Day Excursion: Ethiopia in Jerusalem - Unraveling the Tales of the Kingdom of Sheba
Ethiopia, the African country linked to the Tabor Region with the Holy City of Jerusalem since the days of the Queen of Sheba. Many stories and traditions of Ethiopian culture are connected to the city: according to Ethiopian belief, the Ark of the Covenant was given as a gift by King Solomon to his son Menelik I and was placed in the Ethiopian capital, Axum. When Jerusalem was conquered by Salah ad-Din and his army, the city of Lalibela in Ethiopia was established as the New Jerusalem, an imitation of the beloved city by all Ethiopians. In the prayers of the Jewish community of Beta Israel, they ascend every year to one of the highest hills in the city and express their yearning to ascend to Jerusalem and settle there. In the 19th century, an entire street was established for the pilgrims from Jerusalem.
The route is an urban route that includes easy walks throughout the city.
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The memorial for the Ethiopian Jews who perished on their way to the Land of Israel
We will meet at the entrance to Mount Herzl Military Cemetery, and upon our arrival at the site, after paying our respects to the State's dignitaries and the IDF soldiers buried in the compound, we will proceed to emphasize the memorial specifically dedicated to the memory of the Ethiopian Jews who perished on their way to Israel. As part of the journey to the Land of Israel in the 1970s, some 4,000 Ethiopian Beta Israel Jews died of hunger, disease, and marauder attacks, with some even abducted, and their fate remains unknown to this day. During the tour, we will hear the story of the Beta Israel community and life in Ethiopia before the immigration to Israel. We will learn about historical landmarks in the Jewish culture of the Beta Israel villages, hear about local traditions, and more.
Ethiopia Street
We will head to the city center of Jerusalem, get off at the City Hall Square, and take a short walk to the Nevii'm Street, where we enter to Ethiopia Street. Located in the heart of Jerusalem on the axis connecting the ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim to the city center and the Old City, at the end of the 19th century, Ethiopian King Menelik II decided to purchase a street in the burgeoning city center. In the center of the street, in building No. 10 (right across from the residence of the Hebrew language revitalizer Eliezer Ben-Yehuda), stands the grand Ethiopian church, "Beit HaRachamim." Inside the compound of the church, built in a circular shape, we will hear the story of the church consecrated in 1893 and learn about the Ethiopian church and the unique customs associated with the community. We will hear about the special religious holidays in Ethiopian culture: Meskel and Timkat celebrations and get to know the slightly different Christian Orthodox culture.
Deir el-Sultan and the Ethiopian Church
We will walk through the streets of the Christian Quarter, smell the spices in the Jerusalem market, and admire the beauty of the local market, beloved by tourists from all over the world. Just before reaching the famous Tomb of the Kings Church, we will enter the "Prisoners" compound around the church: Deir el-Sultan, according to Ethiopian tradition, where King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba met. We will enter the small compound where 15 Ethiopian monks and the local archbishop serve. Initially, we will have a panoramic view from the roof overlooking the Temple Mount and the roof of the impressive Tomb of the Kings Church. We will hear the stories of the compound's residents and learn about the Ethiopian script and the various traditions associated with Ethiopian culture. After some free time for touring the Old City market, we will board the bus and return to the central area.
