Beta Israel

Beta Israel (Hebrew: בֵּיתֶא יִשְׂרָאֵל - Beyte (beyt) Israel, Ge'ez: ቤተ እስራኤል—Bēta 'Isrā'ēl, modern Bēte 'Isrā'ēl, EAE: "Betä Ǝsraʾel", "Community of Israel" also known as Ethiopian Jews (Hebrew: יְהוּדֵי ‏אֶ‏תְיוֹ‏פְּ‏יָ‏ה: Yhudey Etiopiya, Ge'ez: "የኢትዮጵያ አይሁድዊ", ye-Ityoppya Ayhudi), are the names of Jewish communities which lived in the area of Aksumite and Ethiopian Empires (Habesh or Abyssinia), nowadays divided between Amhara and Tigray Regions.

Beta Israel lived in North and North-Western Ethiopia, in more than 500 small villages spread over a wide territory, among Muslim and predominantly Christian ruling populations. Most of them were concentrated in the area around Lake Tana and north of it, in the Tigray among the Wolqayit, Shire and Tselemti and Amhara Region of Gonder regions, among the Semien, Dembia, Segelt, Quara, Belesa, and small numbers lived in the city of Gonder. —Hagar Salamon

It was decided that the Israeli Law of Return applied to the Beta Israel in March 14, 1977 after a Halakhic and constitutional discussions. The Israeli and American governments have mounted aliyah operations, most notably during Operation Brothers in Sudan between 1979-1990 (which includes the major operations Moses and Joshua) and in the 1990s from Addis Ababa (which includes Operation Solomon).

The related Falash Mura are the descendants of Beta Israel who converted to Christianity. Some are returning to the practices of Judaism, living in communities and returning to Judaism. Beta Israel spiritual leaders, including Liqa Kahnet Raphael Hadane have argued for the acceptance of the Falash Mura as Jews. The Israeli government applied on the Falash Mura the resolution 2948 in February 16, 2003 which gives those who are descendants from Jewish mothers lineage the right to emigrate to Israel under the Entry Law and to obtain citizenship only if they converted to Orthodox Judaism. This resolution is a matter of controversy within Israeli society.

Today, there are 81,000 Ethiopian Israelis who were born in Ethiopia, while 38,500 or 32% of the community are native born Israelis.