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The Falasha: Ethiopia's Ancient Jewish Community
Description
Long before the modern state of Israel, a community of Jews lived in the highlands of Ethiopia, known as the Beta Israel or Falasha. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the origins of this ancient Jewish community, tracing their traditions back to the Queen of Sheba or perhaps to Jewish refugees from the destruction of the First Temple. They discuss the Beta Israel's unique religious practices, their conflicts with Ethiopian Christian emperors like Zara Yaqob and Susenyos, and the tragic forced conversion campaigns of the 15th–17th centuries. The conversation also covers the community's survival through the Gondarine period, their gradual integration into mainstream Ethiopian society, and the dramatic airlifts to Israel in the 1980s and 1990s—Operations Moses and Solomon. Along the way, Lucas and Luna touch on the Kebra Nagast, the Ge'ez liturgy, and the tension between legend and historical evidence. A nuanced look at a little-known chapter of Jewish and African history.