# Jewish Dopers: what are your opinions of the Ethiopian Jews? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 6, 2009, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759 "2009-10-06T01:40:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/61 "2014-01-24T18:37:32Z")
> [@coryoliver](#): > > my apologies. Please explain what you meant by my only wanting “white sources” and giving me sources I’d be “comfortable” with. This is the third time I’ve asked for clarification, and I really would like to you what, specifically and in your own words, you meant. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/62 "2014-01-24T18:42:32Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > . For example, no Jew I know of considers Sammy Davis Jr. to somehow “not be Jewish” just because he was Black. We were damn proud to have the Candyman. Whenever he would appear on television my grandmother would yell “Ya know, he’s Jewish?” > [@](#): > > The reason why such “Black Hebrews” are often rejected as “Jews” by other Jews (including other Jews who happen to be Black) has nothing to do with race, and everything to do with religion. Put simply, they are, in many cases, viewed as variants on Christianity, or as expressions of Black nationalism - not as Judaism. > . This is my problem with the Black Hebrews I see here in Philly. They believe- Jesus was conceived of a virgin by the Holy Spirit That he taught and worked miracles That he suffered and died under Pontius Pilate That he arose from the dead three days later And That he ascended to heaven. It is my considered opinion that believing that makes them Christians, not Jews. ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/63 "2014-01-24T19:08:55Z")
Ethiopian Jews are just fine. It’s those _Icelandic_ Jews you’ve got to watch out for. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/64 "2014-01-24T19:13:07Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > Ethiopian Jews are just fine. > > It’s those _Icelandic_ Jews you’ve got to watch out for. Who then can tell us if Hákarl is kosher or not? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/65 "2014-01-24T19:23:18Z")
> [@Malthus](#): > > Who then can tell us if Hákarl is kosher or not? To be kosher, a fish must have fins and scales. Thus pike, whitefish, salmon, cod and tuna are kosher. Eel and catfish are not. A quick googling of Hakarl turns up that it is made from shark. Sharks have no scales (at least not for the purposes of Jewish law) and are not kosher. ---
**Author:** ![coryoliver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@coryoliver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coryoliver)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/66 "2014-01-24T19:46:42Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Please explain what you meant by my only wanting “white sources” and giving me sources I’d be “comfortable” with. > > This is the third time I’ve asked for clarification, and I really would like to you what, specifically and in your own words, you meant. I meant that in many debates I’ve been apart of, especially those where race was involved, when asked to provide a source, if that source happened to be Black then it was usually disregarded as some “afro-centrist revisionist.” This has been my experience with those who say they’re academics. Apparently, in their eyes, being Black automatically disqualifies one from being able to do good research. So, assuming you were White, I gave you a White source. That’s what I meant by giving you a source you’d feel “comfortable” with. Now if I was wrong I apologize. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/67 "2014-01-24T19:49:52Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > To be kosher, a fish must have fins and scales. Thus pike, whitefish, salmon, cod and tuna are kosher. Eel and catfish are not. A quick googling of Hakarl turns up that it is made from shark. Sharks have no scales (at least not for the purposes of Jewish law) and are not kosher. The question was not meant wholly seriously … 😉 More that the stuff is infamously the single most disgusting food actually eaten by anyone - only an Icelander would enjoy it, or even be able to eat it without risk of gagging (hence, no-one but an Icelander could possibly care whether it was kosher or not). ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/68 "2014-01-24T19:51:27Z")
> [@coryoliver](#): > > I meant that in many debates I’ve been apart of, especially those where race was involved, when asked to provide a source, if that source happened to be Black then it was usually disregarded as some “afro-centrist revisionist.” This has been my experience with those who say they’re academics. Apparently, in their eyes, being Black automatically disqualifies one from being able to do good research. Are you sure that’s because they’re black, and not because they’re kooks with an agenda? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/69 "2014-01-24T19:54:07Z")
> [@coryoliver](#): > > I meant that in many debates I’ve been apart of, especially those where race was involved, when asked to provide a source, if that source happened to be Black then it was usually disregarded as some “afro-centrist revisionist.” This has been my experience with those who say they’re academics. Apparently, in their eyes, being Black automatically disqualifies one from being able to do good research. > > So, assuming you were White, I gave you a White source. That’s what I meant by giving you a source you’d feel “comfortable” with. > > Now if I was wrong I apologize. You do not need to apologize to for assuming I’m white (or any other color). I couldn’t care less what color you thought I was. You need to apologize for the unbelievable assumption, based on nothing but my username, that I was disgustingly racist and I’d want only “white sources” and only feel “comfortable” with them. I have no idea what so-called academics you think you have interacted with, but to impugn the character of academics as a whole, to the degree you have, is a terrible stance to take. So far you’ve been the one questioning the validity of certain groups of Jews, asking us to take your word just because you say so and refusing to provide cites, and assuming I was incapable of non-racist discussion and somehow you think you have the moral high ground? If anybody’s character is in question, I don’t think it’s mine. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/70 "2014-01-24T20:20:51Z")
> [@coryoliver](#): > > . . . > Apparently, in their eyes, being Black automatically disqualifies one from being able to do good research. > . . . > > So, assuming you were White, I gave you a White source. Why do you capitalize white and black in that way? ---
**Author:** ![coryoliver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@coryoliver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coryoliver)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/71 "2014-01-24T20:50:27Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > Are you sure that’s because they’re black, and not because they’re kooks with an agenda? What agenda would that be? From what I’ve seen the agenda would be those euro-centric revisionist kooks who have always tried to put europe at the center of everything. ---
**Author:** ![coryoliver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@coryoliver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coryoliver)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/72 "2014-01-24T20:52:15Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > Why do you capitalize white and black in that way? Typically I don’t. I always capitalize “Black”, and use the lower case when describing all others. ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/73 "2014-01-24T21:14:15Z")
**CoryOliver** What books and scholars would you recommend to counter the euro-revisionists? ---
**Author:** ![coryoliver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@coryoliver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/coryoliver)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/74 "2014-01-24T21:27:25Z")
> [@DocCathode](#): > > **CoryOliver** What books and scholars would you recommend to counter the euro-revisionists? on what subject? ---
**Author:** ![DocCathode](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doccathode/32/18773_2.png) [@DocCathode](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DocCathode)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/75 "2014-01-24T21:30:32Z")
Hmm. Well, you’ve already mentioned (correct me if I’m wrong. I certainly don’t want to put words in your mouth) that Judaism started in Africa. What sources can you point me to on that? ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/76 "2014-01-24T21:37:24Z")
> [@coryoliver](#): > > Typically I don’t. I always capitalize “Black”, and use the lower case when describing all others. Why? You’re new here (Welcome to the Dope, by the way!), and so far you’ve expressed some less-than-usual ideas. I hope you don’t mind being challenged! ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/77 "2014-01-24T21:40:46Z")
> [@coryoliver](#): > > What agenda would that be? A misguided attempt to correct the European bias in western history by inventing counter-historical narratives. > [@](#): > > From what I’ve seen the agenda would be those euro-centric revisionist kooks who have always tried to put europe at the center of everything. How is the idea that Judaism originated in Asia Euro-Centric? ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 9:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/78 "2014-01-24T21:49:00Z")
Anyway, Israel is _close_ to Africa. Damn close! 😉 This reminds me of a funny converstaion I had at a party about Cleopatra. One fellow was going on about how Cleopatra was really Black, and those damn Euro-centrists were covering that up. Another party-goer (who was Black herself) pointed out that no-one who knew the history would _want_ to “claim” a Ptolemy for their race, as the lot of them were inbred psycopaths, much given to marrying - and murdering - their immediate relatives. Never mind that they were inbred _Macedonian_ psycopaths! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/79 "2014-01-24T21:51:03Z")
Well, strictly speaking, Judaism would have originated in Ur, which is a hop and a skip further into Asia. ---
**Author:** ![Malthus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Malthus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malthus)\ **Post date:** [January 24, 2014, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759/80 "2014-01-24T21:53:58Z")
> [@Nava](#): > > Well, strictly speaking, Judaism would have originated in Ur, which is a hop and a skip further into Asia. … Assuming that the Biblical origin-story is literally true, of course. The first actual evidence outside of the Bible for Judaism is found where Israel is now, as far as I know. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jewish-dopers-what-are-your-opinions-of-the-ethiopian-jews/512759.md?page=5)