The Betä Ǝsraʾel (Ethiopian Jews) have a unique history and religious tradition, one of the most fascinating aspects of which are the mäloksočč, commonly referred to as monks in scholarly and popular literature. The mäloksočč served as the supreme religious leaders of the Betä Ǝsraʾel and were charged with educating and initiating Betä Ǝsraʾel 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 Ǝsraʾel. 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.

Bar Kribus is an archaeologist at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and affiliated to the Ruhr University, Bochum, specializing in late antique and medieval Ethiopia and the archaeology and history of the Betä Ǝsraʾel (Ethiopian Jews).

Introduction: What Is Betä Ǝsraʾel (Ethiopian Jewish) Monasticism?

Chapter 1. The Roles and Practices of Betä Ǝsraʾel Monks

Chapter 2. Betä Ǝsraʾel Monasteries: General Characteristics

Chapter 3. Hoḫʷärwa – The First Betä Ǝsraʾel Monastery

Chapter 4. The Monasteries of the Səmen Mountains and Wägära

Chapter 5. The Monasteries of Dämbəya and Säqqält

Chapter 6. Betä Ǝsraʾel Monasticism and Ethiopian Orthodox (Christian) Monasticism: Shared Heritage, Different Concepts

Conclusions