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Religious writings of the Beta Israel?
So I was reading Wikipedia's piece on Ethiopian Jews, and after their discussion of the Ethiopian Jewish biblical canon, it says:
"The Beta Israel possess several other books, including the Arde'et, Acts of Moses, Apocalypse of Gorgorios, Meddrash Abba Elija, and biographies of the nation's forebears: Gadla Adam, Gadla Avraham, Gadla Ishak, Gadla Ya'kov, Gadla Moshe, Gadla Aaron, Nagara Musye, Mota Musye."
It goes on to list several other seforim that I'm not familiar with, such as:
"Te'ezaza Sanbat"
"Sefer Cahen"
"Sefer Sa'atat"
"Abu Shaker"
...and it talks about numerous religious observances unique to Ethiopian Jewry.
Does anyone know where I can find translations of these books in English? Or for that matter, any books that explore the observances of the Beta Israel, and how they relate to normative Jewish tradition?
Serious answers only, please.
Trish: Most rabbis, at least in my community, probably wouldn't take an interst in this stuff. It would be even lower on their reading list than the Talmud Yerushalmi - and how many people learn Yerushalmi?
Annt Hu DeShalit: It's a machlokes. From what I've seen, the general tendency seems to be that their Jewishness is more likely to be accepted by Sephardi poskim, and less likely by Ashkenazi poskim. Of course, by Ashkenazim, saying they need to undergo conversion is actually a kind of chesed in that it removes the possibility of them being declared mamzerim. They lack the Oral Tradition, and therefore the proper means to institute marriage or divorce, and this poses a serious problem. And of course, the lack of mesorah is one of the main reasons their status as Jews is controversial in the first place. Still, they were persecuted for being Jewish, so, whether they are or not, we were morally obligated to help.
3 Answers
- Annt Hu DeShalitLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
There is very little in common between the practices of those who until recently were called Falashas -- on the one hand -- and the practices of normative Judaism.
In fact, many Jewish religious leaders are not at all sure that these Ethiopians are Jewish at all.
In any event, in Israel they must undergo a symbolic conversion to the Jewish religion.
.
- Anonymous4 years ago
wish you allowed e mail for there are this form of good style of questions i could choose to ask approximately Israel. It shames slightly to confess only have flown over that surprising united states as a substitute of certainly going there. (of direction it truly is not any way addresses your question yet I regularly bypass on verbal tangents that would have infuriated Descartes:) i could like be attentive to how the land sounds like around Negev and what of the coast line? Are there waves?!! Having only examine of such places my theory is purely that--ordinary thoughts. i might additionally ask in infinite procession of sites from the Tanakah (is that spelled properly?) yet i visit maintain those for later. i be attentive to my questions pursue the prosaic yet my interest and love for Israel are honest.
- 1 decade ago
I don't know - but I think it would be very interesting material to study!
Have you considered contacting a rabbi to find out about this material?
Shalom :-)
