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Background
A segment of the Beta Yisrael people
still in Ethiopia are called the Fares Mora, which means exiles,
are the 25,000 to 60,000 Ethiopian Jews alleged to be converts
to Christianity or descendants of those who converted during
the last 120 years. The Fares Mora lived apart from the traditional
Jewish communities in Ethiopia but remained ethnically distinct
from Ethiopian society. According to Dr. Steven Kaplan they continued
to observe circumcision, the Sabbath, and abstinence from pork.1 Some allege
that the majority are considered to be Jews by the Ethiopian
Jewish community including most Kessim (religious leaders).
During Operation Solomon (May 24-25, 1991),
when over 14,000 Ethiopian Jews were brought to Israel, it was
decided not to allow the Fares Mora to immigrate to Israel. However,
Israeli authorities estimated that approximately 2000 Fares Mora
came to Israel during Operation Solomon.
At present there are many Fares Mora in
camps around Addis Ababa (capital of Ethiopia) and in the Gondar
region. There they await transport to Israel.
Fares Mora and Israel
On June 13, 1991, then Prime Minister
Yizhak Shamir, appointed an inter-ministerial committee to study
the problem of what to do about the Fares Mora remaining in Ethiopia.
The committee report of June 10, 1992 recommended the establishment
of a mechanism of returning to Judaism those Fares Mora who could
prove their Jewish descent. This committee's recommendations
were never acted upon. On September 30, 1992 after Rabin became
Prime Minister a new committee was appointed to study the issue
once again. That committee presented their recommendations to
the government on January 18, 1993.2
The committee comprised members from
the Ministries of Immigrant Absorption, Religious Affairs, Interior,
Justice, and Foreign Affairs; and the Jewish Agency. The committee
included ten advisors whose role was to "assist it with
advice, each in accordance with his outlook and areas of expertise."
It should be noted that these "ten advisors" did not
include members of the Israeli Ethiopian community, Ethiopian
religious leaders or pro-Fares Mora activists. According to the
committee, it heard testimony from "representatves of Ethiopian
immigrants, Aliyah activists and officials who worked to bring
Ethiopian Jewry to Israel ... ." Among the committee's recommendations
submitted to the government for approval were the following:
1. The committee judged itself not competent
to decide whether the Fares Mora are Jews.
2. The committee concluded "that the
right to return to Israel [under the Law of Return] is not applicable
to the [Fares Mora] collectively ... ."
3. "The handling of this matter [should]
be on an individual, humanitarian basis and be implemented [under]
... the Law of Entry ... ." Those eligible would be Fares
Mora who have "first degree relations in Israel as follows:
spouses, parents and their children, children and their parents."
4. "A special Consul of Israel in
Addis Ababa coordinate the processing of those members of the
[Fares Mora] presently in Addis Ababa seeking to immigrate to
Israel."
5. "To examine, with the Government
of Ethiopia, the possibility of deploying a team of Israeli consular
officials in Gondar, who will operate under the guidance of ...
the special Consul."
6. "An advisory body, appointed by
the Minister of the Interior which will include representaties
of the relative bodies and among them representatives of the
Etiopian Jewish community ... and Kessim, will operate alongside
the Consul. This body will be empwered to recommend to the Consul
the granting of entry to Israel ... should their remaining in
Ethiopia place them in isolation or in grave distress."
7. "The Minister of the Interior will
appoint an advisory committee (five members, headed by a senior
jurist, a rabbi, and kes) whose permanent seat will be in Israel
and which will examine appeals on the decision of the Consul.
8. "Upon the Government's approval
of the recommendations of the ministerial committee, the committee
will formulate the operational conclusions which follow from
these recommendations and submit them to the Government for approval."
9. "The ministerial commitee will
continue to monitor the implementation of the Government decision
and will receive periodic reports from the Minister of the Interior,
and other bodies inolved in the matter."
Present Situation
Since this time, it was decided that first
order relatives of Ethiopian Jews already in Israel would be
allowed to come to Israel as non-Jews under the Law of Entry
and family reunification. Perhaps 25-75 of these people have
been allowed to come to Israel in a month's time with intervening
months in which no immigration was allowed.
The situation of the people in Gondar is
deteriorating. Many are sick and some are even dying of starvation
and malaria. The Jewish agency in Gondar does not register these
Beta Yisraeli people immediately and many are rejected even after
they have traveled for weeks from remote rural areas. As you
might guess, it's extremely difficult for them to get the type
of documentation the Israeli government requires to process their
request. Many stand near the Israeli Embassy compound, hoping
to get some kind of aid and eventual permission to leave. Even
those who are registered with the Embassy, get only 5 kg of teff
(grain that is made into injira, a bread-like pancake
that is a staple in the Ethiopian diet) per person per month,
and some free medical treatment.
The money we have sent to help the Beta
Yisrael people has helped many and their gratitude is visible
on their faces when the aid is given. Their continued plight
is a great and heavy prayer burden that is upon us. Would you
consider praying for these people, that we might be equipped
in a greater way to alleviate their suffering and assist with
their eventual immigration to the promised Land.
Notes
1. Kaplan, Steven. "Falasha Christians:
A Brief History," Midstream, February, 1993, pp.
20-21.
2. Report of the Ministerial Committee
on the Matter of the Felesmura: Recommendations to the Government
- D-68, January 18, 1993.
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