Uri Ben Baruch

Uri Ben Baruch was a Liqa Kahnet (High priest) and the main leader of the Ethiopian Jewish community for nearly 50 years, from the Italian occupation of Ethiopia and until his death.

For many years Uri Ben Baruch was a dominant figure in the leadership of the Beta Israel community and was distinguished for his leadership and rhetorical abilities. 

When Baruch's father reached old age, various parties in the Beta Israel community began requesting that Baruch would be appointed as a successor to his father, thus becoming the spiritual leader of the Beta Israel community. Baruch gently refused, claiming that he wasn't eligible since he was not the eldest son. After many convictions he eventually accepted the request, and was appointed as the new religious leader in a grand ceremony in the presence of 120 religious leaders and the general public. Baruch's father eventually died in 1936. Baruch was the main spiritual leader of the Ethiopian Jewish community for nearly 50 years.

In 1966, Baruch took part in the establishment of the organization "Beta Israel's Congregation" which aimed at promoting immigration to the state of Israel amongst the Beta Israel community living in all provinces of Ethiopia. As part of these efforts, through the years Baruch sent various letters to Israeli prime ministers, presidents and other officials in an attempt to gain their help. In these letters Baruch described the dire situation of the Ethiopian Jews, which he claimed was deteriorating due to the mission operations, hostilities and discrimination from the government. Due to this activity Baruch and his son Yair Berhan, were both arrested and accused of subversive activity against the reign of Emperor Haile Selassie. Due to this activity Baruch and his son were brought to the emperor and were asked to explain the meaning of their acts. After several hours with the Emperor and his advisers, the emperor decided to release the two.

In 1973 when Rabbi Ovadia Yosef became the Chief Rabbi of Israel, Baruch's organization sent a letter to Yosef requesting official recognition of the Beta Israel community. Rabbi Ovadia Yosef's ruling was unequivocal and determined that the Beta Israel are Jews and must be rescued. Following this historic ruling the Israeli Law of Return was applied to the Beta Israel community on March 3, 1975, thus paving the way for their later massive immigration to the state of Israel.

The Jewish Agency requested Baruch to become a model and immigrate to Israel in order to get the rest of the Beta Israel community to follow him. Baruch initially refused the request and claimed that the supreme leader must remain in Ethiopia until the last Jew leave and that only then he would be capable of leaving. After pressure and persuasion from the Israeli establishment Baruch decided to emigrate to Israel as he passed the community's leadership in Ethiopia to his son Yair Berhan.