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African Hebrew Israelite Of Jerusalem

A small group of African Hebrew Israelites in Dimona (Israel), in North Negev.
A child of the community in Dimona, in September 2005.

The African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem (Hebrew: ), African Hebrew Israelite Nation or of Jerusalem Hebrew Israelite Nation or Original , while others see it as a peaceful religious community and socially well integrated. Beyond these controversies, the State of Israel, after a very tense period, agreed to give the Black Hebrew Dimona official status, and relations have become good enough, the Foreign Ministry even making a presentation fairly positive group .

It should not be confused with the African Hebrew Israelites Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews), some also live in Dimona.

Summary

History

Origins

Main article: Black Hebrews.

At the time of slavery ( XVII - XIX century ) appeared in black populations in North America a strong identification with the ancient Hebrews of the Bible , kept in bondage in Egypt , living in exile from their land of origin ( Canaan ), and finally issued by God. The Bible shows well a nation of freed slaves and became the chosen people of God. Suited to the condition of African Americans , that vision has helped keep the hope, insisting both on the issue, religion and ethnic pride.

In a small minority, known collectively as the Black Hebrews (Hebrews Black) black Hebrews or Israelites (Black Hebrew Israelites), identification with the fate of ancient Israelites went further and became an ethnic identification expressed in terms of ancestry. The Black Hebrews believe that the Israelites of the Old Testament were actually black, or at least that part or all of the blacks today are their descendants , and was created in the late 1970s near Miami in Florida , by Yahweh ben Yahweh (Hulon Mitchell Junior).

The various organizations of "Black Hebrews" are themselves the expression of a larger trend in some communities Afro-American , will create religions by and for blacks, sometimes inspired by Christianity , sometimes of Islam ( Moorish Science Temple of America , Nation of Islam ).

There is also significant similarities between the African Hebrew Israelites and the Rastafarian movement (appeared as early as 1920): belief that the ancient Israelites were black, but Rasta insistence on the idea of health through a vegetarian food supported on the same biblical references in the "Hebrew Israelites" ( Genesis 1:29 ), coupled with the refusal of any non-organic food. The Rastafarian name that give to God, Jah , also strongly resembles the name given by the African Hebrew Israelites: Yah.

The African Hebrew Israelite Nation of Jerusalem is a specific organization, but rooted in a set of cultural and religious traditions of the wider population of black American or Caribbean. These traditions and religious ideas s'inter-influence since the late nineteenth century , taking different forms at times (the Rastafarian religion is not that the Black Hebrews ), but turning around, however, a number of common ideas. The religious ideas of the African Hebrew Israelites find themselves in other black religious groups in the new world, even if the synthesis they make it their own.

Foundation

The group was founded in Chicago by Ben Carter, a former metalworker who claims to have seen a vision in 1966. The Archangel Gabriel would have found that African Americans were descendants of the Israelites from the tribe of Judah , driven from the holy land by the Romans during the first war of the Jews (70 AD), who have emigrated West Africa before being taken as slaves to the United States .

According to Ben Carter, "a voice told me that the time had come for Africans in America, the descendants of the biblical Israelites, to return to the land of our ancestors .

Installation in Israel

Carter and a few hundred followers first settled in Liberia , a country founded by former enslaved African-Americans, in May 1967 . Given the difficulties of living in a poor country, some group members leave the United States , and other immigrants gradually Israel in 1969 , , with tourist visas.

Authorities rabbinical refuse to consider newcomers as Jews , and the State agrees with this interpretation , denying them the benefit of the Law of Return. They settled anyway to Dimona in the Negev , where they created the neighborhood of Kfar Hashalom (the "Village of Peace") in 1971. Kfar Hashalom was installed in an absorption center built in the 1950s for integration of new Jewish immigrants from Russia . Ben Carter took the name Ben Ammi Ben-Israel ("son of my people, son of Israel"). Until 1972, the State of Israel provides the community with a status of temporary residents with work permits. Given the increasing emigration, however, these permits are revoked .

From 1972 , the group members no longer have work permits, and the community then living in great poverty. Funding sources from this period are poorly understood, but are based in part on donations from supporters remained in the United States. We note that several lawsuits have been committed in the United States African Hebrew Israelites of cons between 1975 and 1985, all revolving around financial crimes and embezzlement . Avraham Butler indicates that the musicians in the community have helped it, "all the money we won through our music, we put it in a mutual fund community, because nobody does got to work, and it was difficult for us to earn money at that time .

In addition to problems in living standards and status, "no Israeli citizenship poses a problem for children in the third generation, without being American does not make them Israeli, and therefore find themselves without a nationality . "

The Israeli authorities tried repeatedly to expel the group, but members leaving the country often return later. "The authorities have prevented a widespread tightening of . A harassment policy to discourage the continued Israel, is preferred.

For their part, the African Hebrew Israelites are trying to gain acceptance by the State of Israel. Thus, the group of musicians entertain Israeli troops during the Yom Kippur War of 1973 . But the very distinctiveness of ethnic and religious worship, the practice of polygamy and certain verbal provocations do not relax the situation. Thus, after a defeat before the Israeli Supreme Court to obtain legal status, "Ben Ammi amplifies his rhetoric, telling The Baltimore Sun that two million blacks come to America to reclaim their ancestral homeland, ie Israel . An Israeli magazine described their settlement as "an island of madness . "In 1986, a group of 50 people arrested and 37 were expelled, carrying at its peak the difficult relationship between the Black Hebrews and the Jewish state .

In this climate perpetually tense, more controversial group opposed to the state. An Israeli prime minister is compared to Adolf Hitler , and accusations of anti-black racism are regularly launched. Conversely, the Israeli authorities criticized some statements seen as anti-Semitic. Citing an article in the Dallas Morning News, July 27, 1997, an FBI report also states that "members .

Authorization of residence

The three main cities of residence of the Black Hebrews in Israel. The most important is Dimona.

During the 1980s , relations have steadily improved. It seems that the desire to resolve an ongoing problem, and the willingness of the state to escape the recurrent accusation of racism have played an important role. "In the 1980s, a government select committee, headed by MP David Glass ( National Religious Party ) has recommended that Israel should establish a farming community to the Black Hebrews in the Negev and the Arava "(extreme Eastern Negev ). In 1989, "the interior minister met Ben Ammi "to find a solution. In 1990 , work permits are granted. In 1991 , the Israeli government gives the group the status of temporary residents. Recent improvements have been facilitated by the intervention of the Black Caucus (the Association of Black Elected Democrats of the U.S. Congress ), the community in exchange for promising not to accept new immigrants until their status is resolved .

The music has a certain role in the recognition of the group, whose musicians often play in Israel. The involvement of Eddie Butler at the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 in the group Eden , who represents Israel , has caught the imagination, but the musicians in the community often intervene before diverse audiences, helping to establish a positive image. The Associated Press was able to write in 2006 "after being sidelined for nearly four decades, things finally change for the community, thanks largely to the music of people like Butler .

The sense of common destiny with the Israelis is growing. In January 2002 , a member of the community aged 32, Ben Aharon Ellis, killed in an attack Palestinian when he was in a Bat Mitzvah to sing in the town of Hadera . At his funeral, the African Hebrew Israelite officiant says "we must sacrifice our son to prove our worth and to be recognized in the eyes of Israel . The application for citizenship, or at least a permanent resident, was old. In the 1990s , this hypothesis had been proposed by the government, but ultimately deferred to the opposition parties' ultra-Orthodox . After the attack, the "application of the sect for recognition has been supported by public sympathy . Avraham Poraz, the interior minister of Shinui , a secular party traditionally opposed to the ultra-Orthodox , decided, in agreement with the government Sharon , given in 2003 the status of permanent residents, which implies a right to vote local elections, but without Israeli citizenship .

At the award of permanent resident status in 2003 , members of the community more and more doing their military service as volunteers. This is to affirm loyalty to the state and the desire for integration, away from the controversy of the 1970 or 1980. Uriahu Butler is the first to join the army, 29 July 2004 , followed by dozens of boys and girls. The direction of the IDF has agreed to provide rations of food within the requirements of "African Hebrew Israelites, as well as providing cloth shoes "rather than leather (the latter being prohibited by their beliefs). One hundred young people serve in the army in 2006 .

For permanent residents who do not benefit from the law of return , Israeli law grants the request for citizenship after 4 years under this statute, the granting of citizenship remains at the discretion of the authorities. As of August 2007 , members of the community have indicated they would file such individual requests, "" We see no obstacle, and I intend to be the first to file my candidacy, "said spokeswoman Mildred Howard " .

The perception of "African Hebrew Israelites" became quite high in Israel , after starting out very difficult. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel does not hesitate to write to an official document of 2006: "Today, spokesmen for the community are effective contributors to the national effort of public relations, speaking on behalf of their audiences State of Israel .

It is within this context that the first member of the community received Israeli citizenship in early 2009, the Ministry of Interior stating that "other members of the Black Hebrew community can expect granted citizenship .

The African Hebrew Israelites community in Israel is growing since the 1970s by illegal immigration (officially suspended since early 1990) and high natural growth. In 2006, there are about 2500 to live in Israel, especially in their Kibbutz Kfar urban Hashalom (also called Shomrei Hashalom - keeper of the peace), but also in two other cities for development of the Negev , Arad and Mitzpe Ramon. Besides these three major cities, there are also small groups in other cities, especially Tiberias , . According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Shomrei Hashalom is "one of the largest kibbutz in Israel city , with about 2000 people in 2006. More than half were already born in 1999 in Israel .
It should be noted that the number of Black Hebrews living in Israel is controversial, the community does not give specific figures. It indicates that this position comes from his interpretation of a passage from the Bible that prohibits to count, but some accuse him of maintaining a certain fuzzy to make easier the hijacking of the welfare state (unreported deaths, for example) . Israel estimates range from 2 000 to 3 000 people, usually 2500 (2006). Estimates for the members living in the United States are even less precise.

Locations outside Israel

The organization is not only present in Israel , but also "several large American cities, including Los Angeles and Washington , . There are also groups more or less important to Cleveland , Chicago , Houston , Atlanta , Charleston , Tallahassee , Vicksburg and St. Louis . Their total number outside of Israel (especially the U.S. , in practice) is unknown. Some estimates are very high, up to 30,000 worldwide , but this figure seems very exaggerated. In 2006, Yaffa Bat-Gavriel, "the secretary of the village" of Kfar Hashalom about 20 000 people , a figure that also seems exaggerated.

Originally, the African Hebrew Israelites of perception is not good for the United States. Besides being seen as a sect of visionaries, they sometimes appear to be dangerous.

The FBI has issued a critical report in 1999 on the African Hebrew Israelites. The Justice Department backed down in 2004.

The organization has been questioned in 1999 by the FBI as part of Project Megiddo (a survey of American political or religious groups potentially dangerous). The FBI says so "certain segments of the BHI movement . The report uses the term Black Hebrew Israelites as a generic term synonymous with Black Hebrews , not the name of a specific organization. The Nation of Yahweh, a black supremacist group unrelated to the organization of Ben Ammi Ben-Israel and cited, but the Black Hebrews in Dimona are also presented in the report: "well they promote non-violence, members of the movement of Ben-Israel have shown a willingness to engage in criminal activities. " The report admits, however, with some doubts "the BHI in Israel are generally peaceful, although this is somewhat controversial . A footnote on page indicates a more positive way "the police chief of Dimona spoke highly of the discipline, conduct and integrity of the group. " From a general point of view, the report does not distinguish clearly between American radical movements like the Nation of Yahweh and other groups, Black Hebrews, as the proponents of Ben-Ammi. All are presented as "factions" BHI, rather than as separate movements clearly.

In 1999, the group is perceived in a very ambiguous to the United States. In 2002, an article further states "The Hebrew Israelites have a history of crime . However, as in Israel , the group's vision in the United States has improved significantly in recent years. In 2004, the U.S. Justice Department said about the report of Megiddo 1999: "there is no evidence currently exists that suggests that the group or its leader, Ben Ammi Ben-Israel have been or are currently engaged in, or promote some type of violent activity whatsoever . The dramatic improvement of relations with Israel, an ally of the United States, seems at least partly explain this better perception.

Development by the group through the United States its network of vegetarian restaurants vegetarian Soul, and its small network of shops as part of the Afrika growing respectability.

However, there are still reserves to the United States , where the press or the Justice took several times the cult in question. Thus, during the trial in 2005 the parents of a baby who died in Florida , this death was presented as stemming from a strictly vegan diet for the family, both alleged members of the African Hebrew Israelites . Given the magnitude of the controversy, the "Minister of divine health" of the group wished to state "there are many African American communities that trace their lineage to the biblical Israelites. But they are not necessarily related. Our community is specifically Hebrew The African Israelites of Jerusalem, and The Kingdom of Yah. . Rick A. Ross Institute, an organization dedicated to the "study of destructive cults "has been on the African Hebrew Israelites a folder available on the internet .

The group also has a small antenna in England , which had a 2003 estimate by 15 to 20 members . In 2003, his manager called himself Yehoeshafaht. The group preached in the black community's lifestyle and religion, and emigration to Israel, and led to several negative articles from the British press, particularly The Voice of London. One of these articles thus indicates that the Black Hebrews have settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories , but cites the fact that the name of their facilities Negev , in apparent confusion. It is also stated that members "were involved in murders," and cites as an example the Nation of Yahweh, American radical black nationalist group, described as consisting of "dissident cult" of the African Hebrew Israelites (Yahweh Ben Yahweh, the Leader of the Nation of Yahweh is actually a former member of the Nation of Islam , and no source indication that he has never belonged to the African Hebrew Israelite Nation of Jerusalem). In addition to some factual errors, Articles UK show that the group continues to be perceived by some as a potentially dangerous sect.


Practice and Ideology

The African Hebrew Israelites are best known for their claim to descent from the ancient Hebrews , and for their insistence on a natural and healthy life: environmental protection , health food , sporting activities. But the organization has beliefs and practices that go beyond those two areas.

Black Nationalism

It's basically a group of clearly nationalist black American , but over time, lessons have changed somewhat. The group focuses primarily on black (he defines himself as "African Hebrew Israelite"), and one of the books written by Ben Ammi Ben-Israel (Ben Carter) is called also God the Black Man and Truth (God, the black man and the truth). Ethnic polarization is not absolute, and the organization finally agreed to a very few white members .

The map of the African Hebrew Israelites African as of Jerusalem. For them, the African continent included a portion of the Middle East.

For the organization, Africa does not end with Egypt, but includes part of the Middle East (including Israel , the Jordan and the Arabian peninsula ). "They proclaim that Israel is an African land originally inhabited by African people with dark skin / Sup> ". This redefinition wide borders of Africa and the reinterpretation of biblical history allows them to proclaim both Africans and Jews. "This map of Africa, a fundamental support of the identity of Black Hebrews, is shown throughout the community on posters and .

If the ancient Israelites were Africans, all Africans were not Israelites, "the Arabian Peninsula and . "God has exiled in West Africa because we do not keep His commandments. But we were strangers in Africa. Then there was the slavery : we have been deported to the United States. Being Hebrews , we were different from other slaves. Today we want to return to Israel .

Africans of West Africa are considered particularly related to ancient Israelites, even if the Lemba of southern Africa and the Falasha of Ethiopia are also cited: "We know that many West Africans, particularly the Ashanti , are direct descendants of the Hebrews ancient .

While insisting on some specifics, Black Hebrews asserts the same time strongly their African roots. "The women wear brightly colored clothes African style: , and the return of American blacks in Africa, not only in Israel, is also considered .

The roots African-American also always seem significant: the group still has antennas to the U.S. , and the Institute for Conflict Resolution established by the organization in February 2005 with the name of Martin Luther King . Ben Ammi Ben-Israel has also participated in 1995 at The Million Man March , a large demonstration organized by the Black Nation of Islam American, but which has welcomed participants from all ideological persuasions, the association elected Democrats in the black House of Representatives of the United States (the Black Caucus) to an elected Republican .

Originally, according to a rather frequent (but not absolute) in various U.S. organizations of Black Hebrews , the Jews were regarded as illegitimate imitators of the ancient Hebrews. "During the 1970s, . Jews are now officially recognized as legitimate Israelites, and the discourse of the organization is more strictly focused on blacks. The official communication has even become explicitly based on the idea that the African Hebrew Israelites are Jews like the others, which logically implies acceptance of these. Thus, one of the spokespersons of the community, Yaffa Bat-Gavriel, "regrets that the Chief Rabbinate of Israel does not consider them Jews ! ".

The name change is quite widely practiced by the community, the meeting between the well-established traditions of black nationalism in the United States and Jewish nationalism.
For black nationalists, it is to affirm the rejection of "slave name" and independence vis--vis the white world. The deported Africans to the United States in fact received a first name Christian and surname imposed by the owner of the new slave.
The practice of name change goes back at least to the Moorish Science Temple of America in the early twentieth century (which added the suffix "el" or "Bey"), and was popularized by the Nation of Islam , from the 1930's , a name that encourages Muslim (eg Mohammed Ali ), but sometimes also an African name or "X" symbol ( Malcolm X is one of the most famous), expressing the unknown surname before of slavery. We also find this practice among non-Muslim nationalist, who usually adopt when African-sounding names (for example, Stokely Carmichael became Kwame Toure).
For Jewish nationalists ( Zionists ), the name change for the benefit of a Hebrew name, symbolizes the return of ancestral land of the ancient Hebrews, and the end of exile.
In the case of "African Hebrew Israelites," the adoption of Hebrew names blend the two traditions: originally refused the former "slave name", but with time and significant improvement in relations with Israel , Zionist identification practice.
The name change is not systematic, although it is widespread. The founder, Ben Carter, is now designated by the name of Ben Ammi Ben-Israel, when singer Eddie Butler (his full name Eddie Butler Ammiram Ben Yishay) seems very little used part of his Hebrew name.

Despite this original black nationalism, the desire to integrate into Israeli society is strong, and military service is encouraged. If the former immigrants still practice the English , many have made efforts to learn the Hebrew. The generation born in Israel is bilingual, speaking both Hebrew and English . For the U.S. , learning the Hebrew is encouraged.

Community life

A photo from inside the Urban Kibbutz Kfar Hashalom, taken December 6, 2006.

Much of the group in Israel lives in Kibbutz Kfar Hashalom at Dimona , which is also supported by the kibbutz movement Unified (TAKAM, the main federation of Kibbutz Israeli) . The African Hebrew Israelites have a specific school, school fellowship (School of Brotherhood), the U.S. government helped build by giving 750 000 in 1992 (Israel provides the majority of teachers) , as well as maternity, natural child birthing center (of natural birth of children), where births take place "without the use of drugs or invasive surgical procedures , "according to the ideology of" naturalistic "African Hebrew Israelites of. The community lifestyle is preferred, although some members live in more isolated Israeli cities.

The inbreeding is almost total: it is not only encouraged by the group, but de facto Israeli law, which gives a monopoly on the marriage of Jews to the Rabbis Orthodox. They do not recognize the African Hebrew Israelites as Jews refuse to marry Jews, which severely limits the ability to enter into marriages outside the group .

It has sometimes been suggested that members of the community to initiate a process of official conversion to Judaism , but this proposal was firmly rejected: members of the community already consider themselves as Hebrews indisputable. Some people seem tempted however, as the singer Eddie Butler following a conversion process (which can last several years).

"The Hebrew Israelites have a management structure, with Ben Ammi installed at the head of a council of 12" princes "who oversee the spiritual development of the kibbutz. Twelve other "ministers", or council of community management, regulate the daily affairs in the fields of economy, education, sports and recreation, and other information. The priesthood of the community deals with weddings, services of the Sabbath and circumcision of male children as 8 days (according to Jewish law) .

"In February 2005, .

The community is sometimes accused of being a cult opaque and closed in on itself. Thus the Jerusalem Post in December 2005 accusing "at Dimona , the community does not open its doors freely to foreigners . The newspaper also evokes suspicions of criminal activity. Photojournalism made by Professor Dennis Fox in 2006 says "I had expected some separation between the community and the rest of Dimona , but there is no physical barrier, making the community more of a neighborhood that a separate village. Homes and institutions outside the EU are just across the street. Non-members come frequently, and are greeted politely. The visits are possible, but as I had not known in advance, it was not possible to hold one .
Some note the opening of the Israeli group on its environment: the desire to obtain citizenship, many members working outside the Kfar Hashalom, along which young Israeli military service (3 years for men) outside the control Executive community school with a majority of Israeli teachers .

Organisation for Economic Community

A visit to the community, organized in September 2005.

The average standard of living in Israel is small but has improved significantly compared to the years 1970 and 1980, African Hebrew Israelites when had no work permit. Families, many because of polygamy and doctrines natalist, often live in crowded conditions . In 2007, "The fire services were alerted to the fact that . This ability to create a new district must allow new generations (demography is strong) no longer huddle in the degraded habitat of Kfar Shalom. "On their new property, they hope to not only build homes more comfortable, but also to build tourist attractions such as a wellness center, health centers, restaurants, all reflecting the lifestyle of the community .

Although its economic activities appear to be growing, the community is still quite dependent on welfare, it enjoys quite widely because of its high birth rate. The organization has also been accused of charging massive diversion of funds from the Israeli health system, for example by not declaring his death still. These diversions would also concern the U.S. health care system, those who still passing U.S. citizenship under their reimbursements on behalf of members who are not U.S. citizen . "There are also unproven allegations of counterfeiting and piracy . These accusations are not new, and when the Black Hebrews of Israel had no right to work, and where research funds were being conducted, the trials had places in the U.S. . It is difficult to say whether the practices of the time are still in force, or if they reached Israel. Until 2007, no matter of significance has ever been treated by the Israeli courts.

Since obtaining work permits in the early 1990s, the community has developed its economic activities, reducing its dependence vis--vis U.S. funds from contributors.

The village / neighborhood of Kfar Hashalom in Dimona , "built on the model of the kibbutz , maintains him through his restaurants vegan , making and selling clothing made from cotton and colorful bands . .

Stevie Wonder , a customer of garment factory in the community.

If it is less important than the vegan factory, garment factory is becoming increasingly popular, especially in the elite circles of black Americans. Thus, " Whitney Houston , Stevie Wonder and Oprah Winfrey are among the big names buying clothing from the community of Black Hebrews in Dimona . The visit has made Whitney Houston in 2003 to the Hebrews black Dimona has also sparked renewed media interest in the community .

The community is fairly well known for its troupe of ballet , which performs regularly at international festivals and in the center of Dimona. The community also has a number of reputable musicians, including singer Eddie Butler , who represented Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 1999 in the group Eden , then only the 2006 competition. Within this framework has been set up a production company, Royal Kingdom Productions , which produces and distributes the artist community.

Finally, the community of Dimona to stores to sell its products, and a museum, the African Edenic Heritage Museum, where she presented her vision of the history of the Hebrews and Africans.

It should be noted that the "African Hebrew Israelites" were also companies in the United States. You can read a fairly well established tradition in African-American nationalist circles, where the emphasis on economic self-organization of the black community (through firms 'black') is encouraged since at least the Nation of Islam 1930s, which had one of its objectives.

The companies created a strong foothold in Atlanta , with small structures, such as library Wisdom Hut (hut wisdom), the Center for Multimedia Education (multimedia education center), two vegetarian restaurants Vegetarian Soul (soul vegetarian) or shop Afrika. There are also vegetarian restaurant chain Soul Vegetarian, which belongs to the group, Charleston , St. Louis , Chicago , St. Croix, Tallahassee , Washington. Finally, there are several small businesses, such as fruit juice shops in Chicago or Washington , Afrika shops or health centers . From a general point of view the African Hebrew Israelites of companies run pretty well, though not exclusively, around the idea of health, particularly through nutrition, which is consistent with the role of that issue in their religious education. Although now well established, these firms remain limited in scope and does not call into question the generally low standard of living members.

Finally, the community has begun to develop economic activities in West Africa , a region of origin of many slaves, and that the community believes it was the region where their ancestors came from Jerusalem settled. Projects still exist today in underdeveloped Ghana and Benin .

Food Laws

The African Hebrew Israelites practicing a vegan strict, which excludes not only meat but also products of animal origin such as milk (the honey is accepted). They are based here on a very strict interpretation of Genesis : "And God said, Behold, I give you every plant yielding seed which is upon the face of the whole earth and every tree in it the fruit of a tree yielding seed: it shall be for meat . To compensate for the lack of vitamin B12 (found in meat), the yeast , which is rich, is incorporated into their diet. The community also prohibits the consumption of alcohol (except a little wine they manufacture themselves ) or tobacco , see Coffee , and any chemical additives . The organic food is encouraged.

The vegan makes more or less obsolete the question of food kosher , which essentially rules for products of animal origin .

The emphasis on health and prevention is extremely important in teaching the group. The gym is a quasi-obligation "Ben Ammi . The introduction of sports practices date back to 1973 . Salt is discouraged since 1980 .

In 1998, American doctors have visited the community in Israel and found that only 6% of members had hypertension, 30% cons of African Americans. In addition, only 5% of members were obese, 32% against black men and 50% of black women in America , . The community members are convinced that their system allows a longer life, up to centuries , .

The reputation of the lifestyle of the "African Hebrew Israelites' has exceeded the borders of Israel. According to the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs' practices and health program farming community have attracted visitors from around the world, especially government officials from Africa .

Practices and religious ideas

Despite religious rules very specific and codified, the African Hebrew Israelites refuse to define themselves as a cult, "we do not subscribe to any religion because religions have only divided men . They define themselves simply as descendants of ancient Hebrews who follow the laws of God. Without prejudging the original reasons for this choice of presentation, it seems to have at least three advantages: it allows to contest the charge of being a recurring sect , he avoids any controversy with the environment Jew to define which "true" religion, and may encourage proselytizing within the African American community, while remaining religiously open. Beyond the official opening, the group has a strict religious discipline. If the will of Eddie Butler , a singer known to convert to Judaism Rabbinical does not seem to have given rise to expulsion from the community, community life and the weight of "minister of God" Ben Ammi Ben-Israel lead to a rather strict social control. The Jerusalem Post has even raised in December 2005 "basements . This charge, which would have been brought to the police, has apparently not led it to prosecution, and its reality is so far not established.

Ben Ammi Ben-Israel is "the anointed spiritual leader of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem. A review of biblical history shows us that it is not uncommon for the omnipotent God to anoint a personal representative on earth and to invest its authority in representing . " The Messianic reference is strong (in the Bible, the Lord's anointed is the messiah ). Ben Ammi Ben-Israel is also compared to Abraham , Moses , Jeremiah , and even Jesus , and is the messenger sent by God . Ben-Israel is presented as "spiritual leader" and not as temporal head. In fact, it is the responsibility of the council of 12 princes of the community (12 including himself, 12 as the tribes of Israel ), which has a spiritual vocation, and is not a member of the board of management . In practice, it appears as though the political head of the organization. Although it does not seem to be specifically oriented worship Ben-Israel, and has not officially all powers, its weight within the group is immense, and his unquestioned authority.

Although the group is not Christian , Jesus is not rejected. It is cons reinterpreted in a sense "Israelite." One of the books of Ben-Israel also called Jesus the Christian Christ or Yeshua the Hebrew Messiah (Jesus Christ Christian, or Yeshua, the Messiah Hebrew). This partial acceptance of Jesus (as God's representative among others, and not as the founder of a new religion with its origins breaking Israelites) said the Christian origin of the Black Hebrews, and approaches the current trends so-called Judaism messianic , claiming both their Judaism and their acceptance of Jesus as Messiah of the Jews. The Messianic Judaism is also a current essentially American, which probably explains some of these similarities.

The reference book is the Bible. The Talmud is totally rejected, considered a late innovation without religious legitimacy.

God is called God or Yah , a particular form of YHWH (Yahweh), found in the form 26 times in the Hebrew Bible , besides compound shapes (as in Hallelujah "Praise Yah"). Despite this relative scarcity in the biblical usage, the term has become dominant among African Hebrew Israelites, doubtless desire for differentiation. This preferred use is also reflected in Rastafarian (in the Latin alphabet Jah ), and perhaps inspire them.

The community has no rabbi , in accordance with its rejection of the Talmud , but priests, all of male gender.

A woman from the community, their hair covered at Dimona.

The African Hebrew Israelites of males bear the kippa or a hat, women wear a scarf hiding her hair, like Orthodox Jews. On quite a number of photos, one can notice that if men have all (or almost) with his head covered, a minority of women have their hair uncovered, indicating that this latter requirement is applied in a somewhat more flexible .

The "Black Hebrews "accept and practice of polygamy , with a maximum of seven women . It is also not strictly prohibited by Orthodox Judaism , although it has mostly practiced , but is prohibited by the State of Israel. The group's leader, Ben Carter (Ben Ammi Ben-Israel), has himself 4 women and 13 children in Israel . Because of the ban on polygamy by Israeli law, and because of their desire to become Israeli citizens, "Black Hebrews" claim no longer celebrate polygamous marriages, even if those celebrated in the past remain in force . The vision of the family is clearly pronatalist, under biblical commandment "Be fruitful and multiply" , and families tend to be large.

Biblical prescriptions have fallen into disuse in the Orthodox Judaism are respected, which also brings the group practices Beta Israel (Ethiopian Jews) or Samaritans. There will be rules of purity (prohibition of sex for women) 40 days after the birth of a boy, and 80 days after the birth of a daughter .

Conversely, the requirements affirmed by the Talmud , but that does not appear in the Bible , are dismissed as innovations. The feast of Purim is not practiced (although it refers to the Book of Esther ), but those of Pesach (Passover), Shavuot , Yom Kippur and Sukkot are . This applies even to the idea that membership in the community is transmitted by the mother, this idea in the Bible but much more assertive in the Talmud .

They finally have specific obligations which are neither the Bible nor the Jewish tradition. This applies from the obligation to wear only clothes and shoes made from natural materials (cotton, linen, ...) , their feast commemorating the vision of the Archangel Gabriel by Ben Carter, their celebration commemorating mid-May the memory of the first group to have emigrated to Liberia in May 1967 , or "the prohibition of eating salt and margarine three times a week, Sundays, Tuesdays and Thursdays . The Sabbath and some other days this year are young.

Relations with Judaism

The African Hebrew Israelites are not recognized as Jews by the State of Israel or the Israeli rabbinate. Their religious practices are quite different from that of traditional Judaism.

They were charged to consider itself the only legitimate descendants of the ancient Hebrews, and Jews today reject as impostors , . This idea is in fact in some organizations in the nebula of Black Hebrews , and was defended until the 1980 African Hebrew Israelites by Israel . However, the group has since changed its position, and even the official communication is explicitly based on the idea that the African Hebrew Israelites are Jews .

African Hebrew Israelites if so sometimes present themselves as Jews, though historically they prefer to present themselves as Jews. But the number of affirming Jewishness seems to increase in recent years, with improved integration into the Israeli environment, particularly in the Israeli press .

Summary

Religious ideas and practices African Hebrew Israelites of community makes them considered by some as a closed sect, and by others, including Israeli governments of Ariel Sharon and Ehud Olmert , as an ethno-religious community rather well integrated. Anyway, today they are a group of rapid population growth, and whose integration into modern Israeli culture seems to be progressing.


See also

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