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For decade the Falashas - the Black Jews of Ethiopia - have fascinated scholars. Are they really Jews and in what sense? How can their origins be explained? Since the Falashas' transfer to Israel in the much publicised Israeli air lifts the fascination has continued and and new factors are now being discussed.
Written by the leading scholars in the field the essays in this collection examine the history, music, art, anthropology and current situations of the Ethopian Jews. Issues examined include their integration into Middle Eastern society, contacts between the Falasha and the State of Israel how the Falasha became Jews in the first place.
List of contents
From Wollega to Florence - the tragic story of Faitlovitch's pupil Hizkiahu Finkas; the life and death of Solomon Isaac; the impact of the Italian occupation of Ethiopia on the Beta Israel; some unpublished documents relating to the 20th century history of the Beta Israel; the case of the Falas Mura; Ethiopian dynastic marriage and the Beta Israel; kinship as a paradigm for the ethnography of Beta Israel; everyday resistance and the study of Ethiopian Jews; Israeli women of Ethiopian descent - the strengths, conflicts and the successes; fertility decline and changes in the life course among Ethiopian Jewish women; women in history and historiography; identity reformulation among Ethiopian immigrant soldiers processes ; The Beta Israel band of Porachat Ha'Tikva; dance at the Ethiopian disco -tradition or change; of names, amulets and movies - some patterns of oral, written and non-verbal negotiations among the Ethiopian Jews in israel; Beta Israel prayers - oral and written traditions - analysis of a service for the new moon; the formal organization of the Beta Israel liturgy, substance and performance - literary structure; the formal organization of the Beta Israel liturgy, substance and performance - musical structure; differences between the Amharic dialects of Gondar and Addis Ababa; divination as prevention of illness and other life problems' sickness and medicine - perceptions of Ethiopian immigrants and their doctors in Israel; idioms and narratives of mental health problems among Ethiopian patients in Israel; the long journey of the young Beta Israel from Lasta; the Epistle of Elias.
About the author
Tudor Parfitt (School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London, UK), Emanuela Trevisan Semi
Summary
Written by the leading scholars in the field the essays in this collection examine the history, music, art, anthropology and current situations of the Ethopian Jews.
