These are now considered the oldest known Jewish manuscripts ever found in Beta Israel’s possession.
By Shula Rosen
A team of scholars from Tel Aviv University has uncovered two religious manuscripts dating back over 600 years, offering new insight into the spiritual traditions of Ethiopia’s Beta Israel community.
The rare texts, known as the Orit, were discovered in June 2024 during a traveling workshop led by the university’s Orit Guardians program. These are now considered the oldest known Jewish manuscripts ever found in Beta Israel’s possession.
The Orit contains not only the Five Books of Moses but also the books of Joshua, Judges, and Ruth. Written in Ge’ez, an ancient liturgical language now spoken primarily by the Beta Israel’s spiritual leaders, or Kessim, the texts reflect a tradition preserved through centuries of exile and migration.
“This is the first time it’s been shown that Kessim from Beta Israel have in their possession Orit books more than 600 years old,” said Professor Dalit Rom-Shiloni, who heads the Faitlovitch Collection at the Sourasky Central Library and helped launch the project.
The workshop, which included experts from Israel, Germany, and Ethiopia, documented 17 sacred books in total: two from the 15th century, two from the 18th, and 13 spanning the 17th to 20th centuries. All manuscripts remain with their owners but have been digitally archived with help from the National Library of Israel.
Far from being historical artifacts kept in storage, many of these manuscripts are still actively used in prayer and community rituals. Some were smuggled into Israel by families who risked their lives to protect them. As Rom-Shiloni explained, these are “living books,” part of an unbroken spiritual legacy.
The Orit Guardians program now works to preserve and share this heritage before it disappears, bringing global attention to a once-hidden chapter of Jewish history.
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