IT IS FUTILE TO TRUST IN MAN - METHODOLOGICAL DIFFICULTIES IN STUDYING NON-MAINSTREAM POPULATIONS WITH REFERENCE TO ETHIOPIAN JEWS IN ISRAEL

There is an extensive literature on Ethiopian Jews, but it contains re markably few references to methodological problems in studying this po pulation. This article explores the nature of the encounter between th e researcher and Ethiopian Jews in their new setting in Israel, where the Ethiopian and the Israeli personalities are characterized by diffe rent and sometimes opposing qualities. The intentional use of ambiguit ies in Ethiopian communication may produce an extreme situation in whi ch the collection of data westerners consider ''basic'' may be impeded . Can the ''outsider'' collect valid information at all, or is ''insid er'' research, employing the native as research assistant or translato r, more effective? Finally, the article discusses the appropriate meth odology for research, and argues that a holistic approach combining in novative theoretical and practical approaches should be pursued in ord er to reflect effectively the negotiated reality between the researche r and ''the Other.''