Intermountain Jewish news., 1926-04-15
THE FALASHA JEWS

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THE FALASHA JEWS
Dr, jacques Faltlcvitch, a Jewish
scientist, while ON an expedition into
Africa some years ago, heard rumors Of
the existence of Il distinct Jewish sect
| in the interior of Abyssinia. He lmme-
/ diatcly set out to penetrate into that
/ little known country, and fortified with
credentials from the ruling powers soon
discovered the truth of the reports that
/ had come to him.
lie found the Falasha Jews, as this
group called themselves. numbering
about 10000, stubbornly clung to Juda-
1 ism rs they knew it. and still preserved
certain rites and rituals OF their faith
About II decade prior 10 his visit they
| had numbered about 10000. but many
Of the weaker had succumbcd to the
blundishmcnts of the missionaries and
to the rigor aud severity of their sur
roundings and had become converts or
been otherwise lost to the Jewish faith
| Those who remained true TO their
traditional religion did so in the face
of extraordinary difficulties. As. al
most entirely. they were tillers Of the
soil or practicel the mechanical trades
in n rude and primitive way they were
barely cking out an existence. Though
| they We're not exposed TO the refined
atrocities of anti-Scmitism. their neigh
bors did not neglect opportunities Of
discrimination.
On account of their shut-in condition
and the nature of their occupations
they had not been in communication
with the outside world until the ar
! rival Of DIR. Faitlcvitch. He immedi-
atcly informed their coreligionists Of
their plight and an organization was
formed in New York, headed by such
men IT'S Dr. Elias Margolis, DR.. Cyrus
| Adler. Dr. Joseph Rauch. DR. Elias l..
Solomon and Rabbi j Max Wcis to as,
sist the Falashas. Under their direc-
tion schoolS have been established
where he FalaShas may become ac-
quainted with the arts of sciences of
present day civilization, and fit them
selves To become leaders among their
coreligioniats.
The fulashas do not have the coarse
| features Of many Of their neighbors.
| Though their compilations are very
swurlhy they are not of the negrod
| type--tbcy do not have the knky hair,
or the thick lips and fiat broad noses,
etc. that distinguish that type. Their
intelligence Is of a high grade, and
they reulily absorb instruction.
When the world first became ne
lnnintcd with them the Fuashas had
tivals and in fact We're uuacduaintcd
| with rahblnical traditions. So there
| is no doubt that their settlement in
/ Abyssinia dates from n very early pc
| riod. The most commonly accepted
| theory Of their origin is that they ac-
companied the Queen Of Shcba when
| She returned from her visit to Palestine
at the time of King solomon There
/ is some speculation as to whether or
not they do not compose II part at least
of the ten lost tribes. and II can be
easily conceived that some part of the
ten tribes might have driftcd into
| AhySSiuin after their exile If they knew
Of strong settlement of Jews there.
\ letter has been sent ont to the
/ various Jewish communities in the
| United States making an appeal for the
raising of funds TO help along this
Of funds for several years though the
amount required under the yearly pro
gram of the Falasha committee is
small. The quota for Denver is not
large, not $500. and which amount
should he raised here without much
| solicitation.
j. H. Boutchcr has been asked to act
as chairman of the Fnlasha Fund. Con-
rihuions can he sent to his office, Col
Foster Building. There will he com
mttccs, but to tighten their work and
to enable your contribution To 60 TO.
ward this cause without fail, please
scud Your contribution if the committee
has not already called on YOU to Col
Foster Building.
Maid Mum, there's revenue Of
iiCcr waiting at the door.