Aliyah from Ethiopia

Last updated

Aliyah from Ethiopia is the immigration of the Beta Israel people to Israel. Early forms of Zionism have existed in Ethiopia since the mid 19th-century, [1] as shown in the 1848 letters from the Beta Israel to Jews in Europe praying for the unification of Jews. A year after the first letter was sent, Daniel Ben Hananiah and his son were sent by the Kahen to Jerusalem and made contact with the Jewish leaders there. [1]

Contents

19th century

In a letter written by Abba Zaga of Beta Israel to Jerusalem, the Kahen speaks on their wish to return to Zion:

Peace be upon you Hebrew brothers. We have already sent you a first letter from Daniel ben Hananiah, Avi Moshe. Is it time for us to return to our holy city of Jerusalem? We are a miserable nation, we have no judge and no prophet. If it is time they sent us a letter, because you know more than him; Tell us the real situation. As for us, there was great excitement in our hearts, because people arose in our country who said it was time. They command us to separate ourselves from the Christians, to immigrate to your land, to Jerusalem, to join our brethren, and to offer sacrifices to God, the God of Israel, in the Holy Land. [1] [2]

In 1869, Abba Mehari led an attempted mass aliyah to Jerusalem. It was a failure due to disease and many died. [3] German-born missionary Johann Martin Flad reported in 1874: "Once I met a monk, Abba Mehari, who was convinced that the time was coming when the Lord would gather them the Jews of all peoples, and bring them into the land of their ancestors." [3]

Pre-Israel Immigration

The first Ethiopian-Jewish immigrants to successfully make Aliyah arrived in 1934, together with Yemenite Jews from Italian Eritrea. [4] During this period there were a number of Jewish families of mixed Ethiopian–Yemenite descent mostly living in the district of Begemder and Eritrea. [4]

Eligibility of Beta Israel for Aliyah

In 1973, the Israeli Ministry of Absorption prepared a comprehensive report on the Beta Israel ethnic group (the historical name of the Israelite Ethiopian community), which stated that the Falasha were foreign in all aspects to the Jewish nation. The report concluded that there was no need to take action in order to help the ethnic group make Aliyah to Israel. [5]

Shortly after the publication of the Ministry of Absorption report in 1973, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, the Sephardi Chief Rabbi, decreed that the community of "Beta Israel" are descendants of Israelites. He also said that giving them a proper Jewish education and the right to immigrate to Israel, was in his definition, a Mitzvah. Shlomo Goren, the Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi, agreed with Yosef based on the previous Chief Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook. [6] Goren did not, however, issue an official statement, claiming that Kook's 1921 letter calling for Jews across the world to "save their Falasha brothers" was still a relevant decree. [6] Ovadia Yosef's Halakha ruling ended with the Law of Return being applied to Ethiopian Jews, [5] notwithstanding the Ministry of Absorption report. In order to bring the Beta Israel community to Israel, an inter-office staff was founded, which included representatives from the Israeli Justice Department, Israeli Ministry of Interior, Israeli Ministry of Absorption and the Jewish Agency for Israel.[ citation needed ]

This action was mainly promoted after the election of Menachem Begin as Prime Minister in 1977. [7] [8]

Beta Israel Exodus (1979–1985)

Aliyah from Ethiopia compared to the total Aliyah to Israel [9]
YearsEthiopian-born immigrantsTotal immigration to Israel
1948–195110687,624
1952–196059297,138
1961–197198427,828
1972–1979306267,580
1980–198916,965153,833
1990–199939,651956,319
2000–200414,859181,505
2005–200912,58686,855
2010–20137,20067,050

In the absence of full diplomatic relations with Ethiopia, the Israeli Mossad contacted officials in Sudan, which is adjacent to Ethiopia. Thousands of Beta Israel from Ethiopia traveled by foot to the border with Sudan, and waited there in temporary camps until they were flown to Israel. Between the years 1977 and 1984, these immigrants traveled from those camps to Israel by means of vessels of the Israeli Sea Corps and by airplanes. Before Operation Moses, about 8,000 traveled to Israel in dangerous conditions; about 4,000 Beta Israel migrants perished from disease or hunger or were killed by bandits.[ citation needed ]

Operations Moses and Joshua

After it became clear that the immigrants who remained in the Sudanese camps were in danger, it was decided to pursue an operation of intense immigration, nicknamed "Operation Moses", during which about 8,000 immigrants were brought to Israel from Ethiopia using Israeli aircraft. Most of the immigrants in Operation Moses originated from the Gondar area. [10]

Entire families including little children undertook long and dangerous treks, which often spanned whole months. As a result of the difficulties of the journey and bad conditions, hundreds and possibly even thousands of Beta Israel Ethiopians died on the way to the Sudanese camps. One of the main Ethiopian activists was Ferede Aklum, whom many perceive as an important figure in the Beta Israel community. It is estimated as many as 4,000 died during the trek, due to violence and illness along the way. Sudan secretly allowed Israel to evacuate the refugees. Two days after the airlifts began, Jewish journalists wrote about “the mass rescue of thousands of Ethiopian Jews.” [11] The operation ended prematurely, after a press leak in Israel regarding Ethiopian Aliyah via Sudan to Israel. Operation Moses ended on Friday, January 5, 1985, after Israeli Prime Minister Shimon Peres held a press conference confirming the airlift while asking people not to talk about it. Sudan killed the airlift moments after Peres stopped speaking, ending it prematurely as the news began to reach their Arab allies. [12] Once the story broke in the media, Arab countries pressured Sudan to stop the airlift. Although thousands made it successfully to Israel, many children died in the camps or during the flight to Israel, and it was reported that their parents brought their bodies down from the aircraft with them. [13] Some 1,000 Ethiopian Jews were left behind, approximately 500 of whom were evacuated later in the U.S.-led Operation Joshua. [14] After the media exposure to the operation, the political situation in the region changed. The Sudanese government, which had allowed Beta Israel entry into the country on their way to Israel, was dismissed, and relations between Israel and Sudan were soured.

Despite this, more Beta Israel were brought to Israel, including 1,200 in the Operation Sheba and 800 more on Operation Joshua that took place in 1985, with the help of George H. W. Bush, who was then Vice President of the United States.[ citation needed ]

Operation Solomon

Women in Kiryat Malakhi, 2012 Israeli-Ethiopian women.JPG
Women in Kiryat Malakhi, 2012

At the beginning of 1991, the dictatorship of Mengistu Haile Mariam in Ethiopia was about to collapse due to the rebel forces approaching the capital of Ethiopia, Addis Ababa. In the end of May 1991, several days before Addis Ababa was seized by the rebels, Mengistu escaped from Ethiopia and found shelter in Zimbabwe. An agreement was obtained between officials from Mengistu's government and Israel allowing the Ethiopian Beta Israel to emigrate to Israel in exchange for about US$35 million and shelter in the United States for several of the officials of the government.[ citation needed ]

Due to this agreement, Operation Solomon took place, during which about 14,400 Beta Israel were brought to Israel within 34 hours on 24 May 1991, in about 30 airplanes of the Israeli Air Force and the airline El Al.

The Falash Mura

There are many descendants of Ethiopian Beta Israel, whose ancestors converted to Christianity and who are now returning to the Mosaic Israelite faith. This group of people is known as the Falash Mura. They are admitted entrance to Israel, although not as Israelites, thus enabling the Israeli government to set quotas to their immigration and make citizenship dependent on Orthodox conversion to modern Judaism. Although nobody knows for certain the exact population of the Falash Mura in Ethiopia, it is approximated to be 20,000–26,000. However, recently some reporters and other travelers in remote regions of Ethiopia have noted that they have found entire villages where people claim they are Beta Israel or are Falash Mura (Beta Israel who have been practicing Christianity). Chief Kes Raphael Hadane has argued for the acceptance of the Falasha Mura as Jews. [15]

In 2015 it was reported the number of Jews in Ethiopia were 4,000. [16] In April 2016, the Israeli Government approved a plan to bring 9,000 Falashmuras to Israel over the course of five years. 1,300 were scheduled to arrive in June 2016. [17] On 11 March 2021, 300 Ethiopian Jews went up to Israel, [18] the last of 2,000 Jews from Operation Tzur Israel which began in December 2020. [19] On 2 February 2022, the Israeli Supreme Court suspended Aliyah from Ethiopia. [20] On 1 June 2022, 180 Jews from Ethiopia made Aliyah to Israel as part of Operation Zur Israel to reunite 3,000 Jews in Ethiopia with their brethren in Israel. [21] On July 5, 2022, 150 Jews from Ethiopia made Aliyah to Israel as part of Operation Zur Israel. [22] As of 14 June 2022, 500 Jews from Ethiopia made Aliyah to Israel. [23] On February 1, 2023, 95 Jews from Ethiopia made Aliyah to Israel. [24] On February 3, 2023, ICEJ helps 120 Ethiopian Jews home. [25] On May 9, 2023, 111 Jews from Ethiopia made Aliyah to Israel. [26] On July 13, 2023, 5000 Ethiopian Immigrants reunit with family in Israel [27] On August 10,2023 Israel rescued 174 Israelis and Ethiopians eligible to immigrate from the city of Gondar in Amhara [28] On April 2024 61 Ethiopian Jews made Aliyah sponsered by ICEJ [29]

Challenges of integration in Israel

The biggest concentrations of the Ethiopians Beta Israel are in the cities Beersheba, Dimona, Mitzpe Ramon, Ashdod, Ashkelon, Lod, Ramla, Or Yehuda, Jerusalem, Netanya, Kiryat Malakhi.

A report carried out by the Bank of Israel in 2006 gave cause for concern regarding the absorption of the Ethiopian community to Israeli society:

The Bank of Israel report also highlights mistakes made by the government in its attempt to integrate Ethiopian immigrants into mainstream Israeli society, despite the estimated 400,000 NIS spent per immigrant. In addition to government financial investments, money was also invested from private donations, and by local authority welfare systems, and towards Affirmative action schemes to help immigrants undertake mandatory army or national service and for their greater inclusion in higher education. The report recommended that measures be taken to encourage immigrants to disperse around the country, rather than remain concentrated in the small communities in which they were initially placed. In addition, it recommended that greater resources be allocated to schools to improve education for Ethiopian children. Lastly, the report recommended that greater emphasis be placed on providing professional training to Ethiopian immigrants and that affirmative action be considered to aid their inclusion in public service jobs.

In 2009, Tzion Shenkor, the highest-ranking Ethiopian officer in the Israel Defense Forces with a rank of Lieutenant Colonel, became the first battalion commander of Ethiopian descent. [30] [31]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jewish Agency for Israel</span> Zionist non-profit organization established in 1929

The Jewish Agency for Israel, formerly known as the Jewish Agency for Palestine, is the largest Jewish non-profit organization in the world. It was established in 1929 as the operative branch of the World Zionist Organization (WZO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aliyah</span> Immigration of Jews from the diaspora to the Land of Israel

Aliyah is the immigration of Jews from the diaspora to, historically, the geographical Land of Israel or the Palestine region, which is today chiefly represented by the State of Israel. Traditionally described as "the act of going up", moving to the Land of Israel or "making aliyah" is one of the most basic tenets of Zionism. The opposite action — emigration by Jews from the Land of Israel — is referred to in the Hebrew language as yerida. The Law of Return that was passed by the Israeli parliament in 1950 gives all diaspora Jews, as well as their children and grandchildren, the right to relocate to Israel and acquire Israeli citizenship on the basis of connecting to their Jewish identity.

Operation Moses was the covert evacuation of Ethiopian Jews from Sudan during a civil war that caused a famine in 1984. Originally called Gur Aryeh Yehuda by Israelis, the United Jewish Appeal changed the name to "Operation Moses".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beta Israel</span> Jewish community associated with modern-day Ethiopia

The Beta Israel, or Ethiopian Jews, are an African community of the Jewish diaspora. They coalesced in the Kingdom of Aksum and the Ethiopian Empire, which is currently divided between the Amhara Region and Tigray Region in modern-day Ethiopia. After the founding of the State of Israel in 1948, most of the Beta Israel immigrated to Israel or were evacuated from Africa through several initiatives by the Israeli government.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Falash Mura</span> A group of Ethiopian Jews who converted to Christianity

Falash Mura is the name given to descendants of the Beta Israel community in Ethiopia who converted to Christianity, primarily as a consequence of Western proselytization during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. This term also includes Beta Israel who did not adhere to any Ethiopian Jewish practices, as well as the aforementioned historical converts to Christianity. While most voluntarily converted, some were also forcibly converted against their will, or felt compelled to convert due to economic hardship and social exclusion in a majority Christian population.

Operation Joshua, also known as Operation Sheba, was the 1985 airlifting of Ethiopian Jews from refugee camps in Sudan to Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Operation Solomon</span> 1991 airlift of Ethiopian Jews to Israel

Operation Solomon was a covert Israeli military operation from May 24 to 25, 1991, to airlift Ethiopian Jews to Israel. Non-stop flights of 35 Israeli aircraft, including Israeli Air Force C-130s and El Al Boeing 747s, transported 14,325 Ethiopian Jews to Israel in 36 hours. One of the aircraft, an El Al 747, carried at least 1,088 people, including two babies who were born on the flight, and holds the world record for the most passengers on an aircraft. Eight children were born during the airlift process.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graenum Berger</span>

Graenum Berger (1908–1999) was an American Communal administrator, institutional and communal planner, educator, world traveler, and the founding President of the American Association for Ethiopian Jews.

Sigd, also Mehlella or Amata Saww, is one of the unique holidays of the Beta Israel community, and is celebrated on the 29th of the Hebrew month of Marcheshvan. Since 2008, it has been an official Israeli state holiday.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keren Hayesod</span> Official fundraising organization for Israel

Keren Hayesod – United Israel Appeal is an official fundraising organization for Israel with branches in 45 countries. Its work is carried out in accordance with the Keren haYesod Law-5716, passed by the Knesset in January 1956, granting the organization a unique fundraising status. It is a registered corporation of the State of Israel.

Beta Abraham —other terms by which the community have been known include Tebiban, Balla Ejj, Buda and Kayla ,—is a community regarded by some as a crypto-Jewish offshoot of the Beta Israel community. The size of the community is estimated to be somewhere upwards of 150,000 in number.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yona Bogale</span>

Yona Bogale was an Ethiopian Jewish educator and public figure, who served as the director of the Beta Israel education network in Ethiopia and worked vigorously for the immigration of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. He led the efforts to improve the living conditions of the Beta Israel in Ethiopia by expanding education, providing medical facilities, increasing agricultural production and promoting religious freedom. His persistence in the face of opposition enabled many thousands of his people to fulfill their lifelong dream of Aliyah, or return to the homeland of Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">History of the Jews in Ethiopia</span>

The history of the Jews in Ethiopia refers to people in Ethiopia who practice Judaism or have Jewish ancestry. This history goes back millennia. The largest Jewish group in Ethiopia is the Beta Israel, also known as Ethiopian Jews. Offshoots of the Beta Israel include the Beta Abraham and the Falash Mura, Ethiopian Jews who were converted to Christianity, some of whom have reverted to Judaism. Addis Ababa is home to a small community of Adeni Jews. Chabad also maintains a presence in Addis Ababa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raphael Hadane</span> Israeli high priest (1923–2020)

Raphael Hadane, also known as Hadana Takoya, was the Liqa Kahenat of Beta Israel in Israel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shlomo Molla</span> Israeli politician

Shlomo Molla is an Israeli politician who served as a member of the Knesset for Kadima and Hatnuah between 2008 and 2013. He became Israel's second MK of Ethiopian origin. He later joined the Meretz party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Simien</span> Kingdom of Beta Israel in the Ethiopian Empire

The Kingdom of Simien, sometimes referred to as the Kingdom of Beta Israel, refers to a legendary Jewish kingdom said to have been located in the northwestern part of the Ethiopian Empire. The existence of such a kingdom somewhere in the Horn of Africa was first mentioned by the traveller Benjamin of Tudela in the 12th century CE.

Ethiopian Jews in Israel are immigrants and descendants of the immigrants from the Beta Israel communities in Ethiopia who now reside in Israel. To a lesser, but notable, extent, the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel is also composed of Falash Mura, a community of Beta Israel which had converted to Christianity over the course of the past two centuries, but were permitted to immigrate to Israel upon returning to Israelite religion—this time largely to Rabbinic Judaism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pnina Tamano-Shata</span> Israeli politician

Pnina Tamano-Shata is an Israeli lawyer, journalist, and politician. The first Ethiopia-born woman to enter the Knesset in 2013, in 2020 she also became the first Ethiopia-born minister after being appointed Minister of Immigrant Absorption.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Avraham Neguise</span> Israeli politician

Avraham Neguise is an Israeli politician and activist for the Falash Mura community. He served as a member of the Knesset for the Likud party from 2015 to 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asarsi Getu</span> Ethiopian Jewish nurse

Asarsi Getu or Asarsi Getu-Sahla-Gramai is an Israeli nurse of Beta Israel origin, who in the mid- 80s served as a nurse for the Red Cross refugee camps in Sudan. She saved the lives of many patients, secretly giving medicines to those who could not purchase them, and was responsible for distributing aid funds to Jewish refugees fleeing Ethiopia on their way to Israel.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Shapiro, Dan. Letter Beta Israel to Israel-Israel from the mid-nineteenth century: From the Hebrew version Firkobitz (PDF). Cathedra. pp. 123–128. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 August 2020. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  2. ↑ Sapir, Yaakov (1866). Hebrew translation of letter. Even Sapirin.
  3. 1 2 Ben-Dror, Shoshanna (1987). The Road to the Land of Israel: The story of Abba Mehari (PDF). Peamim. pp. 32–35. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 March 2014. Retrieved 5 January 2019.
  4. 1 2 Greenfeld, Yitzhak (2011). The Chief Rabbinate of the Land of Israel and the Jews of Ethiopia during the British Mandate. Haberman Institute for Literary Studies. pp. 191–198.
  5. 1 2 Mekonnen, Yohannes (2013). Ethiopia: The Land, Its People, History and Culture. New Africa Press. p. 215. ISBN   9789987160242.
  6. 1 2 Lenhoff, Howard (2007). Black Jews, Jews, and Other Heroes: How Grassroots Activism Led to the Rescue of the Ethiopian Jews. Gefen Publishing House. p. 47. ISBN   9789652293657.
  7. ↑ Mekelberg, Yossi (24 May 2015). "The plight of Ethiopian Jews in Israel". BBC News.
  8. ↑ Shilon, Avi (2012). Menachem Begin: A Life. Yale University Press. p. 272. ISBN   978-0300162356.
  9. ↑ Israeli Central Beaurau of Statistics, Immigrants, by Period of Immigration, Country of Birth and Last Country of Residence Archived 24 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine from the Statistical Abstract of Israel 2007-No.58
  10. ↑ Bard, Mitchell Geoffrey (2002). From Tragedy to Triumph: The Politics Behind the Rescue of Ethiopian Jewry. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 126–127. ISBN   9780275970000.
  11. ↑ Lenhoff, Howard (2007). Black Jews, Jews, and Other Heroes: How Grassroots Activism Led to the Rescue of the Ethiopian Jews. Gefen Publishing House. p. 264. ISBN   978-9652293657.
  12. ↑ "Home". CJE Baltimore.
  13. ↑ Jewish Chronicle. "Operation Moses Suspended: January 5 1985: The world learns of the rescue of Ethiopian Jews".
  14. ↑ Kaplan, Steven & Salamon, Hagar (2004). Jews in Israel: Contemporary Social and Cultural Patterns (Tauber Institute Series for the Study of European Jewry). Brandeis. p.  Chapter Five. ISBN   978-1584653271.
  15. ↑ Debbie Burman (16 August 2002). "Shas to help speed up Ethiopian Jewry immigration to Israel". Israel Insider . Archived from the original on 6 September 2009.
  16. ↑ "'Wings of the Dove' brings Ethiopia's Jews to Israel". The Jerusalem Post. 28 November 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2015.
  17. ↑ "Ethiopian aliyah to restart in June". Times of Israel. Retrieved 8 April 2016.
  18. ↑ "302 New Immigrants from Ethiopia Arrived in Israel Today | Keren Hayesod - United Israel Appeal" . Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  19. ↑ The Times of Israel March 11, 2021.
  20. ↑ 2-2-2022
  21. ↑ Israel National News 1 June 2022
  22. ↑ "Operation Tzur Israel: 150 Ethiopian immigrants arrive in Israel". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. 4 July 2022. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  23. ↑ how-israels-falash-mura-immigration-from-ethiopia-became-a-painful-30-year-saga-with-no-end-in-sight Jewish Telegraph Agency June 14,2022
  24. ↑ "95 new immigrants from Ethiopia land in Israel after a several months hiatus". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  25. ↑ ICEJ 02/03/2023
  26. ↑ Jewish News Syndicate 10 May 2023
  27. ↑ JNS Org 23-7-2023
  28. ↑ Times of Israel
  29. ↑ ICEJ 61 Jews go Home
  30. ↑ Spira, Yechiel (27 March 2009). "Israel's first Ethiopian battalion commander". Ethiopian Review . Archived from the original on 7 April 2009. Retrieved 23 May 2013.
  31. ↑ Fendel, Hillel (5 April 2009). "IDF Promotes its First Ethiopian Regiment Commander". Israel National News . Retrieved 5 April 2009.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.