re: #119 researchok

Yews they have- the link to Arab and Jewish populations were made clear.

There are Jewish links to the Kurds.

Scholars of Ethiopian history (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 (almost like how Christian Protestant became more Old Testament oriented also). Marcus in his book says they originate 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 (again just like some European Protestants changed the Sabbath back to Saturday and were persecuted). These views also accord with the DNA evidence on the Beta Israel as highlighted in these works:

Oh snap! Science!

Kaplan, Steve The Beta Israel (). 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