Jewish Liturgical Forms in the Falasha Liturgy? A Comparative Study

The Falashas of Ethiopia have attracted considerable attention because of their Judaic religious practice, yet the relationship of their liturgy to normative Judaism remains underdetermined. This article is a first step in the direction of comparative studies. In any society, a Jewish influence may be manifested in certain aspects of cultural life and religious practice, but all Jewish traditions share basic liturgical forms. By defining forms common to Jewish liturgies and determining their presence or absence within Falasha rituals, we can better relate the Falasha tradition to Jewish liturgical precedents.