From Sinai to Ethiopia, and Back to Israel: The Halakhic and Conceptual World of Ethiopian Jewry
Room 105, Berkeley Law
Rabbi Sharon Shalom, Ono Academic College and Bar-Ilan University
2020 Robbins Collection Annual Lecture in Jewish Law, Thought, and Identity
An RSVP is requested.
Rabbi Shalom delves into the history, customs, and law of the Beta Israel, codifying the ancient cultural heritage of Ethiopian Jewry for the first time and contrasting it with Orthodox rabbinic law. Navigating tensions between religion and culture, he offers suggestions for honoring Beta Israel tradition while fully participating in the greater Jewish community.
Rabbi Shalom will be joined by Anthropologist Don Seeman, a scholar of Ethiopian Jewry and Professor of Religion and Jewish Studies at Emory University.
5:30 pm Reception | Donor Lobby, Berkeley Law
6:00 pm Lecture | Room 105, Berkeley Law
Rabbi Sharon Shalom is a scholar of Ethiopian Jewish law, culture, and practice. He is the Chair of the International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry at Ono Academic College and a Professor at Bar-Ilan University. He also serves as the Rabbi of the “Kdoshei Israel” community in Kiryat Gat. His book, entitled From Sinai to Ethiopia: The Halakhic and Conceptual World of Ethiopian Jewry, explores Ethiopian Jewish traditions in the context of modern Israel and rabbinic Judaism.
Co-sponsored by the Berkeley Institute for Jewish Law and Israel Studies, the Robbins Collection, the Berkeley Center for Jewish Studies, the Center for African Studies, and the Berkeley Center for the Study of Religion.