Empathy from the Margins: Observing Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews) Events in a Reform Jewish Congregation

התנועה הרפורמית זהות יהודית-ישראלית חברה ישראלית חילוניות טקסים מגדר פלורליזם יהודי קהילת יהודי אתיופיה תפילה

This ethnographic study examines the intersection between the Israeli Reform movement and the Ethiopian Jewish community (Beta Israel). Based on fieldwork in a Reform congregation in northern Israel, Ben-Lulu explores how liberal Jewish spaces facilitate "empathy from the margins" by incorporating Ethiopian traditions, such as the Sigd holiday, into their religious and communal life. The research analyzes the ways in which secular and liberal Israelis redefine traditional prayer and rituals to create a more inclusive and pluralistic "Israeli Judaism." It highlights the use of a unique prayer book (Siddur) that integrates diverse Jewish voices and discusses how these ritual encounters allow participants to negotiate their Jewish identity, foster social solidarity, and challenge the centralized religious hegemony in Israel through shared spiritual experiences.