In We Are Black Jews: Ethiopian Jewry and the Journey to Equality in Israel, Roni Fantanesh Malkai tells the story of the Ethiopian Jewish community: its long journey, its resilience, and its ongoing struggle for equality in Israel.
Weaving her own experiences together with the history of her people, Malkai shows how Beta Israel held on to their Jewish identity through centuries of exile, and recounts their arduous journey to the Promised Land – a journey she herself made on foot. Reaching Israel did not end their hardships; there they faced prejudice, inequality, and marginalization.
Yet at its heart, We Are Black Jews is a book of faith and hope. Celebrating achievements won in the face of adversity and sharing powerful stories of courage and perseverance, Malkai calls on readers to embrace a richer, more inclusive Jewish identity.
“We Are Black Jews: Ethiopian Jewry and the Journey to Equality in Israel by Roni Fantanesh Malkai is a subtle yet powerful work.… Evading the pitfalls of becoming a collection of gripes and grievances, it instead points with insight and perspective to the story of Ethiopian Jewry, highlights its beauty and power, and offers incisive and subtle analysis that avoids simple conclusions. Above all, it is a chronicle of a supremely human story, one that has a great deal to teach Israeli society, and indeed any human society, as well as any individual who wishes to look to life and its human stories to become wiser.”
-Isaac Herzog, President of the State of Israel
“We Are Black Jews by Roni Fantanesh Malkai is a vital and compelling contribution to understanding the Ethiopian Jewish community’s extraordinary journey to preserve their identity, reunify with the Jewish people, and fulfill their yearning to make aliyah to Israel. With honesty and inspiration, Fantanesh Malkai vividly depicts the community’s aspirations, the hardships they endured in achieving them, and their ongoing fight against discrimination and prejudice, all while presenting a hopeful vision for a more inclusive society.”
-Abraham H. Foxman, National Director Emeritus of the Anti-Defamation League
“Beautifully translated from the original Hebrew by Jessica Setbon, it demands to be read.”
-Neville Teller, The Jerusalem Post
