Black Hebrew Israelites
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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.
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[edit] 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.
[edit] Examples
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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 not subject to draft for the Israel Defense Forces, as their residency status exempts them from full citizenship. The Black Hebrews practice polygyny and adhere to a strict vegan diet as part of a complete holistic lifestyle [citation needed].
[edit] Israelite Church of GOD in Jesus Christ
Perhaps one of the most widespread and powerful practices, the ICGJC has undergone some evolution and has grown 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. The calling of their church "Israeli" rather than "Israelite" was confusing to many believers and non-believers (as they were also adamant about distinguishing themselves from the Jewish people in Israel), so they made the necessary adjustments, and eventually changed the name to the Israelite Church of GOD in Jesus Christ (ICGJC). Unlike other BHI groups, ICGJC is also open to Native Americans, who are Israelites according to the bible, (This is one of the many teachings that separates the Israelite Church from all the others). They also teach that the so-called West Indians, Cubans, Seminole Indians, Argentineans, Chileans, Colombians, Uruguayans, people in Panama, and Mexicans are of the 12 Tribes of Israel too. One of the practices are "as long as you hear the word and believe the word of GOD you are an Israelite" and the church professes that Israelites are scattered throughout the world. In their communications, the group calls itself "The Israelite Church of GOD in Jesus Christ" and capitalizes the word "God" in their name as "GOD", they teach that Jesus Christ is God, and has been called many other names throughout history. Various "splinter" groups claim to teach the same things, but can be very loosely grouped together as rebel sects. The church also teaches that these rebel groups are fulfilling scripture according to 1 John 2:18-23. The Israelite Church of God in Jesus Christ also advocates a King-James-Version-only approach to the Bible (i.e. they only endorse the KJV as scripture), their teachings reveal that the white people are Edomites according to scripture (other so-called "Black Israelite" rebel sects declare white people to be descendants of Japhet, but the Israelite Church denys this statement), and 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 Israelites can be seen preaching on the streets of many American cities. 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 Israelite community include http://www.theholyconceptionunit.org and [1]
[edit] Racism and Anti-Semitism
Some Black Hebrew Israelite groups have been accused of racism and of being "in some ways mirror images of the Christian Identity groups"[2]. 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] have been accused of anti-Semitism. According to the ADL, "Tragically, though Blacks have long been victimized by racism, some African-Americans have turned to the propaganda of racial hate." [3]
[edit] See also
- Church of God and Saints of Christ
- African Hebrew Israelite Nation of Jerusalem
- British Israelism
- Nation of Yahweh
