Jewish Warriors

Beyond The Sambation -- The Jews of Ethiopia
(the "Bata Yisrael" or "Falashas"*) In the land of Havilah dwell together the four tribes Dan, Naftali, Gad, and Asher. They are surrounded by the seven kings of Ethiopia and are at war with them at all times.

Funny, You don't look Jewish
The Joke with this punchline is usually set in Asia, China or Japan.
However, the material quoted below is the account of a real event -- the first encounter, in 1868, of Joseph Halevy, the emisary from "the Jewish Alliance", with the Jews of Ethiopia. Actually, the first time, in likely two thousand years, that the Ethiopian Jewish Community encountered a Jew from the outside.

On my arrival they saluted me, and surrounded me, though at a considerable distance...
After hesitating for a few minutes, the Falashas* broke silence: "Gueta" (Sir), said they, "doubtless you require a knife (gara) or sword (shotel): you should buy them in a large town, for the instruments we make are of too rough a workmanship to suit a European."
"Oh, my brethren," I replied, "I am not only a European; I am, like you, an Israelite. I come, not to trade in Abyssinia, but to inquire into the state of my co-religionists, in conformity with the desire of a great Jewish Association existing in my country. You must know, my dear brethren, that I also am a Falasha! I worship no other god than the great Adonai, and I acknowledge no other law than the law of Sinai!"
These words, uttered slowly, and in distinct tones, that all might understand them, had a striking effect on the Falasha. Whilst some appeared to be satisfied, others shook their heads doubtfully, and looked at each other as if to inquire how I should be answered.
At last several voices exclaimed,
"What! You a Falasha! A white Falasha! You are laughing at us! Are there any white Falashas?"

When going to war, the tribes have their set times. First, the warriors of Dan go to war for three months. The next three months are for Gad, then Asher, then Naftali. Then the year ends and the rotation begins afresh.
For the duration of their time for war, they remain on horseback for six days of the week. On the eve of the Sabbath they make camp leaving the horses armoured so as to be able to defend themselves if need be.
Their banners are white, upon that, in black are the words of the �Shema� (the Hebrew declaration of faith - �Shema Yisroel, A�I Eloheinu, A�I Ehod� � �Hear, Israel, the Lord is God, the Lord is One�).
Thus Eldad the Danite described the military situation in his homeland, the Jewish kingdom in the midst of Ethiopia, when he visited the Jews of North Africa and Spain in the late ninth century.
The War he spoke of continued virtually uninterrupted from at least the time of the conversion of Ethiopia to Christianity in the fourth century until the Jewish kingdom was finally destroyed by the Ethiopians in the 17th century.
Continue text.

I am hard at work on this page. Please check back later.

* Falasha - The word means "stranger" or "exhile" and is a name used for Ethiopian Jews. Today, this word is considered derogatory but this does not always seem to have been the case. The Ethiopian Jews call themselves Bata Yisrael ("House of Israel").

Main Page	Next Page (The Middle East)

Articles and Illustrations by Norman J. Finkelshteyn.
Web Site designed and implemented by Silk Road Designs.
Contact us at [email protected]
Copyright Norman J. Finkelshteyn 1997 - 2000 -- All articles and illustrations at this web site are Copyright protected material. Use of these articles and illustrations is subject to appropriate restrictions under United States, International, and local Law.

Info�

Hosted by www.Geocities.ws