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Rabbis'
Call To Action
INTRODUCTION
| AMERICAN RABBIS
|
ISRAELI RABBIS | ETHIOPIAN
RABBIS
American Rabbis
Letter from the Rabbinical Council of America.
The RCA is the single largest American organization representing Orthodox
rabbis.
12 Shevat 5760
January 19, 2000
 Over
the past few years, approximately thirty thousand Ethiopians of Jewish
ancestry have returned, or are in the process of returning, to the
Jewish faith. Over the course of several generations this community,
sometimes referred to as Feles Mura, had become estranged from their
Jewish forbears= practices and beliefs. Many Feles Mura, probably
most, had converted to Christianity. However, they rarely intermarried
and identified themselves and were identified by their neighbors as
part of the Beta Israel community.
In a phenomenon, virtually unprecedented in Jewish history, practically
the entire community has adopted an halakhic way of life, including
observance of Shabbat and the laws of kashrut and family purity. In
Ethiopia today four thousand children attend two Jewish day schools;
Thousands of adults participate daily in prayer services and classes
in Jewish education. In Israel, Feles Mura appear before a Rabbinical
Court to accept the yoke of the commandments, thereby complying with
procedures set forth by the Chief Rabbinate. Their children are educated
in religious Israeli schools, including, pursuant to the request of
Rabbi Chaim Druckman, the best yeshivot and ulpanot of the Bnai Akiva
system. In a recent letter, six Ethiopian rabbis who work intensively
with the community attested that the Feles Mura who arrive in Israel
have continued to observe the practices of traditional halakhic Judaism.
Throughout history, the Jewish people, in accordance with halakhah,
have joyfully welcomed back to the fold repentant Jews, including
those who have converted to another religion. The Feles Mura have
eagerly embraced an halakhic way of life and are certainly entitled
to be welcomed to Israel under the Law of Return.
The Rabbinical Council of America believes it is a Jewish imperative
that the suffering of the 26,000 Beta Israel remaining in Ethiopia
be brought to a swift conclusion. We call upon the State of Israel
to facilitate the rapid aliyah of the entire Feles Mura community.
We urge all Jewish relief organizations, particularly the Joint Distribution
Committee and NACOEJ, as well as the United Jewish Communities, to
provide the maximum possible physical and spiritual assistance to
this distressed Diaspora community, until its members can be reunited
with their brethren in Israel.
Rabbi Kenneth N. Hain
President
Letter from the Unites Synagogue of Conservative Judaism
The United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism Resolution on Beta Israel
in Addis Ababa
Passed by The USCJ Board June 2, 1996
Whereas, at the time of Operation Solomon (May 24-25, 1991), a remnant
of the Beta Israel Community was left behind because of doubts about
the sincerity of this community's return to Judaism and desire to
rejoin the Jewish people; and
Whereas, since that time the 3,800 men, women and children in Addis
Ababa, who are certainly of recent Jewish ancestry, now lead lives
of intense Jewish commitment and Zionist fervor, practicing Judaism
according to the most rigorous traditional standards, observing the
Sabbath and holidays, maintaining a synagogue and mikvah and engaging
in Jewish study and do not
follow or adhere to any other faith; and
Whereas, the 1,700 members of this community who have reached Israel
continue to observe Jewish religious practices and remain loyal Jews
and citizens of the State of Israel in all respects; and
Whereas, we believe that when a lapsed individual or community of
clear Jewish ancestry returns to, or undertakes, the practice of Judaism
and declares the intention to continue to live and raise children
as Jews, this suffices to recognize the person or community as Jewish
without the need of further ritual; and
Whereas, the Beta Israel in Addis live in circumstances of dire poverty,
illness, isolation and separation from close family members in Israel
Now, therefore, be it resolved that The United Synagogue of Conservative
Judaism calls upon the two American Jewish organizations the American
Jewish Joint Distribution Committee and the North American Conference
on Ethiopian Jewry who have for six years provided the only assistance
the community has received, to continue and enhance such assistance
to the
maximum extent possible and further urges other Jewish organizations
to come to the aid of the beleaguered Jewish community; and
Be it further resolved that The United Synagogue of Conservative
Judaism calls upon its affiliated congregations and their members
to support the work of these organizations in Ethiopia; and
Be it further resolved that The United Synagogue of Conservative
Judaism calls upon the State of Israel to recognize the Beta Israel
remaining in Addis Ababa as a Jewish community all of whose individual
members are entitled to emigrate to their homeland, under the Law
of Return, with the goal of bringing all 3,800 men, women and children
to Israel by the end of 1996.
Letter from the Union of American Hebrew Congregations
The Union of American Hebrew Congregations, having received in reply
to its request for a Responsum from the Responsa Committee of the
Central Conference of American Rabbis that affirms the Jewishness
of the Falas Mura community in Addis Ababa and of the individuals
who comprise that community, now expresses its urgent hope that those
Jews will be speedily admitted to the State of Israel under the Law
of Return.
INTRODUCTION
| AMERICAN RABBIS
|
ISRAELI RABBIS | ETHIOPIAN
RABBIS
|
