Ethiopia/Israel Ties Go Back Millennia

By Paul Lungen

20 July, 2006

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Among the wood carvings, lapis bead jewelry, colourful scarves and coffee-serving utensils you can purchase in a typical Ethiopian souvenir shop, you’re likely to find some sort of visual depiction of King Solomon greeting the Queen of Sheba.

Ethiopians are intensely conscious of their ancient history and proud of their connection to the Holy Land. Its longtime leader, Emperor Hailie Selassie, was long known as the Lion of Judah.

As Ethiopia lore has it, the Queen of Sheba visited King Solomon and later gave birth to a son, Menelik. Menelik and his mother are believed to have returned to Ethiopia with 12,000 Israelites, bringing with them many typical Jewish practices.

Boys are circumcised on the eighth day, only kosher animals are consumed and many Ethiopians adopt Old Testament names such as Solomon, Leah, David and Rachel. A typical Ethiopian invocation is, ‘May the God of Israel bless you,” said Rick Hodes, a doctor with the Joint Distribution Committee who first came to Ethiopia in 1985.

Stars of David can be found as a decorative motif in Ethiopia, and they are common in pictorial depictions of the meeting of Solomon and Sheba. Raiders of the lost Ark might be interested to learn that Ethiopians believe the Ark of the Covenant resides in a church in Axum, in the north of the country, not far from the Jewish heartland of Gonder.

Israeli Ambassador Ya’acob Amitai notes that Ethiopians cite the unique bond between Israel and Ethiopia, and many believe they are chosen people.

As for the current state of relations between Israel and Ethiopia, Amitai said: “In the last few years, bilateral relations have improved.” Several high-ranking officials have visited each other’s countries and trade had increased, although the overall number of $60 million (US) is modest.

Both Israel and Ethiopia believe there is a special bond between the two countries and “special links between the two peoples,” Amitai said.

“These are not empty diplomatic phrases,” he emphasized.

In the past, the emigration of Ethiopian Jews was problematic, but today’s government in Addis is not blocking Falash Mora from leaving. However, “this issue is perceived by them, to put it mildly, as not in a positive context,” the ambassador stated.

It is not seen as reflecting positively on Ethiopian life, and the government is also concerned about the émigrés moving to Arab territories, he added.

On a positive note, the government in Addis sees the Ethiopian Diaspora in the United States and Israel as assets, serving also as a potential source of investment and for improving cultural ties.

The government of Ethiopia has pushed the idea that those Falash Mora who have sold their land and given up their property to move to compounds in Gonder and Addis in the hope of one day moving to Israel should be compensated if they do not move to Israel. “We did not reject the idea of compensation,” Amitai said. “We spoke in terms of a one time, final compensation...”

“Negotiations are open, but they could last long,” he added.