Photo Credit: Michael ZekriThe National Library of Israel (NLI), the Ethiopian Jewry Heritage Center, and the Orit Guardians program at Tel Aviv University, have announced a new digitization project to scan and make available the rare holy books and manuscripts of the Beta Israel community. Until now, most of these items were held by the community’s Kesim (clergy) in private homes, or in Beta Israel synagogues, but were not accessible to the public at large. Scanning is being conducted jointly by NLI and the Ethiopian Jewry Heritage Center. It was donated by the Beta Israel to the Library in 2016. Naftali Avraham, Director General of the Ethiopian Jewry Heritage Center, says that documenting and preserving the Ethiopian Jewish bookshelf is one of the Center’s primary objectives.

Source: Ethiopian News October 10, 2024 13:04 UTC