30—Friday, July 7, 1972
Falashas: Their Faith Intact Through the Centuries
THE DETROIT JEWISH NEWS
Editor's Note: Mare Niederhauser was
recently Ira ErPoorna and presents an
erra,ttrles ocrowit of the Fatashas. the
Black Jews 'rho rends in the Western
part Of Ethiopia.
JTA Critic Views Portnoy Foibles
spread throughout the country.
This life is dominated by a wide
number of holy books. Some of
these were translated into French
during the 19th Century. Other
translations followed. The last and
most complete translation was pub-
lished in English by Wolf Leslau
in 1951.
This literature, the sources of
which are partly Jewish and partly
Arabic and Christian writings, was
expurgated by the Falashas of its
Christian elements. It also recalls
texts like the Apocalypse of Paul,
and apocryphal books of the Old
Testament. Lost in their high
plateau, Falashas borrowed these
texts that followed incredible routes,
from caravan to caravan across
the deserts.
The Falasha religion is a
primitive Judaism which might
date from a time when the
Mishna and the Talmud had not
yet been compiled. "The com-
mandments of the Sabbath" and
other important pieces of the
Falasha literature were first
partially translated into French
by Joseph Halevy and published
in Geez in 1877.
The most interesting aspect of
these texts is the personification
of the Sabbath. The book gives an
original description of how the Sab-
bath, crowned on that day by the
angels, goes down to Sheol and
delivers the sinners from punish-
ment.
"The Book of the Angels,"
"Baruch" and the "Apocalypse
of Gregorios" describe paradise
and hell, and their origin can be
traced through Arabic and Greek
texts.
The most important parts of
their literature are the 10 prayers
(first published with a Hebrew
translation by Joseph Halevy:
"Prieres des Falashas"). Their
leading themes are often the same
as those in prayers of the western
Jews: return to Jerusalem, re-
establishment of the duties of the
priests of the Temple. praise of
God.
Of course, Falasha villages are
less isolated now. Transistor ra-
dios and torch lamps can be seen
in every rich home in the bush. The
traditional salt caravan now car-
ries another item: batteries—
"stones" in Amharic. Falashas are
becoming more and more famous
all over the world and especially
among the Jewish communities,
testifying to the origin of the
Ethiopian empire and non-inte-
grated because of their faith.
Though they are different from
the other Jews in the world, Fal-
ashas can be compared to many
isolated Jewish communities which
kept their original character, and
their identity has not been altered
through centuries.
disagreement, no matter how
I small and the only thing a shikse
knows to call you is a dirty Jew.
By MARC NIEDERHAUSER
It's too late to ask "How will I What an awful discovery—my par-
JTA Paris Bureau Staff Writer
(Copyright 1972. JTA, Inc.)
they ever make a movie of 'Port- ents Who are always wrong . .
The old skinny horse is trotting
noy's Complaint'?" They've already are right!"
along a mountain track—Falasha
made it
Alex admits his "obsession with
road—one of the two main links
The picture (Warner Bros.. rated fellatio and fornication . . .
between Addis Ababa and Asmara.
is basically true to Philip mance and fantasy and revenge,"
Roth's outrageous. controversial moaning: "How have I come to It takes three days lay bus to drive
191,9 book. relating the adventures he such an enemy and flayer of from the capital to the northern
of Alexander Portnoy, assistant myself? And so alone' Oh, so province of Eritrea, crossing the
commissioner of human opportu- alone! Nothing but self! Locked 13,000-foot high plateau, deeply
cut by precipices and valleys.
nity, his opportunism—and missed
up in me!" And on page 284—
The horse, dragging a carriage
opportunities—with Mary Jane did you get that far'—he cries:
;
with three passengers, has just
(Monkey) Reed and his tsuris with - That's the story of my life . . .
passed
the city gates of a medieval
his parents. Sophie and Jack_ It's
. The freak I am!
A travesty! .
Inver of no one and nothing! town, Gondar, once the capital of
both hilarious and sad, like the
' Hardly emperors. Twelve castles still in-
(Random House) book, though it
Unloved and unloving
the expressions of a sympathetic tact are evidence of its past glory.
lacks the latter's probing depth.
The horse is going northward.
Whether the language is offensive character, which is why his anti-
t tree miles from the city, into a
is a matter of opinion; but as Roth Jewish and other diatribes should
strange
ge land: the Falasha country.
is an honest writer, mixed-up not he attributed to Roth as Roth.
A few centuries ago, the Black
...
Alex's talk must necessarily he And if Portnoy's parents' atti-
Falasha Jews were living all over
raa
!
tudes were excessive. who would the high Semien Mountain. Now,
FOR
Of course. criticism of the book dare say that's not maybe a pus-
however, they seem to have disap-
OCC.ISIOSS
has gone beyond alleged obscen- sibility?
peared. The few thousand still
BIG BANDS OR
ity Many Jewish readers have •
Richard Benjamin, the Jewish left live a little north of Gondar.
been angered by Roth's alleged
SMALL COMBOS
Ten centuries earlier, according
ridiculing of the Jewish Mother, I actor
married
the non-Jewish
actress
Paula to
Prentiss,
is a per- to legend, a rich trader came into
But Roth doesn't ridicule Jewish
feet Portnoy—buoyant• sad, angry, the area. Upon hearing his stories
mothers, Portnoy does; and Roth
romantic, victorious, shamed. Lee depicting King Solccnon's fabulous
ridicules Portnoy. Have such crit- Grant, who isn't Jewish, is devas- palace and land, .Nlakeda, the
ics really read the hook through?
tating as Sophie. Jack Somack of queen of the south, decided to go
Have they skipped the part where the "spicy meatball" commercial and see•these marvels. It was the
Alex muses: "Could I really have scores as constitpated Pa. Karen Queen of Sheba, and of her union
detested this childhood and- re-. Black of "Five Easy Pieces" with the king, that Menelik I was
sented these poor parents of mine limns the Monkey's complexities
born. He became the first em-
Announcing the
to the same degree then as I seem to comic perfection. Note, too, peror of Ethiopia.
to now . ?Is this truth I'm delis'- Lewis Stadlen, who was Groucho
merger of
The Ethiopians are very proud
• ring up or is it just plain kvetch- Marx in "Minnie's Boys," as Ac-
of their Semitic and
Jewish
ing•
. . Regardless. my con- nold Mandel: Jill Clayburgh of
origin. In the 4th Century, the
science wishes to make it known. ..The flothschilds" as Israeli Na-
country was converted to Chris-
before the beefing begins anew. omi, and Jeannie Berlin as Bub-
tianity by the Egyptian Coptic
that at the lime my boyhood was bles Girardi. The technical work Christians, but the original Jew-
nut this thing I feel so estranged is expert. ish or biblical character has not
from and resentful of now" (em-
PHOTOGRAPHY
Writing. , producing and debuting completely disappeared. I saw
phases Roth's)
WEDDINGS
as a director is Ernest Lehman, the Star of David carved in the
Later, Alex states that w hile he
stone vault of a 12th Century
BAR MITZVAS
who originated "North by North-
finds Jews "disgusting," still
church.
Every
official
document
we come to your
- Sabrina,"
west•' and adapted
"when it comes to tawdriness and
in Ethiopia, including stamps and
home with samples
"West Side Story." Who's Afraid
cheapness, to beliefs that would
bank notes, hears the Lion of
of Virginia Woolf?" and "Hello.
shame even a gorilla, you simply
Judah. At Maskal—a festival
For Fast Efficient Service Call
Dolly!" He has elicited sparkling
annot top the goyim." That's not
celebrating the finding of the
performances and created a
in anti-Semite talking as much
398-9111 or 895-8805
true cross, which takes place
jaunty freaky film that, while not
as a general hater. especially of
in September—the priests dance
as in-depth or important as Roth's
himself. Indeed, after a humiliat-
in
the
tradition
of
King
David
hook. makes its point cinemati-
ing experience with a whore, Alex
More of these Jewish elements
exclaims: "It', just as my parents cally.
in the Ethiopian religious and
have warned mil—comes the first
secular life were reportedly per-
The Best Meat at The Best Prices
Jewish Labor Committee
petuated by the Falashas.
Hamburger (3 lbs. or more). 69 lb.
40 lb.
Pullets
Up to the last century. they
Backs Strike Against'
69 lb.
Tongues
Shoulder Steak
$1.39 lb.
were highly persecuted. but now
Side of Beef (Freezer Packed 75 lb.)
. 51.29 lb.
Rib Steaks .
Farah Clothing Company
they live in peace in a few villages
20215 W 7 Mile
Free Delivery
255 - 3777
— The left around Gondar and along Lake
PHILADELPHIA
Orchestra and Entertainment
Jewish Labor Committee joined Tana which gives birth to the hlue
with a black labor group here in Nile.
The Falashas— from the Geez
support • if a strike by the Amalga-
mated Clothing Workers Union I the old sacred language in
against the Farah Manufacturing Ethirma I "Falasha." to emigrate—
Co., one of the world's largest have kept alive through the cen-
'
manufacturers of men's slacks and turies many traditions different
We help you plan your trip,
frccn the Ethiopian ones. This
sportswear.
you help us maintain our
Falasha
village
does
not
differ
issued
by
statement
joint
.%
Nursery and Kdgn. Depts.
from a Christian one. Some of the
Albert Alen% its, chairman of the
huts,
however,
have
a
specific
use:
HA'. and James II. Jones, presi-
the synagogue with a star shaped ,
dent of the Negro Trade Union
vault inside, the "tukul of the
•
Leadership, urged a boycott of
malediction or of blood." and the
Farah products until its employes
"tukul
of
the
woman
in
childhed"
"are treated with dignity and re-
when there is one). They all play
ceive decent wages and working
a big part in the daily life. The
conditions."
l
Farah operates plants in Texas tact two huts are dedicated to
impure" women where they stay
and Ness Mexico employing thou- ,
9 -1 during their menstrual period or
sands of workers, a majority .
Birmingham
after haying given birth. After a
whom are Mexican-Americans. Ac-
the varying number of days, according
Established by the Zionist Organization of America
cording to the joint statement,
employes engaged to the nature of their stay, they
firm has fired
Situated on the ZOA campus near Ashkelon
wash completely and are pure
in lawful union activities; has re-
I fused to comply with a National a g ain-
TUITION: $1,700
10th, 11th, 12th GRADES
The Falashas' traditions differ
Labor Relations Board recommen-
from the Ethiopian. Laws con-
! dation to reinstate 19 workers
U.S.
high
school
curriculum
•
Hebrew
and Judaic
cerning food restrictions--kash-
. gaily dismissed from the El Paso
studies • English-speaking faculty • Extensive
rut—are strictly observed. Un-
plant. and has refused to bargain
tours • Modern dorms, classrobms, labs • Sports
like the Ethiopians, they do not
with the Amalgamated Clothing
eat raw meat or the flesh of
fields, clinic, synagogue and kosher dining hall
for your party
Workers after the union won an
dead animals.
election at one plant unit."
Children do not go to govern-
For detailed information, write:
The statement accused Farah
ment schools. They would be eon-
BY
Department for High School Education in Israel
' of attempting "to break the spirit
sidered impure. Nor can they
Zionist Organization of America
and determination of the union
travel because they must eat
pickets through intimidation."
145 East 32nd Street
Falasha food. Therefore, they stay-
New York, N.Y. 10016
1212] MU 3-9200
It charged further that despite aside, and do not integrate. Fal-
1 orderly picketing, union members ashas who live in Gondar or Addis
NAME
l
have been arrested at their homes Ababa are no more considered as
in the middle of the night and held brothers when they return to their
ADDRESS
on $400 bail whereas bail for simi- homeland.
Their religious life distinguishes
CITY
tar charges unrelated to the union
E ZIP
STATE
en
them from the other communities
• dispute was set at $25.
By GEORGE FRIEDMAN
JTA Staff Writer
(Copyright
1972.
JT.A.
• •
Inc.)
"
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