Chief Rabbi of Florence

This historically significant lecture given by the Chief Rabbi of Florence, influential religious figure at the time and foremost supporter of Falasha Jews, marks the beginning of Pro-Falasha committees established by Margulies, under the advocacy of Faitlovitch for the Ethiopian Jewish community. In October 1906, Dr. Jacques Faitlovitch, who was committed to Beta Israel (Falasha) research and relief, went to Italy with the intent to gain support for his campaign. Italian Jews embraced the movement on behalf of the Falashas. With the help and leadership of the Chief Rabbi of Florence, Dr. Samuel Margulies, Faitlovitch established in Florence the first Pro-Falasha Committee. Professor Moise Funzi and Advocate R. Ottolenghi were also original committee members. This is one of the earliest lectures since the formation of the committee, and contains excerpts from Psalms, Exodus, Ruth, etc. The Beta Israel or Falasha is a group formerly living in Ethiopia that has a tradition of descent from the lost tribe of Dan. Tradition states that they are descendants of Solomon and the queen of Sheba, and for centuries they have maintained separated, culturally and physically, from their African neighbors. 'Falasha' is Amharic for "Exiles" or "Strangers," a term used by non-Jewish Ethiopians, though the Jews consider it derogatory. For centuries the Falasha Jews have been treated as outsiders, practicing a form of Judaism that appears to predate much of the Old Testament. They also have a long history of practicing such Jewish traditions as kashrut, Sabbath and Passover and for this reason their Jewishness was accepted by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Israeli government in 1975. They emigrated to Israel en masse during the 1980s and 1990s, as Jews, under the Law of Return, though some who claim to be Beta Israel still live in Ethiopia. Their claims were formally accepted by the Chief Rabbinate of Israel, and are accordingly generally regarded as Jews. Other terms by which the community have been known include Kayla and the Hebrew Habashim, associated with the non-Jewish Habesha people.