The Ethiopian Jews are divided into three groups: Beta Israel, Quarans (upper and lower Quara), and the Falash Mura. Basically Beta Israel and the Quarans maintained their Jewishness; the Falash Mura accepted Christ, thus, you can say they became Messianic Jews.

There are two official methods of ‘making aliyah’ (immigrating to Israel): qualifying under ‘The Law of Return’ and qualifying under ‘The Law of Entry’.

To qualify under ‘The Law of Return’ you must be prove that you are a Jew.

Prior to the middle ages, being a Jew was based on paternal genealogy (the father’s bloodline), since than, it’s been changed by man to maternal genealogy (the mother’s bloodline), which has really made a big mess of things.

Thus, you must satisfactorily prove that your mother is a Jew, by birth or conversion; which under normal circumstances can easily be established through birth certificates and other documents. Where no such documents exist, validation must be done differently.

The Falash Muras have been examined by rabbis representing Israel’s Ministry of Interior, passed and were declared Jews. Evidently, this was the wrong answer for many and the Falash Muras were reexamined. In essence, this is what’s been going on for years: Are the Falash Mura Jews or Christians? Meanwhile men, women, and children are dying of starvation, malnutrition, malaria, etc; lots of horror stories.

Seems like the fate of these people rests upon one individual’s shoulders, the Minister of Interior Avraham Poraz.. He seems to have the final say so. Thus, he is the man to convince or better yet, turn over to God!

Two Perspectives: The former Interior Minister took the Halakhic Perspective – born a Jew /die a Jew; once a Jew always a Jew! Therefore if one is a Jew and believes that Jesus is the Messiah, he is still a Jew, just misguided according to this perspective.

The current Interior Minister Avraham Poraz takes the Civil Perspective – being Jewish is a religion. People break rules, but that is to be expected; no one’s perfect. But, leaving the religion is one of the worst sins you can possibly make, because you are no longer a Jew. And once you’re out, you’re out! Zero tolerance! Therefore Jews who accept Jesus as the Messiah are no longer Jews in his eyes!

While Israel seems caught up on this ‘Who’s a Jew?’ issue, which is a ‘Law of Return’ requirement. Ethiopian Israelis are saying, ‘Meanwhile let our family members make aliyah under The Law of Entry’.

The Law of Entry permits 1st degree relatives (spouse & children) of Israeli citizens to make aliyah.

Lura was already a citizen of Israel when we married, and I made aliyah under The Law of Entry even though they know I’m a Christian. Being a Christian is tolerated, but a Jew who becomes a believer in Y'shua is unacceptable!

The priority for evacuation: massive airlifts of the proven Jews (Beta Israel and the Quarans), next the controversial Falash Mura on an individual basis as approved.

Evacuations: 1977-1984 Operation Moses 8,000 Beta Israels
1985 Operation Joshua 800 Beta Israels
May 24, 1991 Operation Solomon 15,000 remaining Beta Israels
1992-1993 Upper Quaras 3,500
1998 Falash Muras 5,000
1990-1998 Lower Quaras 2,500 / Falash Muras 6,500
1999 Lower Quaras 1,400

Remaining:
20,000 Falash Mura

The above figures and statistics may vary slightly.

Many Falash Mura have denied ever being Christians. Some of them converted to Christianity, they admitted, but most of the conversions were only nominal, often comprising no more than forgetting or not practicing some Jewish religious customs or eating "Christian" (non-Kosher) meat.

Many Falash Mura have crosses tattooed on their foreheads and when asked to explain why, they said the crosses were "decorations" and did not indicate they were Christians.

People are beginning to question the liberal Israeli policy of accepting immigration applications from Russians compared to the slow, repetitive, and restrictive processes which apply to Ethiopian applicants. They are calling it bureaucratic obstruction and discrimination by Israeli authorities against Ethiopians.

I came across two recent, relevant and interesting articles in the Jerusalem Post: the first one on 1/9/04 by a professor of political science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. The second one was a letter to the editor on 1/11/04 commenting on the first! From the second letter, the letter to the editor, you see a different mindset! It’s almost a hate letter! It is full of slanderous connotations and fallacies. Falashas is considered a derogatory word and an insult among the Ethiopian Jews, which the writer uses throughout. He also refers to the so called Falashas as being “of pure Ethiopian stock.” Stock? Also, “of Cushitic origin”…another semi provocative description.

He acknowledges that the Ethiopians kept the Jewish holidays, and performed circumcisions but claims that they did it all wrong.

Note! Others must have the same point of view, which explains why Ethiopians arriving to Israel have to be remarried and re-circumcised (just blood drawn) by a certified rabbi, which many Ethiopians find humiliating, degrading and a slap in the face. Some welcome wagon!

The author complains about women performing the circumcisions, but Moses's wife Zipporah performed a circumcision one of their sons. (Ex 4:25)

He then goes on to end his article with “Their courage in wishing to be identified as Jews is admirable." Obviously this guy is in denial and has other issues!

Click here to see 1/9/04 newspaper article! (Jerusalem Post)
Click here to see 1/11/04 newspaper article! (Jerusalem Post)

P.S.
I hope this gives you an overview of this sticky situation! People want to make it seem like it’s about being a Jew or not. Neither article mentioned that the Falash Mura are Jews who believe that Jesus is the Messiah. This is a spiritual war!