GUEST AUTHOR
ETHIOPIA’S JEWS: “WE WILL GO TO JERUSALEM”
BY JACK KINSELLA BY GERALD GOTZEN
reign from 1930 to 1974 is exquisitely reflected in his royal palaces. I do not believe there is another palace in the world where the shields of the Star of David and other Jewish symbols are so richly and prominently displayed. Sometimes the traditional Jewish sym- bols feature a cross that beautifully expresses a shared Jewish and Christian heritage once enjoyed in that country. Most members of the Selassie royal fam- ily
T also loved Israel, and diligently prayed for this Holy Land.
he extraordinary love for Israel that beat in the heart of Ethiopia’s Emperor Haile Selassie during his
By the time the Emperor had reached his eighties, however, he was out of touch with his people, and his closest advisors were more given to the political arena and monetary gain. Historically very friendly with Israel, Selassie was eventually worn down by persistent pressure from those both close to him and neighboring Arabs who threatened: “If you don’t break off diplomatic relations with Israel, we shall break off diplomatic relations with you. And we have not only the money, we have the oil.” Although this
story is not well- known, Selassie’s daughter, Princess
Tenagnework, was a devoted Believer in the Lord Yeshua. When she heard that her father had severed diplomatic relations with Israel, she courageously stormed into his office in the palace, almost screaming, “Father, Father, what have you done? Don’t you know that He who blesses God’s People, Israel, will be blessed from the Lord? But He who curses [Israel] will be cursed from the Lord?”
The princess loved God with her whole heart. She knew God’s plan for Israel. She did not want to imagine what her father’s decision might bring upon their country and their family.
10 | Jewish Voice Today JULY/AUGUST 2010
www.JewishVoiceToday.org
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25