Ethiopian Jews Celebrate Jewish Holidays in Israel
Only 25 years ago, few knew that there was a black Jewish community in Ethiopia. Today, anyone walking through the streets of Israel sees black Jews from Ethiopia who all now live in Israel. The recently deceased Israeli Prime Minister Yitzchak Shamir was a key player in Israel in deciding to bring this Jewish community from Ethiopia to Israel 20+ years ago. But how did this lost community of Jews receive the exposure necessary to be brought home to Israel by the Israeli government? Some say that the documentary film Falasha, by Simcha Jacobovici, had a part to play in creating the awareness for this Jewish community.
For 1500 years, Beta Israel, as the Ethiopian Jews called themselves, held onto their Jewish traditions in Ethiopia, praying on the Sigd holiday to one day return to Jerusalem. Now, Israel celebrates with them.
