Researchers have uncovered two 15th-century Orit books (the Torah of the Beta Israel of Ethiopian Jewry), the oldest found to date, belonging to the Beta Israel community of Ethiopian Jewry.
These sacred texts, written in Ge'ez, a language known only to the Kessim (Ethiopian Jewish priests), hold significant cultural and historical importance.
The discovery was made during a traveling workshop held in collaboration with the Ethiopian Jewry Heritage Center and the National Library of Israel. The workshop brought together experts in ancient Ethiopian sacred texts, who used paleography to date the books.
The findings revealed that two of the Orit books were written as early as the 15th century, making them the oldest discovered so far in the hands of Beta Israel.
The discovery of these ancient manuscripts is considered a rare and significant find. According to Prof. Dalit Rom-Shiloni, initiator of the Orit Guardians program, "Our discovery is causing a stir among experts in the field worldwide. While we are familiar with similar Ethiopian texts from this period or even earlier, all of those are Christian texts, not Jewish."
Preserving Biblical heritage of Ethiopian Jewry
The Orit Guardians program aims to study, preserve, and carry on the Biblical heritage of Ethiopian Jewry. The program has documented four Orit books, including the two from the 15th century, as well as 13 other sacred books from the 17th to 20th centuries. These books are considered "living books" and are still used in the prayer houses of Ethiopian Jewish communities across Israel.
The discovery of these ancient manuscripts highlights the importance of preserving cultural heritage. Prof. Youval Rotman, Academic Director of the Koret Center, notes that the program's emphasis on studying the textual knowledge and interpretive tradition preserved within the Beta Israel communities is crucial in uncovering hidden treasures.
The Orit Guardians program will continue to search for and document sacred books of Ethiopian Jewry, with the goal of making them accessible to the public and researchers. The program also aims to document the scholarly oral traditions of the Kessim in Ethiopia, which are at risk of being lost due to the aging of the Kessim.
The discovery of these 15th-century holy books provides a rare opportunity for researchers to study and learn from these ancient texts.
As Prof. Rom-Shiloni notes, "We believe our discovery is only the tip of the iceberg. It is likely that many more sacred books of Beta Israel are held by families and Kessim around the country, and we will continue searching for them."