Send page to a Friend Background: Who are the Ethiopian Jews? Ethiopia is a geographically varied African state with highly diverse and dramatic climate, flora and fauna. It has population of approximately 60 million people, 80% of whom live in rural mountainous areas. The Ethiopian Jews lived primarily in villages in the north and northwest of the country, far from their Christian neighbors, with separate social and economic institutions and conditions. There are several theories regarding the origin of the Ethiopian Jews. These theories are the most widely accepted: The Ethiopian Jews are the descendants of the lost ancient Israelite tribe of Dan. The Ethiopian Jews are descendants of Menelik, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. In the fifth century (B.C.E)., Beta Israel were forced out of upper Egypt and traveled to Ethiopia. The Ethiopian Jews are originally from Saudi Arabia and Yemen who either went to Ethiopia as part of a conquering army or were brought there as prisoners of war Ethiopian Jews lived according to the laws of the Torah, and kept many traditions directly connected to the written word of the Torah. In their prayers they have always included visions of a peaceful Jerusalem and a hope to arrive there one day. In 1977, 30 families came to Israel. Between 1977 and 1984, 3,000-4,000 Ethiopian Jews came to Israel, primarily from the Tigrae region. "Operation Moses" brought another 8,000, mostly from Gonder. During that Aliyah, approximately 4,000 lost their lives in the desert wastes and refugee camps of Sudan. "Operation Solomon" saw another 15,000 Ethiopian Jews reach Israel, and small groups have continued to congregate in Addis Ababa, and immigrate ever since. Today there are approximately 100,000 Ethiopian Jews in Israel, 20,000 of whom were born there. A subgroup of the Ethiopian Jews, called the Falas Muras (Jews who were forced, or influenced, to convert to Christianity in the recent past) is still in the process of making Aliya to Israel.  Source: IAEJ Click here for a timeline of the Ethiopian Jewry history.