Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, Founder and Director of Ono’s International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry recently posted an article in the Times of Israel entitled, “Chabad and the Recognition of the Jewishness of Bete Israel”.
The article surveys the halachic history of the discussion about the Jewishness of Bete Israel from the Middle Ages until today. A key ruling was made in 1973 by the Chief Sephardic Rabbi of Israel Ovadiah Yosef asserting that Ethiopian Jews can be considered Jewish and do not need conversion. The Rabbinate as a whole adopted a policy of requiring a symbolic conversion.
Today, Rabbi Shalom notes that the majority of Ethiopian Jews in Israel have have undergone (at least) symbolic conversions, and as such, are recognized as Jewish by both Israel’s Rabbinate and Chabad. However, misunderstandings persist, especially abroad. Rabbi Shalom believes, these misunderstandings are driven by ignorance of halachic rulings, not racism.
He concludes with a quote from a Chabad representative in Kiryat Melachi who says, “In practice, we do not check who has converted through symbolic conversion and who has not. We accept the status of the Ethiopian Jews solely based on their say so.”
Rabbi Shalom asserts that this attitude needs to become the dominant one among all the Jewish people and asks all of us work to foster an attitude of tolerance and love, alongside with a respect for the halachic practice.
The full article can be read at: https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/chabad-and-the-recognition-of-the-jewishness-of-bete-israel/