World traveler Jacques Faïtlovitch was born in Lodz and educated at the Ecole des Hautes Etudes in Paris. His teacher, Jewish scholar Joseph Halévy, inspired his life-long involvement with Ethiopia’s Beta Israel, or Falashas (meaning “outsiders” in Amharic). As an Orthodox Jew, Faïtlovitch sought to save the Beta Israel from Christian proselytism and convert them to Talmudic-rabbinic Judaism. Claiming royal Ethiopian descent, Rabbi Ford — with the help of white Jews — founded his own synagogue, Beth B’Nai Abraham. For all his many accomplishments, Faïtlovitch had one major success: helping reconnect the Beta Israel with world Jewry.

Source: Ethiopian News February 10, 2021 16:07 UTC