This book reviews the status of Ethiopian Jews through recent
comprehensive research of the roots of Jewish identity. The author argues that
Jewishness cannot be determined by scientific and sociological methods alone,
but is a function of Halakha (Jewish Law). Consequently, whereas "historical
truth" is uncertain, it is "Halakhic truth" which is definitive
for Jews. These issues revolve around one crucial question: "who is a
Jew?"
The upsurge of Aliyah from Ethiopia peaked with "Operation Moses" in
1984-1985, and "Operation Solomon" in 1991, rescue airlifts that
resonated around the globe. This immigration of 70,000 Jews, including the
current return of the Falas Mura, has intensified debates on questions
concerning the Law of Return.
