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Ono Beit Midrash Explores Ethiopian Jewry’s Approach to Eating Milk with Meat

The most recent meeting of the Beit Midrash for the Study of Ethiopian Jewish Religious Texts at Ono Academic College hosted Rabbi Reuven Yaso, the senior researcher of the Beit Midrash, who gave a presentation on the topic of “Prohibitions on Eating Fat, Drinking Milk and Eating a Kid in its Mother’s Milk.

Yaso, a Bete Israel rabbi, faced controversy for his halachic rulings on milk and meat, which align with traditional Keisim practices, leading to conflicts with the Israeli Rabbinate. He discussed the biblical prohibitions on consuming “helev” (fat near intestines) and eating a kid in its mother’s milk, emphasizing differences between Ashkenazi, Sephardi, and Beta Israel interpretations. Beta Israel practice Nikur (removing prohibited fat) on the entire animal and limit the milk-meat prohibition to nursing animals under one year old, allowing meat and milk consumption in other cases.

Yaso highlighted the Geez Bible’s unique translations, which differ from Hebrew and were altered by European scholars to align with the Septuagint, diminishing Beta Israel traditions. He addressed historical persecution in Ethiopia, where Amhara rulers destroyed Beta Israel texts, and stressed the importance of Geez for understanding their heritage.

The session concluded with a participant discussion on article topics, ranging from family purity to Beta Israel mysticism, with Yaso encouraging Geez study to preserve their tradition.