Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-10-31
Lost PEOPLE DISCOVERED.
French Scientist Tells Of Race Who
Lived Apart From Others for
$500 Years.

+ 1000 years.
A man sat in the lobby of the A,i-
6itorium Hotel, Chicago, and talked
with quiet enthusiasm about the
"black Jews" of Abyssinia. Newspa-
per tales of war and bloodshed did not
interest DR.. Jacqes Faitlovitch Of the
School Of Oriental Languages and of
the Asiatic Society of Paris. His
work is uplifting a race and teaching
the way of civilization to its members
who have walked in darkness. For
DR.. Faitlovitch is the rediscoverer of
the Falashas.
about $50 years ago." said the sa-
want, James Bruce, the noted Eng
lish traveller, discovered in Abyssinia
o queer race, whose characteristics
seemed Jewish. a splendid clew was
afforded in his volume of travels. 1t
was never followed up, however, and
until eleven years ago these people re
mained unknown to the world.
'Tn 1904 was member of party
Of archaeologists travelling in Abys-
sinia and had the good fortune to en-
counter these people, known as the
Falashas, and sometimes called the
black Jews
"They were living apart from other
races-a distinct people. They know
they are Jews, descended from tribe
that emigrated when the first temple
was overthrown in the time Of Jere-
miah $500 years ago. and they have
a complete record Of their religious
and historical literature Of times prior
to that.
"They are the nearest approach !
have encountered to the Biblical Jew
and they have all the religious obser-
vapces of the Jews of Bible times.
They should be pioneers in civiliza-
ton in Africa, for they are a stronger
people than the other races; they
practice monogamy and in the midst
of a savage environment they retain
the essentials of the old Jewish civil
ization and culture"
DR.. Faitlovitch explained that his
torians of the Jewish race are not
agreed as to the origin of the Fala-
shas. DR.. Gothard Deutsch, professor
of history in the Hebrew Union Col
lege at Cincinnati, for instance, be-
ieves the race in all probabilitE-is de-
scended from negro slaves and the
concubines of the ancient Jews.
Doubtless there was intermarriage
with the native Abyssinians when
they first settled in that country"
said DR.. Faitlovitch, "but for 700 or
800 years. at least, they have lived
apart from the other people. They
are really Caucasians in suite Of their
dark skin"
Because of the present war, he said,
the Falashas are in distress. Their
exports and imports have been cut off
and charitable Jews of America are
contributing to their support. There
are about 10000 of them, it is said,
quite black of skin," to use DR.. Fait-
lovitch's words, "but with heads Of
distinctly Semitic cast"
1t is the intention Of the French sa-
want to return to Abyssinia, if 1t Is
possible for him to get there, altho the
war in Europe and civil war in
Abyssinia may hinder his progress.
DR.. Faitlovitch's work to date in
cludes the founding Of a school for
the Falashas and the education in
Europe of two of their race, who are
now teaching their own people in
Abyssinia. Until the French scholar
appeared on the scene they had be-
lieved themselves the only Jews in
the world.