Uri Ben Baruch (Hebrew: אורי בן ברוך‎, 1898 – December 21, 1984) was a Liqa Kahnet (High priest) and the main leader of the Ethiopian Jewish community for nearly 50 years, from the Italian occupation of Ethiopia until his death.

As part of these efforts, through the years Baruch sent various letters to Israeli prime ministers, presidents and other officials in an attempt to gain their help.

In these letters Baruch described the dire situation of the Ethiopian Jews, which he claimed was deteriorating due to the mission operations, hostilities and discrimination from the government.

Baruch initially refused the request and claimed that the supreme leader must remain in Ethiopia until the last Jew left and that only then he would be capable of leaving.

After pressure and persuasion from the Israeli establishment, Baruch decided to emigrate to Israel in August 1977,[2] passing the community's leadership in Ethiopia to his son.