Your cogent, humane and very truthful evaluation of the plight of the Falas Mura should be taken to heart by the politicial establishment and the Jewish Agency. I fear however, that the establishment will continue to plod along its disasterous path forever. Ethiopians are still photogenic and "pathetic" enough to be used as income generating factors for the coffers of the the establishment. The generous Jewish communities abroad continue to donate money, without understanding the enormity of the human suffering they may actually perpetuate. Resettlement in Ethiopia is a rational alternative. An additional component to successful resettlement could be help from MOFA's "Mashav" program to help farmers learn new , more efficient and effective means of land management. I have no doubt that a vast majority of veteran Ethiopian Israelis (Beta Yisrael - not" m'Zera Yisrael), would support your position. It behooves you to get the message out in the traditional Ethiopian way; by word of mouth, including radio and TV. Too many adult members of the community aren't able to access the printed word. You are a brave man to take your stance.

THE ISRAELI ORGANIZATION THAT TRAVELS THE WORLD LOOKING FOR '''LOST''' JEWS. IS ANY BUSINESS MAN OR TOURIST THAT HAS SEX WITH A LOCAL WOMAN, IN ANY COUNTRY ''CREATING A WORLD OF '''LOST JEWS'''??? WITH THE CHILD HAVING JEWISH BLOOD AND THEREFORE HAS THE RIGHT OF RETURN??? OR THEY PICKED UP SOME HABITS OF THAT JEWISH VISITOR AND 'THAT' BECOMES THE REMNANTS OF THEIR ''JEWISH' 'PAST??? REDICULOUS.!!! DACON9

israel brought tens of thousands of ethiopians here but the author shows no gratitude. the ethiopians do not belong in israel.they live in the stone age and seek to come into the modern era.it is simply not possible. they have not managed to integrate into israeli society and never will. they are involved in criminal behaviour far beyond their numbers in the population.

As you said, the Felasha Mura are Ethiopian Christians who saw a chance to get out of Africa. Wanting to get out of Africa does not mean they want to come Israel to be Jews. The Ethiopian government, not Israel, is responsible for taking care of Ethiopian Christians.

period. People looking for a meal ticket is not exclusive to the borders of the US. Which opens a whole can of worms. EITHER one subscribes to Judaism and loyalty to israel or he/she/it can leave.

to come here, we have a moral obligation to allow these people in.

We clean house and rid the drech and rebuild a JEWISH state as it was meant to be. We could start with those elaborate missionary non=profit organizations. Doin' a Jew, don't make ya a Jew. This land has been corrupted for too long. Israel wil pay dearly if they do not get it in order.

Jews are not "white" race! Jews have every color! And I am believe how Jews at modern way! Also can Ethiopians life at Israel today... at future will be Jerushalayim 2000 kilometres high and long and deep ... yes, God will buying his state!

or "more brown" Is the obvious reason Israel is discouraging it. I guess you could call that antisemitism. Claiming the holy land for jews only is also a form of discrimination since it is a holy place to all Abrahamic religions.

Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, a man of the utmost integrity, investigated the matter and concluded that the Falash Mura were Jews who converted to Christianity out of fear because of persecution. They are now Jews that want to return to Israel, and the only thing they seem to lack is white skin and money. Judaism is the religion that pioneered compassion for the poor and unfortunate. A true Zionist never turns his back on a fellow Jew in distress. What a disgusting state of affairs: a Jewish homeland full of selfish rich white homosexual atheists, which deserts a group of Jews simply because they are black and poor. As for me, I welcome all of Africa to convert to Judaism. We are locked in a life and death struggle with Islam, and we need every morally upright man and woman to stand with us. If you are keen on Jesus, but love Israel, then we welcome your prayers and moral support. If you love HaShem and are prepared to live as a Jew, then you should be allowed to go and live in Israel. HaShem loves Africa, and so do I.

Any one who knows Judaism, is aware it has NOTHING to do with skin color. To be a Jew has everything to do with LIVING as a Jew. This means according to Torah. In the US, (cant speak for other places) non-Jews often go through 1 to 5 years of conversion to become recognized as a Jew. This study and adherence to Torah principles is a test of their sincerity, not just wanting to convert to get "special privleges". I suggest if one is truly claiming Jewish heritage, LIVE AS A TORAH JEW for at least a year and then see how dedicated they are. If they can live according to the strict Torah principles, then they can apply for aliyah. This must be the case for all or none. But then again, getting a quick fix or handout is easier...right?

When was the last time you were here? LIVED here? Talked with people who live here and deal with different cultures? I am absolutely NOT saying it is OK to keep them out - however, the reason has nothing to do with their skin color. Please do some research on the issue before making such an inflammatory statement from a country famous for its racist traditions. The issues here are STRICTLY vocational and psychiatric - nothing more glamorous than that.

They converted and now want to come back for a better life.Stay there,we do not need phonies from ethiopia or f.s.u. coming here.

What the hell did they ever do for the state?Give them nothing! Let us stop giving everyone money.This country has no money for defense and for education and we have to give money away. Enough let them starve,I do not want to give an agora for anyone who does not belong here or does not work here.

They must be airlifted at once....whether they are 'technically' Jewish or not, if they pray like a Jew, BELIEVE they are Jews, Israel has a responsibility....and with all that is going on in Somalia, you never know when the Jews of Ethiopia will be targeted....we have a responsibility....

They should immediately be granted israely citizenship NOW! they deserve this: they feel jews for generations so they are jews. And to all who think this debate is about racism they are all wrong.I deeply think They are our brothers of faith and we have the same destiny. Israel must recognize they have endured many hardships and have succeeded in conserving their faith alive.they were simply more diisconnected than other jews.

#3 The Ethiopians don't belong here?? That’s exactly what I say about those Russians who wear their golden crosses.... Israel had no qualms with bringing many Russians and a huge portion weren't even Jewish. Israel had every right to bring every Jewish Russian to Israel, but the Christians have no right to be here unless they individually apply for citizenship. Gadalyah the Russians never engage in crime? #4 Do you know for certain they are Christians? Assuming they really are Christians for generations and generations, then I agree with you and they have no place using the right of return clause. They should apply individually for citizenship. However if they are Jews who converted (to Christianity) but are now reconverting to Judaism then they have every right to be here. Have you so quickly forgotten the Marano Jews of Spain??? They converted back to Judaism when it was safe to and no one doubted that they were real Jews. #6 thank G-d you were not born during the Spanish inquisition. #8 why not clean out all the Jews who did not come from Europe?? If you would fight the Arabs as bitterly as you fight Jews, Israel would never lose a war. #10 the oldest child in Abrahamic traditions gets the inheritance so you and Islam can go kiss my a$$. Oh, and if you get stupid with me and tell the story where Jacob tricks Isaac into getting the inheritance the fact still remains, both Jacob and his brother were Jewish, not Muslim or Christian. Instead of crying to Jews go to church and ask G-d why the Christians did not come first. #11Rabbi Ovadiah did in fact say that and I thank you for educating these primitive ignorant barbarians who claim to be civilized (hitler would also argue he was the epitomy of a culturized man if given the chance). #12 ilana is it the fact that Ovadiah is an Iraqi Jew that makes you ignore his word? Try for at least one of your posts to curb your inherent European verbiage of hatred. Leave your hatred in Europe where hate always finds fertile ground. #15 you should be busier with Israeli affairs and protesting against Olmert instead of getting tied up with issues you are sorely uneducated in. (The only reason I refrain from really blasting your words is because I respect some of your stances on positions you've taken in certain Israeli affairs in the past). The Ethiopian Jews deserve as equal a chance in Israel as any other Jew. If they are “primitive” then we should take it on ourselves to educate our relatives and allow them the same rights we give other Jews. As a Jew whose descent is North African I can tell you that the way some of the European Jews (the elite who control the power in Israel) treat us makes me wonder if the Jews who were so abused by the animal Nazi’s aren’t becoming like their abusers. You have a chance to break the cycle of abuse that we all suffered at the hands of Christians and Muslims, don’t bring the hate into our domestic family (by family I mean the family that all Jews belong to). This sounds a tad bit idealistic so in the end I want to leave you with a message of love: Go play in traffic, as at least then all you haters will be doing something productive instead of hampering the growth and development of good Jews.

"whether they are 'technically' Jewish or not, if they pray like a Jew, BELIEVE they are Jews, Israel has a responsibility...." Israel already has far too many of these. They are called "messianics". Nope. No responsibility just because a person can mimic certain aspects of Jewish ritual. Try again.

but did not convert? People who leave our religion for money should not be taken back. Not every Jew is given an equal opportunity in Israel. When I made allyah over thirty years ago,I received almost nothing.Others received apartments,loans,furniture,ect.I just wanted to serve in the I.D.F. and I used my life savings to survive. I would be glad to protest olmert and his regime,but no one has ever thought to have dozens of demonstrations in as many cities and towns as possible.Not everyone can get to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv. If they knew that there were say 30 demos and each had 5,000-10,000 people,maybe they would wise up and resign. And the people would not settle for less.

GIBBERISH..THIS COUNTRY IS MADE UP OF ALL TYPES OF RACES AND COLORS..OBVIOUSLY U HAVE NOT VISITED ISRAEL OTHERWISE U WUD HAVE KNOWN THAT.. I THINK THAT THE ETHIOPIAN PEOPLE ARE A BEAUTFIUL PEACEFUL PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN THROWN INTO A COUNTRY THAT HAS LITTLE TOLERANCE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT RESIDE THEREIN LET ALONE FOR PEOPLE WHO COME FROM ABROAD. WE HAVE SO MANY SOCIAL PROBLEMS HERE, TAXES, POOR PEOPLE BEING DONE OUT OF WELFARE, AND THOSE WHO NEED SPECIAL MEDICINES THAT ARE NOT COVERED BY THE GOVT COZ THEY CLAIM THEY CANNOT AFFORD IT..TRUTH OR NOT..WE CANNOT AFFORD TO BRING THEM HERE AND GIVE THEM FALSE HOPE..THEY MAY EVEN BE BETTER OFF REMAINING WHERE THEY ARE.. I AGREE THAT THEY SHUD BE COMPENSATED ESPECIALLY AFTER LEAVING THEIR VILLAGES...... CONSIDERING THE FACT THAT WE HAVE BEEN AT WAR FOR OVER 50 YEARS OVER A SMALL PIECE OF LAND THAT EVERYONE WANTS A PIECE OF....WE HAVE NO PROBLEM LET THE WHOLE WORLD CONVERT TO JUDAISM THE MORE THE MERRIER, BUT WHERE PRAY TELL ARE WE SUPPOSED TO PUT THEM ALL.???

THE FALASH MURA'S FATE - Falash Mura immigration stalled by cost, doubt over Jewish identity February 16, 2006 By Uriel Heilman (This is the fourth article in a 7-part special JTA report on Ethiopian immigration to Israel.) ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia, Feb. 16 (JTA) -- With the key parties saying they are ready to accelerate the pace of Falash Mura aliyah, why has the effort remained stalled since Israel´s Cabinet voted to bring these Ethiopians to Israel? The holdup stems from lingering doubts about the Jewishness of the Falash Mura, especially among officials charged with implementing the Israeli government decision, concerns in Israel over the cost of absorbing another 13,000 to 20,000 Ethiopians, and apprehension that aliyah of the Falash Mura from Ethiopia will never end. For Israelis concerned about the cost and prudence of Ethiopian aliyah, the questions of whether or not the Falash Mura are Jews, and under what circumstances their progenitors converted to Christianity, are of paramount importance. Unlike the Beta Israel, who maintained a distinct Jewish identity in Ethiopia for centuries, epitomized by their observance of Shabbat and their rejection of Jesus as the messiah, the Falash Mura converted to Christianity in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Though many advocates of Falash Mura aliyah maintain that the conversions resulted from economic and social pressures, scholars of Ethiopian Jewish history find little evidence of this. On the contrary, according to Steven Kaplan´s "The Beta Israel (Falasha) in Ethiopia: From Earliest Times to the Twentieth Century," those who converted were far more likely to face social and economic exclusion than those who remained Jews. The converts faced ostracism both from the Jews whose tradition they rejected and from the Christians who refused to accept them as full-fledged members of their communities because they were members of the lowly Beta Israel caste. This ostracism may have prevented the Falash Mura from intermarrying with Christians, allowing them to maintain a largely undisturbed Jewish bloodline until recent times. This is partly why Israel´s Chief Rabbinate decided to apply to the Falash Mura the Jewish legal principle of, "A Jew, even though he has sinned, is still a Jew." That is, a person is a Jew so long as their maternal ancestral line is Jewish -- even if their ancestors converted to Christianity 10 generations ago and have been practicing it ever since. However, there is considerable debate over the degree to which the Falash Mura intermarried. Advocates of the Falash Mura maintain that intermarriage was a rare phenomenon until the most recent generation of Falash Mura. Others, including some scholars, suggest that intermarriage has been relatively common for several generations, and as a consequence a great proportion of those designated today as Falash Mura are not actually Jews. To complicate matters further, the appellation Falash Mura is applied today not only to Christians of Jewish descent, but to full-blooded Christians who have married into families of Jewish descent. These Christians are estimated to make up to 30 percent of the Falash Mura population. Even among the Falash Mura who have some biological link to Ethiopian Jewry, few if any seemed to have been aware they were Jews until they were told as much by American Jewish advocacy groups who identified them as such by their membership in the Beta Israel caste. In interviews last year in the Ethiopian province of Gojam with Beta Israel peasants who had not yet migrated to the cities, villagers demonstrated no knowledge of Judaism whatsoever. Indeed, until their contact with American Jewish groups working in the cities, they had never heard of the Torah, never observed any Jewish holidays or rituals, and professed belief in Jesus. Many have crosses tattooed on their foreheads or wear crosses around their necks.

For these reasons, Israel requires that all Falash Mura immigrants undergo a comprehensive conversion course once they arrive in the Jewish state, culminating in ritual conversion. This is not something that was required of the Ethiopian Jews who came to Israel between 1984 and 1991, nor is it something that would be necessary if the Falash Mura were merely wayward Jews. Before their arrival in Israel, the Falash Mura learn about Judaism in the compounds administered by the North American Conference on Ethiopian Jewry. At the Gondar compound -- the Addis Ababa compound is closed -- the Beta Israel take courses in Jewish prayer and some of them learn to lay talit and tefillin. They attend prayer services in the compounds´ ramshackle synagogues, the men donning kipot as they enter, the seats separated by gender. They also are taught the little Hebrew the teachers themselves know. Some skeptics say the Jewish teachings at the NACOEJ compound are a ploy to facilitate Falash Mura aliyah by making the Falash Mura appear Jewish. The level of instruction at the compounds is superficial, they say, with children reciting the Hebrew alphabet and Hebrew phrases without knowing what they mean, holding prayer books upside down during synagogue services and being taught by instructors who themselves know little more than the students. Others say NACOEJ´s efforts constitute the noble undertaking of bringing lost Jews back to the faith of their ancestors. They say the teaching at the compound may not be ideal, but it´s the best possible given the circumstances. What´s more, they say, it has turned the younger generation of Beta Israel into real Jews. "Their kids know only Judaism. They fast the Fast of Esther. They have already returned to Judaism," said Rabbi Menachem Waldman, a member of the Chief Rabbinate´s committee for the absorption of Ethiopian Jews. Waldman also has received funding from NACOEJ. Many veteran Ethiopian immigrants in Israel resent the Falash Mura, partly because their aliyah carries a cloud of religious illegitimacy that has cast a shadow over all of Israel´s Ethiopian community. It doesn´t help that at the current aliyah rate, the size of Israel´s Falash Mura community will eclipse that of Israel´s veteran Ethiopian Jewish community some time this year, according to the Immigrant Absorption Ministry. "The veteran community is not always so happy with what is going on with the new one," said Mirla Gal, director general of the ministry. Aside from the murky issue of religion, the cost of absorbing the Falash Mura has caused many an Israeli official to balk at throwing open the doors of the Jewish state to Ethiopian immigrants. Though many critics say racism plays a role in Israel´s reticence to accept the Ethiopians, pointing by contrast to Israel´s much easier acceptance of Russian immigrants of dubious Jewish origin, it is an economic fact that Ethiopians cost Israel far more than do Russian immigrants. A Russian immigrant to Israel may struggle with linguistic and other barriers, but most adult immigrants from Russia practice trades that are somewhat transferable to Israel, and they need no special training on how to live in an industrial country. By contrast, most Ethiopian adults who come to Israel know little other than subsistence farming, smithing or weaving -- all trades that are not transferable to Israel. Many are illiterate and have never even used a fridge, toilet or gas stove before their arrival in Israel. It´s much harder for these Ethiopians to find jobs, and when they do, the jobs often are menial and low-paying. According to the Immigrant Absorption Ministry, Ethiopian immigrants receive grants for some 90 percent of the funds needed to purchase a home; 80 percent of the immigrants are welfare dependent; and their average stay in absorption centers is 18 months, much longer than other immigrants.

Each Ethiopian oleh costs the state approximately $100,000 over the course of his or her lifetime, according to Israeli government estimates. "The absorption of people coming from Ethiopia is completely different from those coming from other countries," Gal said. Finally, lingering fear in Israel that the aliyah of Falash Mura will never really end plays a significant role in the holdup over bringing to Israel the current group of 16,000 or so Falash Mura waiting in Gondar and Addis Ababa. The Falash Mura call themselves Beta Israel, "seed of Israel,´´ but in this they are not unique; many Ethiopian natives believe they, too, are descendants of the kingdom of Israel. The former Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie, who ruled Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974, claimed he was a direct descendent of King Solomon and called himself the Conquering Lion of the Tribe of Judah. The fear some Israeli officials express privately is that if Ethiopia´s former emperor claimed Jewish descent, what´s to stop tens of millions of Ethiopians today from doing the same so they can escape the poverty of Africa for the relative wealth of Israel? What´s more, a special investigation last year by this reporter found indications of thousands more Beta Israel in the Achefar region of Ethiopia who have not been accounted for by the Israeli government or American Jewish advocates of Ethiopian aliyah. Living in remote villages that don´t generally appear on maps, few of these Beta Israel ever have ventured far beyond their rural homes, but they represent some of the probable thousands of Ethiopians hoping to make aliyah who have not yet been accounted for by the Israeli government. The existence of these isolated Beta Israel communities may pose a serious challenge to Israel´s attempt to end mass aliyah from Ethiopia by the end of 2007. In a country of 70 million, it´s possible that the Beta Israel left in Ethiopia number in the hundreds of thousands, not the thousands, and that Israel has seen only the tip of the iceberg of Ethiopian aliyah. http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Home/About/Press+Room/Jewish+Agency+In+The+News/2006/2/feb16jta4.htm

Why is it we allowed Christian Russians into our state? If I've got my history correct the Christians in Russia were some of the worst anti-semites this world has ever been forced to witness. I smell a very big double standard and I can't help but equate this whole situation to Ashkenazi vs. Mizrahi. Once again the state is white washing. First lets be certain they really aren't Jews, and as well they are not a group similar to the Marano's before we're so quick to pass judgement. Maybe you guys should be more worried about the fact no one has compensated or even returned the kidnapped children of the Yemenite Jews. For those who've never heard this one it goes like this. Certain Israeli doctors would tell the parents their baby had died when in reality the baby was alive and sold to rich American families. I'm supposed to trust a government who won't even legally pursue those who stole children of Israel??? When will you people stop selling out other Jews???

The Ethiopian Jews deserve as equal a chance in Israel as any other Jew. If they are “primitive” then we should take it on ourselves to educate our relatives and allow them the same rights we give other Jews. (# 18 Jonathan Levi , Jerusalem)

The problem is the Israeli government. We need aliyah. 600 a month is too few Try 1000

I dont see how this is Ahkenazim vs sphardim . Ethiopians do nt fall under these categoties whatsoever I do agree that non jewis russians shouldnt be brought

the problem here is the entrenched ruling eletes who have become decadent and corrupt enriching themselves from the system while they only give what they are forced to by sustained public demonstration. the ethiopian situation is a disgrace when it was once so noble. And the blame can be placed at the door of what much of the problems here are from the arrogant leftist establishment.

Anyone who makes Aliyah is and should be grateful to the Al-mighty that it is possible to live in Israel. To be sure, the intent of the article was not to express appreciation for the opportunity to live in a society that is disintegrating before our eyes. Furthermore, the societal disintegration has nothing to do with the Falash Mura as it had begun well before their blessed arrival. The astonishing short-sightedness (typically) demonstrated by the Ministry of Absorption and the Jewish Agency to place the Falash Mura in critically ill neighborhoods where they are exposed (for the first time) to much of the sickest elements and conditions of society was expedient at best and criminally abusive at worst. So, if their absorption into Israel's 'modern, enlightened and self-absorbed lifestyle' has not been successful, it is the schizophrenic nature of Israel that's the real culprit. Their criminal behavior? Oh really? Take cursory look at the unabashedly corrupt and criminal activity of the majority of our national and municipal leaders. Criminal behavior isn't only tolerated in Israel, for many it is the accepted norm of institutional behavior. And how about other more recent waves of Aliyah? You better believe their criminal tendencies existed well before they arrived here. The Falash Mura ... whatever criminal behavior they may have learned ... they learned it right here - from Israelis! Of the few possessions they brought, criminal behavior was not among them. Israel is the reason that Aliyah exists and Aliyah is the reason that Israel continues to exists. One is not possible without the other. Every single rabbinically qualified member of the Falash Mura community should be welcomed with open arms and loving hearts. This is true, as well, of the B'nei Menashe. What is blatantly criminal and grossly ungrateful is the way the select establishment regards immigrants with darker skin and more problematic circumstances. I am an Israeli and an American ... but above all, I am a Jew. Having grown up in the South, I know racism all too well. Euphemistic language and false generalizations will never disguise a racist heart. I will do anything possible to stand along side the Falash Mura and vehemently fight against the baseless hatred aimed at them. Be careful what you wish for others! What goes around ... comes around.