October 2022 Edition

Culture & News

Ethiopian Jews

The land of Ethiopia has diverse religious beliefs that include Christianity, Judaism, Islam, and indigenous spirituality practices. There are references to the Ethiopians in biblical history, such as the highway encounter between Philip the evangelist and an Ethiopian eunuch-treasurer in service to the Candace Queen of Ethiopia. This meeting led to the treasurer’s baptism by Philip (KJV Bible Acts 8:26-40).

The origin of Ethiopian Jews is based on two main points of view 1.) they are the lost Hebrew tribe of Dan or 2.) they are the descendants of King Solomon of ancient Israel and the Queen of Sheba. Most Ethiopians claim this queen as their own and through her son Menelik, believed to be fathered by Solomon, established a legendary dynastic rule. Ethiopian texts refer to her name as “Makeda.” The Bible speaks of her: “And when the queen of Sheba heard of the fame of Solomon concerning the name of the Lord, she came to prove him with hard questions” (KJV Bible 1 Kings 10:1). Admittedly, I favor the second point of view as this queen and the land she ruled was the biblical inspiration for my own name.

Ethiopia is not alone in its claim to the Queen of Sheba. There is some geo-historical rivalry with Yemen who also claim this queen. However, it is quite possible her ancient kingdom included both present day Ethiopia and Yemen. We must remember, the population migrations of these ancient nations involved trade partnerships, conquest, and inter-marriage (especially arranged political marriages between historic nations), in a region of the world composed of various people of color groups. These population migrations occurred among the ancient world, just as it occurs today. For example, France and Germany are on the same continent of Europe, but they are recognized as different nations. The continent of Africa had several different nations in antiquity and currently, has 54 nations on the continent today.

During the 1980s civil war and famine swept through Ethiopia. Many Ethiopian Jews fled to Sudanese refugee camps to escape persecution and hunger. From there they were secretly air-lifted out of Sudan by the first of three Israeli government evacuation programs dedicated to their plight called Operation Moses (1984). They were transported to Israel to begin their new lives. Now, over thirty years later the Ethiopian-Israeli community has made some positive social-political gains, but cries of racism in the Holy Land have also been evident.

Penina Tamanu-Shata is a former journalist, attorney, and the first Ethiopian-Israeli woman to be elected to the Knesset Parliament. At the age of three she was transported to Israel by Operation Moses. She has an impressive resume and is working to combat discrimination and racism in Israel through various political avenues. See the I-24 news video of her posted below.

💖For Additional Reading

PRI The World: Queen of Sheba’s gold found by archaeologists (2012)

https://www.pri.org/stories/2012-02-13/queen-shebas-gold-found-archaeologists

Penina Tamanu-Shata, Knesset Member

https://knesset.gov.il/mk/eng/mk_eng.asp?mk_individual_id_t=905

Washington Post: In Israel, police shooting of an Ethiopian Jew prompts a Black Lives Matter moment in Israel (2019)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/police-shooting-of-an-ethiopian-jew-prompts-a-black-lives-matter-moment-in-israel/2019/07/11/93acbd94-a258-11e9-a767-d7ab84aef3e9_story.html

The Times of Israel: Likud MK calls Ethiopian lawmaker a “token immigrant” (2018)

https://www.timesofisrael.com/firebrand-likud-mk-calls-ethiopian-lawmaker-a-pet-immigrant/

*Notice: The article “Ethiopian Jews” was first published in the September 2019 Edition. To view the full edition click here.

Art/Film/Literature News

Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland

Ty spends a snowy Christmas season day hoping to meet a distinguished gentleman from the North Pole. Will his wish come true? Find out in the book: Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland Written By Kelly Starling Lyons & Illustrated By Nina Mata (32 pages, 2022, kindle edition).

This book has a simple story line, the plot isn’t as complex as “Lab Magic” or “All Aboard,” but still very enjoyable. The illustrations are awesome. Such an adorable series! 

Business/Non-Profit News

French Croissants

When I lived in France the smell of fresh baked goods filled the morning air. Often, I would grab a croissant or baguette from the boulangerie or the nearby Carrefour on my walk to class. Good bread is truly a gift from heaven. If you live in Brooklyn Heights, New York this gift is available at the French bakery: L’Appartement 4F. The husband and wife owners, Gautier & Ashley Coiffard, serve buttery croissants to satisfy that hunger for these French delights. Watch the video of them below. Bon Appétit! 

Book Review

Diary of a Rebellious Black Jewess

The author VKY (for Victoria Kabeya) known for her astute political analysis and social commentary presents a short collection of poems in the book: Diary of a Rebellious Black Jewess who talks back to the Rabbis (57 pages, 2020, paperback). The poems explore topics about land, culture, and what it means to be both Black and Jewish (either as indigenous or as converts).

She takes aim against some groups she feels are hypocritical, such as: Palestinians, Hebrew Israelites, Christians, and other Jews–especially the Rabbis.

The book has good writing and is able to convey a valuable point with smart precision. This is the second book I’ve read by the author (The first book: How The Left Destroyed The Western Negro (108 pages, 2021, paperback). For that book review in the April 2021 Edition click here. I look forward to reading more of her work.

Book Quotes:

“On that day, I lay my edges to be the finest Jewess sister in town” (p. 11).

“Can we stop pretending like Ashkenazi food is the original food of all Jews?” (p. 50).

“A Black man in the Arab world must die in silence for you want to be our saviors” (p. 29).

Video (7)