What is the process for an Ethiopian couple to get approval for a Jewish marriage?
Rabbi Yosef: I have to confirm that the individuals are Jewish and that they are not related by blood as cousins. To do that, I research their family tree seven generations back. I start with where they were born. From knowing where they were born, I can tell almost 90 percent of what I need to know. Then I ask the parents, uncles, cousins, and the neighbors. Sometimes it’s clear, or I already know them because I did the tree for another family member. Other times it takes a long time. I keep my own list. The difficulty with Ethiopian Jews is that it was an oral culture and there were no written documents. There are about 250 to 300 marriages a year that come through my office, but couples can go to their local rabbinical offices too. But these also come to me for approval. Do you ever refuse a couple?Rabbi Yosef: Yes, I do. When this happens, they are upset and angry. If I tell them it’s because one of them is not Jewish, they have to convert. Whether they do is up to them. Otherwise,
