Ono Beit Midrash Investigates the Halachic Aspects of Ethiopian Jewish Bread, “Injera”
The 8th meeting of the Beit Midrash for the Study of Ethiopian Jewish Religious Texts at Ono Academic College, took place via zoom. The lecture on the subject of the rituals and laws surrounding Injera, the typical Ethiopian bread made from the Teff grain, was given by Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, founder and director of Ono Academic College’s International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry. In the introductory period, the participants shared their favorite injera jokes. They discussed issues regarding Beta Israel identity that arose from their reading of Rabbi Sharon’s book, “The Living Geniza.” The group’s coordinator asked if Rabbi Sharon could provide an overview into which each individual Beit Midrash discussion session sits. Rabbi Sharon responded to some of the introductory comments noting that both the Jerusalem and Babylonian Talmud write that the Jewish People will be exiled to Africa. Turning to Teff and Injera, Rabbi Sharon screened a short film shown on Israeli TV. He noted that many halachic questions arise surrounding Teff and Injera and then presented the main focus of his research—investigating the religious regulations surrounding these foods as a test case for custom formation in Ethiopian and Rabbinic Jewish tradition. In conclusion, he believes Teff should be considered a grain, and before eating Injera bread made from it should, we should recite the Hamotzi blessing, and afterwards, recite Grace after Meals. The discussion which followed touched on very deep issues regarding Beta Israel identity.
