Ethiopian (Falashas) are Jews?

 Concerning the status of Ethiopians as Jews - there is a teshuva printed in the Igros Moshe which refers to a previous letter on the subject. This other letter was not published in the Igros Moshe but was published in HaPardes (59:1) in 1984. There are clear differences between the two letters and it seems strange that the second letter was not included in the Igros Moshe - especially since it was addressed to Mordechai Tendler who was involved in editiing the Igros Moshe.

Igros Moshe (Y.D. IV #41 page 271) After much investigation it appears that if the Falashas are not given a Jewish education they will deteriorate even more and will refuse to convert and this can possibly cause – G‑d forbid! –intermarriage between Jews and the Falashas. Therefore l’maaseh they should be given a Jewish education and be influenced through this education to convert as they need to do - as I have written to your brother R’ Mordechai Tendler. One should not be concerned by the fact that we are teaching Torah to people whose status as Jews is in doubt. Since it is actually possible that they are Jews and since there is a reason for this education - it would appear there is no prohibition to teach them Torah. But you should not teach them false halachos - an act which itself is prohibited. In other words, don’t tell them that we in fact view them as definitely Jewish. Instead tell them that while in fact there is a doubt about their status as Jews nevertheless we are prepared to educate them in G‑d’s Torah and His mitzvos. Please note that until they are actually converted they are not to be considered as definitely Jewish even in regards to counting them as part of a minyan or to receive an aliya to the Torah. They are not to be shamed or embarrassed but on the other hand they should not be deceived with false flattery. On the other hand l’chumra they are required to keep all the mitzvos because maybe they are in fact genuine Jews.

Pardes (September 1984 vol 59:1) Question Are the Falashas considered Jews? Answer I will repeat what I have said before. It seems that they are presumed to be Jewish however their actual status is difficult to determine and for actual halachic issues it is difficult to rely on this presumption since it is not known whether the Radvaz knew the full facts about them or whether there have been significant changes from his time to modern times. .However according to the actual halacha they are not prohibited because of mamzerus as the Radvaz noted because there are many uncertainties. See what I wrote in the  Igros  where I went into detail regarding the Rabbinic prohibitions of  Shtuki and Asuphi.  Regarding their Jewishness this is questionable and therefore they require true conversion before they are allowed to marry a Jew . However before conversion they need to be saved from conversion to other religions and from danger as is true for all Jews.  It is important to know that even if they are not Jews but since they consider themselves to be Jews and they sacrifice themselves for their Jewishness we are obligated to save them. As I said before they are not to be brought to Israel unless they have been properly converted to avoid the problem of intermarriage. Once they convert they are to be viewed as all other Jews. They are to be assisted in all aspects of their lives both material and spiritual. I am very upset to hear that there are those in Israel who refrain from bringing them close  spiritualy and as a result cause them to be lost from Judaism.  I think that this conduct is because they have dark skin. It is obvious that they need to be brought closer not only because they are perhaps converts and  they are not inferior to other Jews to which there is the command to love converts