Purim is one of the most widely recognized holidays on the Jewish calendar. In many Jewish communities, it is celebrated through the reading of Megillat Esther, giving gifts of food, charity, and festive gatherings.
While Beta Israel communities did not traditionally observe Purim in the same way, the story of Esther offers an opportunity to explore an ancient place name that appears throughout Jewish scripture: Cush.
The Land of Cush in Jewish Texts
Megillat Esther opens by describing the vast kingdom of Ahasuerus:
“וַיְהִ֖י בִּימֵ֣י אֲחַשְׁוֵר֑וֹשׁ ה֣וּא אֲחַשְׁוֵר֗וֹשׁ הַמֹּלֵךְ֙ מֵהֹ֣דּוּ וְעַד־כּ֔וּשׁ שֶׁ֛בַע וְעֶשְׂרִ֥ים וּמֵאָ֖ה מְדִינָֽה׃” “It happened in the days of Ahasuerus, who reigned over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces from India to Cush.” — Esther 1:1
From Hodu to Cush
Cush (כּוּשׁ) is an ancient geographic name associated with Northeast Africa, particularly the lands south of Egypt. It has also been translated as Ethiopia, although its historical boundaries do not correspond precisely to those of modern Ethiopia.
Cush in Jewish Texts
References to Cush appear in several places throughout Jewish scripture:
Creation (Bereshit 2:13): One of the four rivers flowing from Eden, the Gihon, is described as winding around the land of Cush.
The Life of Moses (Bamidbar 12:1): Moses is described as having married a Cushite woman.
The Book of Esther (Esther 1:1): The Persian Empire is described as stretching from Hodu (India) to Cush.
These references offer an opportunity to explore how lands and peoples of Northeast Africa appear in Jewish texts, and how their names have been understood across different historical and cultural contexts.
A Note on Beta Israel Textual Tradition
Like many Jewish communities across the diaspora, Beta Israel preserved Judaism through its own sacred texts, language, religious leadership, and ritual life.
To date, Megillat Esther has not been identified among traditional Beta Israel sacred manuscripts written in Ge’ez. Beta Israel religious life was instead anchored in the Orit and other religious traditions preserved and transmitted by the Kessim, the community's religious leaders and scholars.
Studying Cush through Megillat Esther allows us to explore a connection to the broader Jewish textual tradition while recognizing the distinct history of Beta Israel religious life.
Continue Exploring: Our next resource examines Tsom Esther (the Fast of Esther) and the role of fasting in traditional Beta Israel religious practice.