Adissu Reta

Father's name: Reta Gezan

Mother's name: Selehin Nagusa

Year of birth: 1929

Place of birth: Maduya, Debra-Sina-Mariam, Tekel-Dinga, Armacho

Region in Ethiopia: Armacho

Main occupation in Ethiopia: Farmer, goldsmith and weaponeer

The language of the interview: Amharic

Adissu Reta, agriculture, shepherding, blacksmithing, repairing weapons, metalwork, weapon, studies, customs of ritual purity, Christians, guns, handmade, comb, robbers, disputes, judge, faith, religion, oath, compensation, war, rebels, regime, casualties, fire, kidnapping, immigration to Israel, Italians, Derg, Haile Selassie, Maduya, Debra-Sina-Mariam, Tekel-Dinga, Armacho, Gondar, Sudan, Addis Ababa.

Summary of the testimony:

Adissu talks about his family tree and describes his village and the local history. He was born during Italian rule in northern Ethiopia to a family that owned agricultural lands. (In many other regions, Jews were not permitted to own lands during this period.) He talks about good neighborly relations with the region’s Christians and about the customs of ritual purity that were observed by the Beta Israel community.

Adissu learned the professions of shepherding, farming, goldsmithing and blacksmithing. There was no school where he lived, so a tutor taught him to read and write for three weeks, after which he continued learning independently.

After training in the professions of blacksmithing and goldsmithing, Adissu’s father taught him how to repair weapons. He details the different types of weapons and their uses and relates how he gained experience in producing and completing various weapon parts. Adissu talks about the work process and about the customers who came from a distance of two days’ walk for him to repair their weapons. He would also make combs, suitcases, locks, tools and other items.

In his work as a weapons repairer, Adissu encountered many robbers. He adds that he also made money by returning stolen property to its owners. He describes how he would investigate such cases, identify the thief, catch him, and return the property to its owners. Adissu emphasizes the pivotal role of the tribal elders in resolving disputes and the use made of religious beliefs and vows. In cases in which this was not sufficient, they would turn to a judge who had the authority to force the criminal to pay compensation or send him to jail.

Adissu describes the changes that took place following the deposal of Emperor Haile Selassie and the rise of the Derg party to power. He talks at length about a group of rebels against the Derg regime called “EDU”. Adissu talks about the fighting, the burning of houses and the casualties. When two prisoners from the Derg army were captured during a battle, Adissu saved them from death and brought them safely back to their families.

When the immigration to Israel via Sudan began, Adissu helped Jews and accompanied them on their way. He also did this when the immigration to Israel via Addis Ababa began. He describes how he would locate Jews who had been kidnapped or forgotten on the way and return them to their families. Adissu eventually reached Sudan with his family and immigrated from there to Israel.