Modern scholars of Ethiopian history and Ethiopian Jews, such as James Quirin, Steve Kaplan, Kay Shelemay, and Harold Marcus, consider the Beta Israel to be a native group of Ethiopian Christians, who took on Biblical practices in the 14th to 16th centuries, and came to see themselves as Jews. Marcus pinpoints their origins to the persecutions of the sabbatarian movement of Abba Ewostatewos (c. 1273-1352), the remnants of which he believes grew into the Beta Israel of today. These views also accord with the DNA evidence on the Beta Israel.

See Kaplan, Steve The Beta Israel (Falasha in Ethiopia: from Earliest Times to the Twentieth Century). New York University Press, re-issue edition, 1994. ISBN 0814746640
Marcus, Harold G. A History of Ethiopia. University of California Press, updated edition, 2002. ISBN 0520224795
Quirin, James. The Evolution of the Ethiopian Jews: A History of the Beta Israel (Falasha) to 1920. University of Pennsylvania Press, 1992. ISBN 0812231163
Shelemay, Kay Kaufman. Music, Ritual, and Falasha History. Michigan State University Press; 1989. ISBN 0870132741
Anonymous | 03.27.05 - 3:57 am | #

Beta Israel? Why posted here?
Tzemach Atlas | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 8:40 am | #

The cause of Shmarya's angst at the frum establishment.
Yossi | 03.27.05 - 9:25 am | #

See my infallibility post on the work of Rav Dr. Tendler. I can only hope that the story was in the Purim issue for a reason.
rebeljew | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 5:25 pm | #

rebeljew, this is a different R. Tendler. His son I think.
Tzemach Atlas | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 6:12 pm | #

Correct, that was not clear from the comment. The Pardes Rimonim was the father of the Rav Tendler mentioned here.
rebeljew | Homepage | 03.27.05 - 11:31 pm | #