Why are black jews, uncommon?

Question

I'm a white Jew. I'm just wondering why black jews are so uncommon

RolandCuthbert · Accepted Answer

?

Isn't that a question for "White" Jews?

https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/plight-ethiopian-jews

Jews have lived in Ethiopia for over 2000 years. According to Ethiopian tradition, one-half of the population was Jewish before Christianity was proclaimed the official religion in the 4th century. The Jews maintained their independence for over 1000 years in spite of continuous massacres, religious persecution, enslavement, and forced conversions.

With the help of modern Portuguese weapons, the Amhara finally conquered the Jews in 1616, enslaving, converting, and killing them. Known as "Falashas" - a derogatory name meaning "stranger" or "exile" - Ethiopian Jews could no longer own land or be educated. Today Jews number only 25,000, less than 1 % of the population. Eighty-five percent live in Gondar Province, in the Semien Mountains near Lake Tana; the rest live in Tigre and Wollo Provinces.

NamerOfStars · Accepted Answer

Judaism never developed a missionary tradition, so it didn't spread particularly far; most knowledge of it outside the middle east came from wanderers, exiles, and refugees. Sometimes groups would pop up, likely around a charismatic or persuasive figure who amassed something of a cult following, but they rarely lasted. The two big exceptions are Khazaria, which is mostly known about through hearsay, and Beta Israel, about which a depressingly small amount is known, given that it's freaking Ethiopia, the country that resisted all imperialistic invasions from Africa, Asia, AND Europe, up until world war 2.

As to why there are fewer converts today, my guess would be that black folks looking at Jews and thinking "You know what I need? MORE people hating me for no reason!" is not a common thing.

gabster9000 · Accepted Answer

I personally am Christian and white, so it is difficult for me to speak on their behalf, but I have heard stories from those individuals. I have personally heard that the Jewish community has pushed out black individuals, and those people have experienced bouts of racism. Unfortunately, they feel as though they've been ostracized by their faith.

DizzyDesii · Accepted Answer

My great grandpa was a black jew. He was abusive and a player so the fam didn't speak of him much, but I just found out earlier this year

Bat-Perv · Answer

Muslims wiped them out and forced them to convert to Islam. But there's still a strong Jewish tradition in eithiopia dating back many thousands of years. Like Christian, other Hebrews and other religions because they lived mostly in Islam dominated lands they shrank and became a minority. There were Jewish cities set up all along the coast of the Arabian peninsula too as far as Yemen.

jshm2 · Answer

White Jews are uncommon, Black and Brown Jews are not.  In fact there is debate on if "White" Jews are even Jewish. Mainly as they are not racially Semitic in origin.

Madhatter920 · Answer

I assume because Jewish people don't go out and try to convert people like Christians and Muslims do. Jews just kind of keep to themselves. Which is understandable, given their history.

itgirl22 · Answer

Judaism is a geographic religion, meaning most of its followers come from Israel, and are of the same "Jewish" race. Of course, there could be African Americans who converted to Judaism!

strateguy632 · Answer

Because Jews were not from AFRICA. Also Africans are just a minority of converts to judaism same as the national statistics.

MrKinktastic · Answer

Might be to do with the area, I think there are a fair few Ethiopian Jews in Ethiopia and Israel.

tartaarsaus · Answer

Because they are mostly from Ethiopia. These Ethiopian Jews are far less numerous than Sephardim, Mizrahim or Ashkenazim.

Why are black jews, uncommon?

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