The Beta Israel: Falasha in Ethiopia: From Earliest Times to the Twentieth Century (Falasha in Ethiopia : from Earliest Times to the Twentieth Century)

478 Pages·1995·1.3 MB·English

by  Steven Kaplan

The Beta Israel (Falasha) in Ethiopia : From
title:
Earliest Times to the Twentieth Century
author: Kaplan, Steven.
publisher: New York University Press
isbn10 | asin: 0814746640
print isbn13: 9780814746646
ebook isbn13: 9780585281537
language: English
Jews, Ethiopian--History, Ethiopia--Ethnic
subject
relations.
publication date: 1995
lcc: DS135.E75K35 1995eb
ddc: 963/.004924
Jews, Ethiopian--History, Ethiopia--Ethnic
subject: relations.
Page iii
The Beta Israel
(Falasha) in Ethiopia
From Earliest Times to the Twentieth Century
Steven Kaplan
Page iv
NEW YORK UNIVERSITY PRESS
New York and London
Copyright © 1992 by New York University
All rights reserved
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Kaplan, Steven.
The Beta Israel (Falasha) in Ethiopia : from earliest times to the
twentieth century / Steven Kaplan.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 0-8147-4625-X
1. FalashasHistory. 2. EthiopiaEthnic relations. I. Title.
DS135.E75K35 1992
963'.004924dc20 92-1175
CIP
New York University Press books are printed on acid-free paper, and
their binding materials are chosen for strength and durability.
Manufactured in the United States of America
c 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Page v
For Booshun and Yona
Page vii
Contents
Acknowledgments ix
Introduction 1
1. Ethiopian Jews: Obscure Beginnings 13
2. Speculation and Legend 33
3. From Ayhud to Falasha: The Invention of a Tradition 53
4. Resistance and Defeat: 1468-1632 79
5. Glory and Decline: 1632-1855 97
6. A Mission to the Jews 116
7. Kifu-qen: The Great Famine of 1888-92 143
Conclusions: Before Faitlovitch 155
Notes 167
Bibliography 211
Index 225
Page ix
Acknowledgments
This book, which marks the culmination of almost a decade's research
on the history of the Beta Israel, could never have been written
without the support and assistance of countless individuals and
institutions. While it is impossible to list all of those on four
continents who have in one way or another helped me in my work, I
must at least attempt to acknowledge some of the most important.
Since making aliyah in 1977 I have been affiliated with the Hebrew
University of Jerusalem and more specifically with the departments of
African History and Comparative Religion. My colleagues at the
university have been unstinting in their encouragement of my work.
Particular mention must be made of Professors Nehemiah Levtzion
and Michel Abitbol, who were directors of the Ben Zvi Institute for
the Study of Oriental Jewish Communities during the period from
1983-1989 when I headed its research project on Ethiopian Jewry. In
the face of the increasing politicization of research on the Beta Israel,
they continued to maintain a policy that made academic excellence
and scholarly integrity the Institute's sole priorities. In a similar
fashion, the Harry S. Truman Research Institute for the Advancement
of Peace under the guidance of Professors Zvi Schiffrin, Ben-Ami
Shillony, and Naomi Chazan supported my work long before research
on Ethiopian history and culture became fashionable and continued to
encourage my interest in basic
Page x
research when more contemporary work may have earned more
attention.
During the 1989-90 academic year when most of this book was
written, I was on sabbatical and received the generous support of a
University Teacher's Fellowship from the National Endowment for the
Humanities. My family and I lived at the Center for the Study of
World Religions at Harvard University and were truly made to feel
completely at home. At the same time, I was also fortunate to be a
visiting scholar at the African Studies Center of Boston University.
The staff and scholars there provided me with a warm and stimulating
environment that contributed immeasurably to my progress during the
year. The Hill Monastic Manuscript Library of St. John's University in
Collegeville, Minnesota, and the Frobenius Institute in Frankfurt,
Germany, also kindly hosted me for short visits and generously made
the resources of their libraries available to me.
Edward Ullendorff, Getatchew Haile, Kay Kaufman Shelemay, James
McCaan, Irene Eber, and Chaim Rosen all generously commented on
portions of my manuscript. Their comments and criticisms have
enabled me to correct many of the deficiencies of earlier drafts. They,
of course, bear no responsibility for those that may remain in the final
version. An earlier version of Chapter 6 appeared in Jewish Social
Studies 49 (Winter 1987), pp. 27-42, and an earlier version of Chapter
7 was published in Paideuma 36 (1990), pp. 67-77. I wish to thank the
editors of both journals for permission to include revised versions of
these articles in this book.
Norma Schneider assisted throughout all stages in the preparation of
this book from the presentation of the original proposal to the
submission of the final manuscript. For many years I had hoped to
work with Norma on a book, and I trust that the experience was as
rewarding for her as it has been for me. I hope less time will pass
before we begin work on our next project.
The eighteen months during which this book was written involved a
period of great personal and political upheaval. Certainly when I
began writing, I had no idea that the final pages of the manuscript
would be completed in a new home with a gas mask at my side. More
than once, I impatiently waited for the computer to "save" a portion of
the text, so that I could heed the warnings of the air-raid sirens and
enter my sealed room. That I was able to retain my focus and continue
my work was
Page xi
due in large part to the incredible support I received from many dear
friends including Vivienne Burstein, David Satran, Mindy Milberg,
Kay Shelemay, Diane Baxter, Linda Aronson, Sally Zanger, and Irit
Averbuch. Although rarely the primary topic of our many
conversations, this book could not have been written without the
reassurance and affirmation they offered.
Finally, I wish to thank my children, Booshun and Yona, and dedicate
this book to them. Their patience, love, and humor have taught me
more than I ever knew there was to learn.
Page xii