Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1903-04-18
THE ABYSSINIAN JEWS.
What Prof.. HaIevi Has Learned About
Them.

What Prof.. HaIevi Has Learned About
Them.
An interview with Prof. Joseph Hal
evi, recently appeared in the Hebrew
Daily Hazopheh, in which detailed
account of the Abyssinian Jews was
given. The condition Of the Jews IN
Abyssinia, said Prof. Halevi, Is not as
bad as that Of the neighboring tribes.
They are superior in intelligence and
morality. Some time. ago they were
prosecuted by their Christian neigh
bors, but all that Is past. Their ma
terial condition is also better, for the
Abyssinian Jews are skilful Workmen'
They have among them tanners, car
penters, blacksmiths, farmers, etc.
There is not one merchant among
them. Prof. Halevi said to his inter-
viewer, Mr.. A. D. Schapiro, that these
Jews settled in Abyssinia during the
Alexandrian period. Many OF them
migrated to the south, whence they
were taken captive by the Ethiopians,
who compelled them to marry Negro
wives, hence the complexion OF the
Abyssinian Jews, which Is a dark
brown.
At present they are unaware OF the
existence Of Jews in other parts OF the
world, for they live In isolated settle
ments. When they saw Prof. Halevi,
they gathered about him in wonder, as
IL they were seeing white man Tor
the first time. 1t took some hours OF
conversation to convince them that he
was of their faith. When he told them
of the existence Of Jews elsewhere,
they asked him to extend their greet
ings of peace" to these brethren.
Prof. Halevi discovered that they es-
TEEN the Scriptures highly, for they
have them in an Ethiopic transla-
ton. They have no Hebrew writer's
and though their names are Biblical
they pronounce Hebrew words with
difficulty. They possess many Mid
rashic traditions and prayers whose
origin may be found in the apochry-
phal works, which they considered OF
great value. They observe every COM
mandment found in the Torah. They
arise at midnight to pray, and await
the coming af the Massiah. They also
hope for the time when peace, faith ana
brotherly love will obtain In the world.
They hold their priests in high rever-
ence and pay their tithes punctually.
These priests are the teachers OF the
children. In every village there Is
synagogue modelled on the ancient
Jewish sanctuary, and only the hlgh
priest is allowed to enter the Holy OF
Holes on the day Of atonement. The
other priests take certain stations In
other parts of the synagogue at such
times. The congregation stands in the
court yard, the sexes separated. An
altar made Of unhewn wood occupies
a corner of the yard, upon which sac
rifices are offered. Their family life
Is pure, and might be held up as
model to European peoples. They are
very scrupulous in regard to cleanll-
ness. Their women enjoy every free
dom, and even assist them in their Ia
bors. The children are used to tend
the sheep and the girls to draw water
and attend to domestic work. They
hate the slavery which exists among
the other tribes in their vicinity, and
are proud of their ancestry. In con-
clusion, Prof. Halevi suggested that it
might be advisable to send some schol-
ar to Abyssinia who would teach these
brethren the Hebrew language, which
thew reverence Hebrew.