans, limited access to education and technology, and invites reflection on the importance of respecting and celebrating the diversity of cultural identities in the Jewish diaspora.
Introduction:
Ethiopia, a land steeped in ancient history and rich cultural heritage, harbors a lesser-known but historically significant community: the Beta Israel, also known as Falashas.
This community, with roots in Judaism, possesses a unique and intriguing history that has been largely overshadowed and forgotten. In this interview, Ariel Goldstein's journey, a passionate traveler, is explored as he set out to uncover the untold history of the Jewish community in Ethiopia.
I. Ariel's Curiosity and Connection:
Ariel's fascination with history and his desire to embark on journeys into the unknown led him to explore the enigmatic land of Ethiopia. At the age of twenty-two, he made aliyah (immigration to Israel) and later worked for the Jewish Agency, an activity that led him to accompany various groups of young people on different journeys.
However, it was the visit of Dr. Rick Hodes to the JCCSF, an American Jew who had lived in Addis Ababa for 17 years, that piqued his interest in traveling and getting to know the Jewish community in Ethiopia. Dr. Hodes' commitment to his patients and the allure of a remote destination drove him to delve into an unknown world.
II. The Reality of Ethiopia:
The reality of Ethiopia starkly contrasts with the Western world. With a population of approximately 80 million inhabitants, over half of them live in poverty on less than two dollars a day. There are five million orphans, and the country's per capita income is a mere $300. Technology lags behind, with only one phone per one hundred people. The education system also faces numerous obstacles, with high rates of illiteracy among both men and women.
III. Tracing the Jewish Presence:
Ariel's quest to understand the historical presence of Jews in Ethiopia leads him to explore different theories. One belief suggests that Jews arrived in Ethiopia during their slavery in Egypt, making them one of the lost tribes. However, the widely accepted theory traces their lineage back to the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon.
The Falashas, which means "strangers" in the local language, are known as Beta Israel. Disconnected from the wider Jewish world, their knowledge of historical events, such as the destruction and reconstruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, was limited until the late 18th century when they were "rediscovered" by explorer James Bruce.
IV. Concentration of the Community:
Throughout history, the Jewish community in Ethiopia predominantly lived in small villages. In more recent times, some moved to cities like Gondar and Addis Ababa, where they could access assistance from the Jewish Agency.
V. Emigration to Israel:
The 1980s brought significant challenges to the Ethiopian Jewish community due to drought and famine. During this period, two major aliyot (immigration to Israel) took place: "Operation Moses" in 1984 and "Operation Solomon" in 1991.
These operations facilitated the migration of thousands of Ethiopian Jews to Israel, leaving behind a few thousand known as Falashmuras, who were originally Jewish but were forced to convert to Christianity in the 19th century. The process of their conversion and integration into Israeli society remains a sensitive issue, with divergent opinions within the Beta Israel community.
Published in the Uruguayan Hebrew Weekly - Jai
Date: November 2013
Full article available in spanish version
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