The Falash Mura are descendants of Ethiopian Jews, who converted to Christianity under pressure in the late 19th century. When Israel opened its doors to Ethiopian Jewry in 1984, the Falash Mura returned to their Jewish roots. 

Twenty years on and Israel is pulling the plug on Falash Mura immigration, with an estimated 100,000 Ethiopian Jews having immigrated. On August 28, 2013 the last batch was airlifted to Ben Gurion Airport. 400 Falash Mura left for the Holy Land, only to farewell their brothers, sisters, uncles and teachers — a fraction of the some 7,000 — who have been refused entry into Israel. 

Marye Negusie, 44

She is the last living Jew in her village. Her only friends are among the dead, buried in Gondar’s Jewish cemetery not far from her home.

“Since I am the only Jewish person here I feel bad. I am alone,” she tells us.

“What can I do? Where can I go?”

Embet Wolde, 14

Her dream is twofold. The first part is to live in Israel.  The second is to sprint in the Olympics, under the Israeli flag.

“It is important to dream because it means a person will have purpose.”

Gashaw Awoke, 18,
Gefaneh Ayanaw, 20

Four best friends. Three are going. One must stay back.

“When they leave me here I will be unhappy. These are my friends. I don’t understand why I have to be here when all my family is in Israel.”

Gondar is a city in northern Ethiopia. It is 2,100 meters above sea level and is located near the Simien mountains and Tana Lake. Gondar is home to over 200,000 people of which 84% practice Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity.

Aliyah
Immigration of Jews to Israel. Israel has absorbed nearly 100,000 Ethiopian Jews since the 1980s. 

Beta Israel  (House of Israel)
Jews of northern Ethiopia, who avoided conversion. Granted entry into Israel under the Law of Return. 

Falash Mura
Descendants of Beta Israel, who converted to Christianity in the late 19th century. in 2003, Israel granted  entry to those who were Jews through matrilineal descent and could meet the criteria of the Law of Entry. They are required to undergo conversion upon arrival in Israel