They are the last remaining Jews in Ethiopia. More than 20 years after Operation Solomon enabled tens of thousands of this group’s members to return to the Promised Land, a handful are still waiting to migrate to Israel.

The exodus is particularly complex. As they have been converted to Christianity over the centuries, proving their Hebrew roots is a tedious process, one that rabbis and religious authorities have tackled for years. In January 2011, Israel revived its immigration efforts after years of obstacles and refusal.

A list of 8,000 candidates was then submitted to the Jewish Agency, the organisation that oversees weekly departures. These are the families that we followed from the northern Ethiopian city of Gondar to Jerusalem. The purpose of this site and the book is to tell in words and images the story of the Beta Israel’s (House of Israel) final exodus.