Mourning Customs of Beta Israel and the Connections Between Ethiopian Jewry and the Holocaust Explored at Ono Beit Midrash
The 12th meeting of the Beit Midrash for the Study of Ethiopian Jewish Religious Texts at Ono Academic College, took place on Holocaust Memorial Day and for this reason, the focus was on Beta Israel mourning customs. Another subject discussed was the connection between Beta Israel and the Holocuast. Participant Danny Adeno Abeba first discussed his personal relationship with Holocaust survivor and long-time sports journalist for the Yediot Ahronot newspaper, Noach Klieger. He then presented an article that he wrote in the framework of the Beit Midrash program entitled, “Mourning customs among Beta Israel in the eras of bad qualities.” After the presentation, the other participants gave him constructive feedback. After the break, Rav Sharon presented other perspectives on Beta Israel mourning practices in contrast to the theology of Rabbinic Judasim. Asher Elias presented two incidents when Beta Israel tried to save European Jewry during the Holocaust.
