The Felash Mura
The Felash Mura are Ethiopians who converted to Christianity within the past century and are now reclaiming their Jewish ancestry and attempting to immigrate to Israel. There continues to be much debate within the Jewish community about the Felash Mura.
The best estimates are that there are at least 13,000 Felash Mura living in Ethiopia — 8,000 in Addis Ababa and 5,000 in Gondar, with many more still living in their villages. In 1997, after the last wave of immigration that emptied out the refugee camps in Addis Ababa, the Israeli government, NACOEJ and the JDC had been telling the Felash Mura to stay in their villages, and that they would process applications to immigrate to Israel from there. However, under the encouragement of Avraham Nigusi and the South Wing to Zion (an Israeli advocacy group for the Felash Mura) many decided to leave and take their chances in the cities, believing that this would put additional pressure on the Israeli government to act.
Those in Addis Ababa are now living as displaced persons — as "urban dwellers" — under the most miserable conditions imaginable. Most of them are practicing what appears to be a Western-style "Orthodox Judaism," laying teffilin each morning and observing Shabbat, and most are willing to undergo conversion. Some of them also have first-degree relatives living in Israel.
The JDC has opened two medical clinics in Addis Ababa and Gondar, on a humanitarian basis, to screen the population regarding their medical condition and to inoculate children.
At the present time, NACOEJ and the JDC are continuing to work together to ensure that the Ethiopian Jews are being absorbed in Israel. However, they have decided not to cooperate in regards to the Felash Mura living in Ethiopia, due to their policy differences.
In March 1999, The RAC sent out a packet to Rabbis that explained the issue and told congregations what organizations could use their financial support.
The Israeli government claims that these people are not Jewish, had been living in their villages as Christians, and have no right to make aliyah under the Law of return. They have also stated their concern that if they allow this group to emigrate, even under the Law of Entry, there will be another 15,000 people making a similar claim the next week, as the standard of living in Israel is far higher than that in Ethiopia. Further complicating matters is that the Ethiopian community in Israel is divided on whether or not the Felash Mura should be brought over. In addition, the Israeli government does not want to see American Jewish aid supporting the community there, as it believes it will give the Felash Mura the false impression that they will be able to emigrate.
