Chapter 7 - Economic Aspects of Monastic Life

Summary

LIKE OTHER MEMBERS of the Betä Ǝsraʾel community,Betä Ǝsraʾel monks prac-tised agriculture and a varietyof crafts as sources of livelihood. Flad (1869, 32) relates that the monks“occupy themselves in husbandry, and keep cattle and bees; they alsomake wooden vessels and spoons for sale.” Faitlovitch (1910, 71)recounts, regarding the monks of Guraba, with whom he met, that theypractise weaving and agriculture, and receive tithes of the crops andfirstborn of the small livestock from the laity. And indeed, a second,important means of livelihood for Betä Ǝsraʾel monkswas the support they were granted by the laity: the monks, as well as thepriests, were seen as heirs of the biblical priesthood, and were thusentitled to the portions of agricultural produce which by biblical decreeare due to priests (Numbers 18:8–19). The reception of these portionsin the context of the dues to the priesthood is emphasized by Halévy(1877a, 232) who, when relating the information he obtained regardingBetä Ǝsraʾel monks dur-ing his stay in Ayäkwanear Mt. Hoḫ^wärwa, states: “The Falashasoffer to priests a part of their crops and the first-born of their flocks;and the anchorites of Hoharoa receive many gifts on suchoccasions.”

Qes A.B. related that members of the BetäƎsraʾel community would bring the monks who lived among themcrops such as ṭef, peas, and chickpeas. The monkswould, in turn, bless those who brought them food. In addition to theabove-mentioned gifts and tithes, Betä Ǝsraʾelclergymen, both priests and monks, would receive payment for ceremoniesconducted for individuals and families. Those who served as Soul Fatherswould receive a degree of financial support from their spiritual children(Qes Asres Yayeh 1995, 56; Leslau 1951, xxiv).Qes Asres Yayeh (1995, 59) relates that themälokse(monk) receives anʿaśrat(one tenth) of the agriculturalproduce of his supporters among the laity, as well as the firstborn of theirlivestock. The mälokse also receives onebirr when a child is born, and when the child is fortydays old and six months old, and he could also receive additional offeringsfrom the community, referred to as mäba.

An issue which bears further investigation is the degree to which BetäƎsraʾel religious communities owned agricultural lands.