There has been a Jewish community in Ethiopia for 2000 years. The origin of this community is still a matter of speculation and dispute since they were cut off from global Jewish communities until the mid-19th century. Over the last 40 years, more than 100,000 Ethiopian Jews have emigrated to Israel. One group, however, has been left behind, because their families were converted to Christianity by missionaries in the late nineteenth century. Although this group has returned to practicing Jewish religion and customs, they are still largely blocked from emigrating to Israel. Today, approximately 12,000 members of this community remain in Gondar and Addis Ababa, awaiting the chance to complete their journey to the Promised Land.