Falasha spokesman Defines status of Black Jewish Community
t ains. "We Black Jews have a
become independent economically. inaries, to acquire scholarships
not in Hebrew, but in the
Its small business men, as well and subsidies in order to be able
Millar problem here," Rabbi ancient Ethiopian dialect of
NEW YORK, N.Y. — "The Fa- Paris emphasized, "our status as
Gheez.
as its potential professionals, need to train as rabbis, doctors, teach-
lasha Jews of Ethiopia and the Jews is also challenged."
Rabbi Paris said the Black Jew- opportunities for loans, chances to ers, lawyers, etc.
Black Jewish community of the
"Above all," he implores: "Don't
Through Dr. Faitlovich's good ish community wants above all to attend Jewish schools and sem-
United States have one thing in
forsake us, don't ignore us, don't
common—both desperately need offices, when Israel was estab-
push our requests and problems
lished in 1948, a group of young
financial aid, teachers, more op-
under the rug. We are amenable
Falashas
was
flown
to
Israel
portunities for higher education,
to compromise. Like you, we have
and above all, encouragement and to learn Hebrew, Jewish lore,
a rich Jewish heritage to uphold.
about festivals, modern tech-
recognition of their existence."
Some of our people have gone to
niques of economics, agriculture
The speaker was tall, wiry, 32- and industry, and to read the
Israel to settle; all of us remain-
year-old Hailu Paris, associate Tora. Back in their native land,
ing, with your help, can maintain
rabbi to Rabbi Albert Moses of the
the historic tradition of Moses and
they have maintained a keen
Mt. Horeb Congregation in the
Israel."
interest
in,
and
communication
-
Bronx, a leader of New York's
with,
Israel.
The
returnees
have
Rabbi Paris said there is a lot
Black or Ethiopian Jewish com-
been received in friendly fashion
of nonsense being circulated about
munity, who has just returned
"Black Power." "The Rev. Martin
from a nine-month visit to his by the Emperor, who is known
as "The Lion of Judah." A num-
Luther King's concept of non-
native Ethiopia, which is 10,000
ber of Falashas, notably Tadessa
violence is our goal," he con-
miles away in Northeast Africa, on
Yacob, pension minister, hold
tended, "but the experience of
the Red Sea.
high government posts.
James Meredith and others shows
Rabbi Paris, resident in the U.S.
we must defend ourselves when
Rabbi
Paris,
who
taught
English
for the past 29 years, has not been
a tt a c k e d. Non-violence is not
at
a
private
school
in
Addis
Ababa
"home" since he was brought here
enough. We must mobilize as a
from Africa, a child of 3, in the during his Ethiopian stay, was
black community politically for
company of his mother and aunt amazed and excited to find a wide
change and an end to horrible
who settled with him in the Bronx. use of the Jewish symbol, the
slums and inequalities in housing,
"The time of my arrival was 1937. Mogen David, throughout the coun-
jobs and in many ways."
You will recall,": he told this re- try. It is the insignia of the im-
Is Negro anti-Semitism really
porter in a special interview, "that perial household and is also used
to be reckoned with? Rabbi Paris,
Ethiopia had been invaded by by the Ethiopian army, many of
who has never visited the Deep
Mussolini's Fascist legions, who whose units are now being trained
South, explains that what is often
were wont to boast they were im- by American instructors. The Is-
confused with anti-Semitism comes
pressing some of my fellow- raelis are helping to develop
from Negro resentment of the
countrymen by throwing others out some Ethiopian police forces and
white power structure which
are also aiding to direct the vast
of airplanes."
closes off segments of American
"What did I see of real Italian construction program in the cities,
life to black men. "It often hap-
influence in Ethiopia?" The be- , in particular are supervising the
pens," he observed sadly, "that
spectacle d, yarmalke-wearing erection of a new Hilton Hotel.
Jewish business men become tar-
rabbi, said: "I credit the Italian This is accomplished through the
gets of propinquity as symbols of
Army with introducing pork into facilities of Solel Boneh, the Is-
whites who are hated and re-
the country. Neither the Coptic raeli construction cooperative. In
sented. There is no religious,
Christians, the Jews or the Mos- the northern city of Asmara, there
ethnic or historical factor involved
lems there ever raised pigs or ate is a kosher slaughtering plant run
in this resentment which too often
pork. The Fascists introduced it by Israelis which supplies meat
HAILU PARIS and HAILE SELASSIE
spills oter."
and the custom has remained, bol- for Israel. Israeli professors and
stered by the eating habits of the scholars are also helping to direct
numerous European and American the College of Engineering at
tourists who flock to Ethiopia to Haile Selassie University in Addis
see the changes made under Ababa.
Emperor Haile Selassie."
Most of the Falashas live in
Rabbi Paris pointed out that the North Ethiopia, Rabbi Paris re-
dwindling number of Falashas who lates, in primitive surroundings.
claim direct descent from King They wear the traditional
With nearly half a million mem- Side. The beginnings are those of
Solomon and the Queen of Sheba, "Shama" dress, similar in ap- bers on its roll of affiliates in the a German-Jewish group. In the
now comprise 25,000 to 30,000
pearance to a tallit, and reminis- men's, women's and youth ranks, as years that followed there were
individuals. They are besieged by
cent in color and fringes of bibli- the sponsor of Hillel Foundations, controversies between the Germans
the proselytizing of the local
cal times. The women wear an the Anti-Defamation League and a and the East Europeans. The strife
Christian sects and the beguiling
number of social
is recorded together with the
tactics of the hard-hitting mission- adaptation of the "Shama," that service causes; as
achievements, and the story that
is more colorful and stylish. In
aries of Canada and Europe, re-
emerges is that of a developing
Addis Ababa, one synagogue at- supporter of ef-
cently ousted from the Sudan, and
unity which has earned for Bnai
forts in behalf of
now centering their conversion tracts some 250 Jews, many of Israel as well as
Brith its present status that has
whom are refugees from Aden,
activities in Ethiopia.
t h e coordinator
necessitated a brief "final word"
Yemen
and
other
Arab
lands,
and
His compatriots in the U.S.,
in Grusd's book, quoting the former
of numerous
temporary
residents
from
Israel
whether they are considered Ethio-
national president, Philip M. Klutz-
tasks that have
pian or Black Jews stemming from and other parts of the Middle
nick, who, when asked why he be-
led to high goals
other areas, number about 7,000 East. There is a larger Jewish
longed to the movement, said:
in American Jew-
to 10,000 individuals, who belong community in Asmara. another in
ish projects, Bnai
Gondar.
"In Bnai Brith is to be found
congregations
centered
to 12-15
the synthesis of the American Jew-
The Falashas are mainly farm- Brith has risen to
mainly in the greater New York
ish search for the genuine com-
metropolitan area, Rabbi Paris, ers, growing crops and raising the top ranks as
patibility of a great Jewish her-
cattle for which Ethiopia, known the leading
confirmed.
itage with the inspirational qual-
He related that the Falashas who as the "Bread Basket of Africa", American Jewish
ities of the American dream itself."
first came to the attention of the is famous. Although their women fraternal m o v e-
Step by step, Grusd takes the
Western world in modern times are accorded rights and retain ment.
Its growth has
reader through the eras of Bnai
through the pioneer endeavors of their own name even in marriage,
Brith activities, showing its dif-
Rabbi Paris observes, they tend been gradual. Its
the late French- .
ADOLPH FREUND
ficult paths and its progressive
to be subservient to their hus- life has n o t al-
Jewish savant,'!
years. In the course of • his anal-
bands, feeding the "Lord and ways been
Dr. Jacques Fait-
ment,
Bnai
Brith, like many frater-
Grusd
yses, he reviews historical de-
Master of the House" first with smooth. There
lovich, their pa- ,
nal orders, linked membership with
have
been
many
strifes
and
the
velopments
in
the
world
and
in
the traditional "center bowl," so
tron and champ-
Jewry, thereby linking the move- life insurance. A prominent De-
prevalent among Eastern peoples organization had to overcome
ion on the Jewish
scores
of
obstacles.
But
it
has
risen
ment with the occurrences that troiter, Adolph Freund, in 1884,
and
the
angera
(bread)
dipped
in
scene, were tag-
when he was president of District
to
its
present
significant
role
in
influenced its existence.
spicy
sauces.
meats
mixed
with
ged as Falashas
No. 6, proposed optional endow-
world
Jewry—thanks
to
the
efforts
Thus
we
have
references
to
the
oil, peppers and other vegetables.
or "strangers,"
ment to enable unmarried men
of
noted
leaders
and
a
large
mem-
Civil War period, the two world
In rural areas, where the
by their fellow-
under 30 and married men over 45
bership.
wars, Nazism, the emergence of Is-
Falashas live, the barter system
Ethiopians. T h e
to join Bnai Brith without partici-
The story of Bnai Brith and its rael and Bnai Brith's contributions pating in its life insurance pro-
is still in effect, with those who
Fala shas who
to
Israel's
development.
affiliates
is
told
in
a
new
volume,
have produce and meat, bartering
speak Amharic,
gram. There was a sharp difference
Of special interest is the devel-
it for cloth, utensils and other "Bnai Brith—The Story of a Cove-
nonetheless look Faitlovich
of opinion over this proposal. Even-
like other Ethiopians. They still manufactured and imported items. nant, by Edward E. Grusd, editor opment of new tasks under the tually there were changes in the
sacrifice a lamb for Passover; The standard of living is low; of the organization's movithly mag- leadership of Henry Monsky, who insurance program and its sub-
strictly observe the Sabbath, fol- servants are a symbol of status azine, National Jewish Monthly. It "was the first 'Russian Jew' to s e q u e n t abandonment. Adolph
low certain tenets of the dietary even with the deprived groups; was published by Appleton-Century head the Order." ADL widened the Freund is the only Detroiter men-
laws although they mix meat and the average worker who is un- (60 E. 42nd, NY 17), and it has scope and other efforts grew in tioned in Grusd's history.
dairy foods; mark the biblical skilled, earns as little as the the distinction of a preface by U. S. significance under his guidance.
He was affectionately known
holidays except Hanuka and equivalent of 20 American dollars Senator Robert F. Kennedy and Vocational activities and extended
a foreword by Bnai Brith's inter- youth work were introduced. The here as "Daddy" Freund and was
Purim; and emphasize the rite of monthly.
national president, Dr. William A. 1940s, as the author indicates, the father of the heart specialist,
The Falashas resent sugges-
purification.
marked "a historic decade."
Israel's people have been cool tions by Jewish religious author- Wexler.
Dr. Hugo Freund, who was named
The scope of Bnai Brith work by the late Senator Frank Couzens
The special merit of this work
to the total recognition of the ities that they be symbolically
is its objectivity, the earnest. increased, although for a time—in to supervise the $10.000.000 fund
"converted" in order to be ac-
Falashas as Jews. Rabbi Paris
ness with which the author has 1952 and 1953—there was a drop in he had set up for the study of
pointed out, for reasons that they
cepted into the mainstream of
done the research so vitally membership. But the work multi- child illnesses.
world Jewry. All have a devo-
do not quite conform to Halakha
needed for a history of a move- plied and soon there began a rapid
tion to Israel and dream of
or rabbinic law and never knew
This story of Bnai Brith is well
ment that dates back 122 years, rise in enrollment with the present
"returning" there some day.
the Talmud, which was written
with affiliated chapters in 44 result of a vast membership near- written. It is a splendid compila-
Many of the citified Falashas
after the dispersion of Palestine
ing totally, in chapters, the 500.000 tion of historical details relating to
countries.
Jewry. The Falashas, long isolated have taken quickly to modern
the movement and to American and
There were only 12 members mark.
Jewish life and readily learn to
from other Jews have been less
In the early stages of the move- world Jewries.
when the movement was founded
explicit than rabbinic laws decree speak Hebrew, similar in origin
Oct. 13, 1843. All the founding
to Amhari c, their everyday
on matters of marriage and
THE DIET 'T JEWISH NEWS
members lived on New York's East 40 — Friday, September 30, 1966
divorce, the Israel rabbinate main: language. Their Bible is written
By WILLIAM COHEN
Thorough Analysis of Bnai Brith History
Presented in Edward Grusd's Chronicle