Ethiopian Jewish Ascetic Religious Communities

The Betä ?sra?el (Ethiopian Jews) have a unique history and religious tradition, one of the most fascinating aspects of which are the mäloksocc, commonly referred to as monks in scholarly and popular literature. The mäloksocc served as the supreme religious leaders of the Betä ?sra?el and were charged with educating and initiating Betä ?sra?el priests. They lived in separate compounds and observed severe purity laws prohibiting physical contact with the laity. Thus, they are the only known example in medieval and modern Jewry of ascetic communities withdrawing from the secular world and devoting themselves fully to religious life.

This book presents the results of the first comprehensive research ever conducted on the way of life and material culture of the ascetic religious communities of the Betä ?sra?el. A major part of this research is an archaeological survey, during which these religious centres were located and documented in detail for the first time.