Beta Israel
Americannoun
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an Ethiopian people who practice a biblical form of Judaism: for many centuries, the Beta Israel lived in isolation from other Jewish communities.
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a member of this people, most of whom now live in Israel.
Sensitive Note
See Falasha.
Etymology
Origin of Beta Israel
First recorded in 2005–10; from Geez beta ʾəsrāʾel “House of Israel,” equivalent to Beta, a bound form of bet “house” + ʾƏsrāʾel “Israel,” from Hebrew Yisrāʾēl; see origin at beth ( def. ), Israel ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Probably founded by artisan traders visiting Aksum in the first century, Beta Israel was isolated from other Jewish communities outside the empire.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
The Judaic group living in Aksum was known as Beta Israel.
From Textbooks ● Apr. 19, 2023
Israel’s minister for immigration and integration, Pnina Tamano Shata, herself a member of Beta Israel, has championed the cause of those left behind on behalf of her primary constituency.
From New York Times ● Nov. 12, 2021
But it is considered part of the Bible by religious groups like Roman Catholics, Orthodox Christians, Beta Israel and the Assyrian Church of the East.
From Salon ● Aug. 1, 2020
Beejhy Barhany, the chef, was born in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, into a community of Beta Israel, as Ethiopian Jews are known.
From New York Times ● Sep. 1, 2016
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
