Beta Israel's Culture

The Beta Israel were farmers and craftspeople. They lived in villages in tukels, huts which had no electricity or modern conveniences. It was a patriarchal society – women traditionally deferred to men. Children acted with reserve and quiet respect towards parents. In general, respect for elders was very important, and elders and kessim mediated family, community, and inter-community disputes. There was little formal education, so many children and adults did not know how to read or write in their native language.