You neglected to write about the national-religious community i.e. knitted kippot. Many have Ethiopian friends and there are already many marriages between them and Ethiopian Jews.As for the ultra-Orthodox, they do not marry anyone outside of their circle -white or black. Therefore I do not think that this survey was complete.

It took the Sepharadim time too. It also takes American olim time to get accepted. So what? That's life. Remember that the Ethiopians arrived never having seen a car or an elevator- much less, a computer. Now they're integrating- better than they would anywhere else in the Western world.

Once again we see the dangers of relying on simple polls to tell us anything. So a large majority of people aged 55 have no Ethiopian friends? There are 2 factors to take into account. (1) do these people live near any Ethiopians, taking into account that they are concentrated into just a few cities; (2) where would they meet them - most Ethiopians in this age group do not work, do not even know much Hebrew. Ask the older Ethiopians how many non Ethiopian friends they have, probably none - does this mean they are racist? By contrast, youngsters meet in school, clubs, the army, etc.

we should adopt at least two ethiopian orphans, give then alot of love, care, best education and see them getting married moving into best life.Just thinking,: -) why not just do it !

We have Ethiopian friends, but I think most of them are very closed and it took me more than weeks to let a few soccorplayers(Ethiopian) join our team(for free) I know we made mistakes, but also the other side must try harder, we all had to do this when we got here! I know it will be ok, I know israeli's. At the end we get along just fine.

embarrassing that we actually need to invest energy in conducting such meaningless polls. i hope no body falls into the trap of actually paying any heed to such frivolity. oh no!!! there are 80 year olds living in old age homes without a single Ethiopian friend. racist!!! and the anti charedi tones are staggeringly pathetic. the orthodox will object to their kids marrying most people that exist out of their sphere of beliefs, thats not racism. they spend all day in yeshiva so they have virtually no reason to meet Ethiopian friends. how about conducting a parallel poll among the Ethiopians??? but that would invalidate their status as "victims" and then who are the liberal left going to bleed their hearts over?? this is the rhetoric of other nations. it is an illness and a thought trend that rots a society from within. beware!!

an Ethiopian into their family. Maybe they were being polite to the pollsters.

Now as my wife would attest, i am no blind feminist; there are many aspexts of feminism and feminists i abhore (many more than i respect, actually), but: the TRUE test of openness is not how many wouldn't mind intermarriage, but how many would let their daughter marry an Ethiopian MAN. As the incredibely deep comment of no. 1 shows, it's easy to let your son marry an Ethiopian WOMAN; wives are SUPPOSED to be subservient, so what difference does it make what color she is, so long as she's sexy and quiet. so until the numbers are in, no. 6, i would hesitate about patting ourselves on the shoulders too much.

We made two BIG mistakes when we received them into Israel 1. We put them in ghettos in the back ends of Israel - instead of bringing them closer to the center. 2. We allowed them to fall into the clutches of the orthodox Rabbi's,.who made them have conversions to " Their belief code ". The Religious are the most racist sector of our society, and it was only to be expected that they would segegate them. A great people who will contribute to Israel's society. Incidentally, I can't help being amused by the discrimination by Eastern Jews, These are the ones who say that " white " askenazi jews distriminate agianst them. Now the they discriminate against the Ethiopians !

I would rather my son or daughter would marry a Jewish Ethiopian than a Non-Jewish person. Am I racist ? Yup.........

I have ethiopian friends, I grew up around african americans back in the states. But I would object if my children wanted to marry an ethiopian jewish or not. I believe it's easier in the long run to stay w/in your own culture. I agree w/ #'s 8, 9 &11. Besides do any of you really think an ethiopian would want white relatives jewish or not?

absolutely stunning. No problem if the Nephs want to bring home and Ethiopian girl, but there is plenty of time for that.

assortment are usually beautiful, taking the best of both sides. Beauty is not the issue but something else, something we don't care to admit to and that's racism. Multiculturalism does not work.

Marriage and integration into modern Israeli society are complex issues. Why is it difficult to understand that Jews from other backgrounds want their children to remain in their own subculture? Becker and others miss the point like so many in the US. Racism rejects people because of their race alone. Culture is the real issue.

That 32% say they have no Ethiopian friends means little. Friendship is not a given, regardless of ethnic grouping. The figures are quite encouraging, considering that discrimination is sadly far too universal.

Ari, you're actually not a racist. Anybody can convert to Judaism, and, as a convert to Judaism myself (of mixed Swedish/Ukrainian/Polish ancestry), I would rather my sons/daughters marry Jews than non-Jews, regardless of the color of their skin. Even if my child's mate of choice were willing to convert to Judaism (not for the sole sake of marriage, of course), I would approve of the marriage. To make things short, Ari, you and I are not racists. We welcome people of all skin colors imaginable into our families based on the sole criterion of the person's respect for our religious ancestry. It has everything to do with how well the values the potential mate espouses mesh with the values our families espouse. It's a question of respect and compatibility, not race.

Israelis can marry Ethiopians women as a second wives. I think Olmert will not hesitate to adopt this policy on himself after he quiet cabinet.

I know your type - that liberal "Some of my best friends are....." - you are a hypocrite - and a racist! And there is plenty wrong with that!!

PROBABLY THE MOST BEAUTIFUL WOMEN IN THE WORLD. IF MY SONS FALL FOR ONE GO FOR IT BABY!!!!

what evidence is there that they are jewish?

what does it have to do that u lived with african american? just because we are black does that mean we have the afro-american culture/identidy? then tell me what is your "own"culture? now days everyone in israel have one culture, and that is jewish and Israeli. on the last comment u made, about that if Ethiopian would want to marry a white relative? what made u thin that, i am Ethiopian jew my self, and my husband is not Ethiopian, but i decided to accept the jewish people as one group.

I would like to remind your readership that the majority of Poskim rule that the Ehiopians are not Jewish, and require full conversion- including acceptence of all mitzvot. I personally would marry any real Jew.

As long as they are Jewish, thats what matters, not skin color. I am askenazi (mostly) and would be happy with Sephardic friends and family. I value the other traditions and history, as long as they are Jewish. I would vehemently object to secular self hating Jews though. They have no place and deserve no respect.

for a lifetime mate. This issue is just yet another one. Having said that, I honestly think most of the hesitant folks here are thinking more of culture than of race. Judaism is not the whole picture: is someone from the Ukraine different from a Californian? Finnish different from Romanian? You bet - and the secret ingredient is obviously not melanin. My parents consider themselves racists, but if I chose an iron-curtain blondini arse over an Ethiopian physician, I'd be disowned in a heartbeat.

The Jewish people should allow its own identity (being white) to be wiped out in the name of the so-called racism! The true racism is to allow a white people to become black. Same for a black people or else to become something else! To welcome a marriage between a black and a white is like saying that the white can become black through his children and that would be fine!!! That is pure racism against the white! TO LOSE ONE'S ETHNIC IDENTITY (BEING WHITE OR BLACK OR ELSE) IS NOTHING LESS THAN DYING!! Are you going to post my comments? I doubt it!

Perhaps you two can share a rock to live under?

All Israel knows that the Ethiopians are not Jews at all! NOT A SINGLE ONE IS JEW!!! To have converted them "Orthodox" only to bring them in Israel by accepting their lies that they would have had Jewish roots renders their conversion completely invalid!! The Ethiopians were Chrisitan in Ethiopia! ALL OF THEM!! Then, came American Jews who basically gave them the hope that by becoming Jews they would flee their mud huts and land in Israel! Who could resist such a proposition? And now we should marry them?!! Especially because they are black? To prove that the Israelis are not racist? TO MARRY THEM WOULD BE TO BE RACIST AGAINST MILLENNIA OF TRADITION OF STAYING WHITE!! Oh, the people who are behind this kind of shameful poll, I wish your descendants to become black the next coming generation and lose your own (NON-BLACK) identity that your forefathers had perpetuated for millennia! Are you going to post my comments?! I very much doubt it!

Beta israel are Jews without any tiny doubt according to Rav Yossef, the greatest sefardi Posek. Ashkenazi Poskim are in truth divided, but the ashkenazi great rabbinate of Israel recognized them as Jews.