Black Hebrew Israelites

Black Hebrew Israelites (also Black Hebrews, African Hebrew Israelites, Hebrew Israelites) are groups of people of African ancestry situated mostly in the United States who claim to be descendants of the ancient Israelites. They claim that they and many Africans, and blacks in places like Brazil, Madagascar, and the Caribbean are also descended from the Israelites.

Origins

African American and African Caribbean Christianity had long developed a comparison of their experience in the New World with that of the Israelites held in slavery in Egypt, particularly as regards the Book of Exodus. From the mid-eighteenth century a metaphorical embrace of a Hebrew identity was a major element of New World African spirituality. Thus in 1800 Gabriel's slave conspiracy in Virginia identified themselves with the Israelites of the Old Testament, as was Denmark Vesey's attempted rebellion of 1822. However it was not until later in the nineteenth century that an identification as ancient Hebrews developed from identification with them.

Examples

Church of the Living God

F. S. Cherry founded a Black Jewish movement called the Church of God in Philadelphia in 1915. Theologically it mixed Judaism and Christianity, although the Jewish Bible and the Talmud were considered the essential scriptures. Several Jewish practices and prohibitions were observed by Cherry’s flock. The movement has been reported to survive under the leadership of Cherry’s son, but little information about it has been disseminated.

Church of God and Saints of Christ

The Church of God and Saints of Christ is a Black Hebrew Israelite religious congregation organized in 1896 by William Saunders Crowdy. This organization is the oldest congregation started in the United States that follows the tenets of the Biblical Jews and adheres to the Ten Commandments. The members of this congregation also believe they are descendants of the “lost tribes of Israel.” In 1906, Crowdy passed his mantle of leadership to three successors: Chief Joseph W. Crowdy, Bishop William H. Plummer, and Counselor Calvin S. Skinner. Counselor Skinner consecrated for leadership Rabbi Howard Z. Plummer, who prior to his demise ordained Rabbi Levi S. Plummer. Currently, the congregation is led by Rabbi Jehu A. Crowdy, Jr. The Church of God and Saints of Christ has its headquarters in Belleville (Suffolk), Virginia with tabernacles across the United States, Jamaica, and Africa.

African Hebrew Israelite Nation of Jerusalem

The African Hebrew Israelite Nation of Jerusalem is a small spiritual group whose members believe they are descended from the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. With a population of over 3000, most members live in their own community in Dimona, Israel. They have recently been awarded permanent residency status in Israel, have built their own k-12 school, Bet Sefir Akhvah, and are subject to draft for the Israel Defense Forces, like all Israelis. The Black Hebrews practice polygyny and adhere to a strict vegan diet as part of a complete holistic lifestyle .

Israelite Church of God and Jesus Christ

Perhaps one of the most familiar BHI groups, the ICGJC has undergone some evolution and has spawned several permutations over the last forty years. The group was started by a man named Abba Bivens in 1960s Harlem. It was originally called the Israeli School of Universal Practical Knowledge (ISUPK), but later changed its name to the Israeli Church of Universal Practical Knowledge (ICUPK) as part of a plan to get tax exemption status, though some splinter groups still call themselves ISUPK. Possibly realizing the irony of calling their church "Israeli" rather than "Israelite" (as they were adamant about distinguishing themselves from the Jews in Israel), they made the necessary changes, and eventually changed the name to the Israelite Church of God and Jesus Christ (ICGJC). Unlike other BHI groups, ICGJC is also open to Hispanics and Native Americans, who are, according to their doctrine,also of the 12 Tribes of Israel. Although ,in their communications, the group call itself "The Israelite Church of God and Jesus Christ" and capitalizes the word "God" in their name as "GOD", they believe that Jesus Christ is the only God, and has been called many other names throughout history. The ICGJC and its various splinter groups such as The House of David's Church can be loosely grouped together as sects which advocate a King-James-Version-only approach to the Bible (i.e. they only endorse the KJV as scripture), the belief that white people are Edomites (it should be noted that other so-called "Black Israelite" sects declare white people to be descendants of Japhet), and claim to speak "Lashawan Qadash" (a form of Hebrew grammatically identical to Modern Israeli Hebrew, save for the absence of any vowel except 'a' and 'i'). The Black Israelites seen preaching on the streets of many American cities are of this cohort. They also produce a television show called "The Hidden Truth" which is aired on cable public access stations throughout the United States. Websites endorsing the views of this branch of the Black Israelite community include http://www.theholyconceptionunit.org and ICGJCMD.org

Racialism and Anti-Semitism

Because their faith is only open to blacks, some Black Hebrew Israelite groups have been accused of racism and of being "in some ways mirror images of the Christian Identity groups"As well, because of the focus of groups like Israelite Heritage (http://www.hebrewisraelites.org), Christian Israelite Network (http://www.israelite.net/) and Nation of Yahweh on Jews, whom they insist are not Israelites at all, but rather Edomites and Khazars acting on behalf of Satan ^*" target="_blank" >and secretly controlling the United States[http://www.splcenter.org/intel/intelreport/article.jsp?aid=172, they have been accused of anti-Semitism.

External links

African American culture | Anti-Semitism | Ethnic groups in Israel

כושים עבריים | ブラック・ジュー | Afrikaanse Hebreeërs

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Black Hebrew Israelites