Themes of Unity and Division in Beta Israel Identity Formation

Themes of Unity and Division in Beta Israel Identity Formation
"Division from Ethiopian Christian" "United with Ethiopian Christians"
"Division from Western Judaism and Israel" "Unity with Western Judaism and Israel"
Through determining the extent to which they located themselves
within each sector defined on this matrix, the Beta Israel forged a sense
of unity and a clear communal identity. Ultimately, the very act of group
self-definition contributed to a sense of unity; in other words, as Beta Israel
were forced to interact with the pressures outlined in the matrix above,
they drew together and forged a continually greater sense of community
over the centuries. Consequently, an examination of the particular ways in
which these pressures acted upon the Beta Israel—and the unique ways in
which the Beta Israel responded—will form the basis for an understanding
of the nature and source of the Beta Israel’s distinction as a group, a
distinctiveness which remains independent and identifiable even today.
Division from Ethiopian Christians
In some ways, the Beta Israel defined their identity by rendering
the surrounding Christian community as a definitive “other.” 3 Indeed, one
of the prevailing theories about Beta Israel’s origins maintains that when
Aksumite King Ezana declared Christianity the official religion of Aksum,
many people resisted his decree by converting to Judaism. 4 Over time, those
who disagreed with either the religious tenets of Ethiopian Orthodoxy or
the politics of the state converted to Judaism and joined the evolving group
of Beta Israel. 5 This hypothesis implies that the foundation of Beta Israel
identity relies almost exclusively on a shared disagreement with the stances
of the Ethiopian Christian dominant discourse.
In comparison, the Kemant, a group whose religious practices
were nearly identical to those of the Beta Israel, practiced a general
policy of acquiescence to their Christian rulers, gradually becoming
integrated into the Ethiopian Orthodox population; now, unlike
the Beta Israel, they are no longer a separately identifiable group. 6
By resisting Christian conventions both religiously and politically,
the congregation which later became the Beta Israel distinguished
themselves as an entity separate from their Christian neighbors who
composed the majority of Ethiopian society.
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