By Howard Flower, ICEJ Aliyah Director

In a remarkable turn of events, a new chapter in the story of Ethiopian Aliyah is unfolding even amid the current war in Israel. While much attention has been focused on the Falash Mura (Ethiopian Jews whose ancestors converted to Christianity), a group from the Beta Israel community within Ethiopian Jewry have been discovered still living in Ethiopia’s northern regions. These ancient Jewish communities kept their identity and traditions despite centuries of isolation, and were thought to have fully immigrated to Israel during the major operations of the 1980s and 1990s. But this newly discovered remnant is now starting to return to Israel in a surprising new wave of Aliyah.

The International Christian Embassy Jerusalem sponsored 26 of these Ethiopian Jewish immigrants who arrived in February, while another 40 more will be coming soon on flights funded by the ICEJ. The ICEJ-Taiwan branch has been particularly generous in sponsoring these Aliyah flights, which are carrying home Ethiopian Jews evacuated out of areas caught up in tribal conflicts.

They all have waited many years to make Aliyah, and were welcomed at an Aliyah center in Be’er Sheva, close to where their families live already in Israel.

This unexpected wave of Aliyah represents the fulfillment of ancient prophecies and dreams for a community that has endured immense hardship. Unlike the Falash Mura, whose Aliyah is currently on hold due to the ongoing war in Israel, the Beta Israel qualify for immediate immigration under the Law of Return, which grants automatic citizenship to fully recognized Jews worldwide moving to Israel.

The Beta Israel: Ancient Roots, Modern Return
The Beta Israel trace their lineage to what many historians believe was a Jewish kingdom that once flourished in northern Ethiopia, particularly in the Tigray region. Historical accounts, including the Ethiopian religious text Kebra Nagast, suggest that the Jewish presence in Ethiopia may date back to connections between the Queen of Sheba and King Solomon. More concrete evidence points to Jewish communities that established themselves around Lake Tana, possibly connected to ancient Jewish settlements on Elephantine Island in Egypt, dating back from the sixth to fourth centuries BCE.

For centuries, the Beta Israel maintained their Jewish identity and their own unique traditions in isolation from the broader Jewish world. The dramatic airlifts of Operation Moses in 1984-1985 and Operation Solomon in 1991 brought the majority of Ethiopian Jews to Israel. But as we now know, not all of them have made the journey yet.

Recent outbreaks of violence in Ethiopia’s northern regions have accelerated this new wave of immigration. The fighting that engulfed Gondar in August 2023 placed many Jewish families in immediate danger, with blocked streets and shortages of food, water, and electricity. The situation in Tigray also has been especially volatile, with armed conflict between national forces and regional militias creating dangerous conditions for all civilians, including the remaining Jews.

The Role of the ICEJ in Facilitating Aliyah
The Christian Embassy is playing a vital role in facilitating this new wave of Ethiopian Aliyah. When approached by the Jewish Agency For Israel, the ICEJ acted quickly, providing funds for their flights, the long bus rides from Gondar to Addis Ababa, and their adjustment to life once in Israel. The children will also receive support for after-school educational programs, while the focus for adults is on professional training, completing secondary schooling, and pre-academic courses to prepare them for further educational opportunities in Israel.

This continues the ICEJ’s long-standing commitment to Ethiopian Aliyah. Since the historic resumption of Ethiopian immigration in 2015, the ICEJ has sponsored flights for 3,286 out of 7,948 Ethiopian Jewish immigrants who have made their way to Israel.

The Falash Mura: A Humanitarian Effort on Hold
While the Aliyah of the Beta Israel continues under the Law of Return, the immigration of the Falash Mura has been put on hold due to the ongoing war in Israel. The Falash Mura are a subgroup within the Beta Israel community whose Jewish identity has been a subject of debate, since some converted to Christianity under duress during the 19th and 20th centuries. But they have sought to return to Judaism and immigrate to Israel, and several thousand have been brought to Israel since 2015, often on humanitarian grounds to reunite families. However, with the outbreak of war in Israel, the Aliyah of the Falash Mura has been suspended, leaving many families separated and in limbo.

Challenges and Triumphs in Integration
The integration of both the Beta Israel and the Falash Mura into Israeli society also has been a complex and often difficult process. Upon arriving in Israel, many faced significant cultural, social, and economic challenges. The transition from rural Ethiopia to a modern, industrialized society was a profound adjustment, and many have struggled with issues such as language barriers, discrimination, and poverty.

Despite these challenges, the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel has shown remarkable resilience and determination. Second and third-generation Ethiopian Israelis are increasingly visible in academia, business, and the arts, creating a more diverse and inclusive Israeli society. Ethiopian immigrants have made substantial contributions to Israeli society across numerous fields, including in military service.

A Historic Return
The modern-day return of Ethiopian Jewry to Israel is an amazing success story that pays tribute to their resilience, faith and determination. As we witness this historic ingathering, the ICEJ remains committed to facilitating the Aliyah of the remaining Beta Israel community and, when the time is right, the last of the Falash Mura. We invite you to partner with us in fulfilling this prophetic mandate. Your support will help ensure that the Ethiopian Jewish return is completed, fulfilling the dreams of a people who have waited so long to come home.

Donate today at:  help.icej.org/aliyah

Main photo: ICEJ-sponsored Beta Israel Ethiopian Jews arriving at Ben Gurion Airport in February 2025. (Credit: JAFI)