Ono Project to Reduce Tensions in the Ethiopian Israeli Community Learns about Traditional Beta Israel Methods of Conflict Resolution
At the second meeting of the UJA Sponsored Program “The Returning Home to Israel Project According to the Tradition of Beta Israel” to identify and reduce tensions within the Ethiopian-Israeli Community, one of the four program managers, Adv. Zeev Kaso, lectured on the topic of “Traditional Beta Israel Methods of Conflict Resolution” which were used for 2,000 to adjudicate disputes in Ethiopia and now in Israel. These structures include Ethiopian Jewish community courts (tribunals), Shmagla (singular)/ Shmagloch (plural) who would take on the communal social roles relating to religion, marriage, etc., in places where there was no clergy and State (Christian) Ethiopian courts. Kaso drew comparisons and contrasts between these traditional approaches to resolving conflicts and the methods available to the participants, when they will attempt to resolve contemporary conflicts, in their communities.
The second lecture was given by Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, who discussed, “The Importance of Bridging Intra-Communal Differences in Order to Share Ethiopian Jewish Wisdom with the Wider Israeli and Jewish Worlds.”
Following this lecture an extremely lively discussion erupted around the subject of conflicts between the leadership of traditional Beta Israel Keisim and ultra-Orthodox Ethiopian Jews. As in the last meeting, the conversation was conducted with respect while each participants succeeded in conveying his/her opinion.
