African Hebrew Israelites in Israel facts for kids
The African Hebrew Israelites in Israel are a special group of people who mostly live in Dimona, Israel. They call themselves the African Hebrew Israelite Nation of Jerusalem. This community started with African Americans who moved to Israel in the late 1960s. They believe they are descendants of the ancient Israelites. This idea comes from the Black Hebrew Israelites philosophy, which teaches that Black people in the United States are from the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Because of this, they believe they truly belong in the Land of Israel. Around 2012, there were about 5,000 people in their community.
The community first settled in Liberia, believing they were connected to the ancient Hebrews by blood. However, the Liberian government did not welcome them. Later, when they moved to Israel, the Israeli government and religious leaders saw them as non-Jews. Some members were even deported because they had entered Israel without full permission. The community felt this was unfair. But since 2004, some African Hebrew Israelites have been allowed to live permanently in Israel. They have even joined the Israel Defense Forces, which is Israel's army.
Many of their beliefs came from Ben Carter, an African-American steel worker. He said that the angel Gabriel told him to lead his people, the "true" Children of Israel, back to the Holy Land. Ben Carter, who was born a Baptist Christian, later changed his name to Ben Ammi Ben-Israel. He started gathering other African Americans to follow him. He did not follow Judaism or Christianity, but he believed the Jewish Bible was from God. He also thought that Abraham and Moses were Black, and that Jesus was one of many important spiritual leaders.
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How the Community Started
The African Hebrew Israelite community began in Chicago. It was founded by Ben Carter (1939–2014), who was also known as Ben Ammi Ben-Israel. When he was in his early twenties, a Rabbi named Reuben gave him the name Ben Ammi. This was at the Chicago Congregation of Ethiopian Hebrews.
Ben Ammi was working in an airline factory when he first learned about the Black Hebrew movement. This movement teaches that Black people are connected to ancient Israel. Ben Ammi said that in 1966, when he was 27, he had a special vision. In this vision, the Archangel Gabriel told him to lead his people, African Americans, back to the Holy Land of Israel.
Ben Ammi and his followers believe that Black Americans are descendants of the ancient Israelites. This idea has been around in black American culture for a long time. They were also inspired by Marcus Garvey, a leader from Jamaica who believed in Black nationalism. They also learned from the black civil rights movement in the 1960s, including groups like the Black Panthers and leaders like Malcolm X.
From these influences, they adopted ideas of black separatism. This means they wanted to create their own communities. They also believed that people of the African Diaspora should return to their ancestral lands. They see Israel as part of this "return to Africa." To them, Israel is in Northeast Africa, not West Asia.
Several things led them to move to Israel. One reason was the difficulties Black people faced in America, especially in Chicago in the 1960s. This was during the Civil rights movement. Another reason was their desire to build a strong and positive African identity. They felt their identity in America was not good. The last reason was a deep spiritual connection to an old culture, an ancient history, and a Promised Land. Some also thought that a big war would happen in America, destroying it.
Living in Liberia
In 1967, Ben Ammi and 350 of his followers first moved to Liberia. There, they built a community where they followed what they called "laws of righteousness." Prince Rakhamim, a leader at the time, explained what living in Liberia meant for them.
He said they stayed there for about two and a half years. This time was to help them "get rid of the foolishness of America." It was like being "born again." They wanted to leave behind the "hell" they came from. They learned to let go of hate and bitterness. Liberia was seen as a place to learn to be righteous. Those who wanted to do right let go of their hate and then came home to Israel.
Their Status in Israel
It is not fully clear if Israel was always their final goal. Some believe Ben Ammi had another vision in 1969, while they were in Liberia. This vision supposedly told him to take the community to their true promised land: Israel. The African Hebrew Israelite community feels that this uncertainty does not change their strong desire to make Israel their home.
The group wanted to move to Israel using the Israeli Law of Return. This law says that all Jews who move to Israel can become citizens. However, to get citizenship under this law, a person must be born Jewish, or be the child or grandchild of a Jew, or have converted to Judaism. They also cannot be an active member of another religion.
Ben Ammi and his followers did not meet these requirements. So, they could not get Israeli citizenship easily. But this did not stop them from moving to Israel. In 1969, the group started to move to Israel using temporary visas. Most Black Hebrews came to Israel on tourist visas. They then stayed longer than their visas allowed, living in Israel without full permission.
At first, the African Hebrew Israelites said they were the only true owners of the Land of Israel. They refused to convert to Judaism. They also claimed that most Israeli Jews were not descendants of the ancient Israelites. By the late 1980s, the group changed some of their strong beliefs. They started to see Israel as a country with many cultures, races, and religions.
Members of the group kept arriving and settling in the desert town of Dimona. For twenty years, their population grew. This was through new births and people moving there without full permission. During the 1970s, there were disagreements between the group and the government. The group faced low employment, not enough housing, and attempts to deport them. The government saw them as people living there without proper documents. Ben Ammi said the government was being unfair. He also claimed that the idea of a Jewish homeland was a "conspiracy."
In 1973, a group called the International League for the Rights of Man disagreed with the community's claims. They said the group did not try to follow Israel's citizenship laws. In 1981, a group of Black Americans visited to check on the community. They decided that unfair treatment was not the cause of the problems.
Generally, they are not seen as Jews in Israel. In the past, the Israeli government often refused to give them citizenship. They sometimes tried to deport them.
In May 1990, the group was given tourist status and visas that allowed them to work. In 1992, the Congressional Black Caucus from the United States helped. This led to an agreement. It said that the Black Hebrews would get temporary residency if they did not accept new members. At the end of 2003, the Israeli Interior Ministry gave the group permanent residency. In 2009, Elyakim Ben-Israel became the first Black Hebrew to get Israeli citizenship without converting to Judaism or marrying an Israeli. The Israeli government said more Black Hebrews might get citizenship.
In 2004, Uriyahu Butler was the first community member to join the Israel Defense Forces. The army agreed to meet some of the group's religious needs, especially their food rules.
Today, young men and some young women from the African Hebrew community serve in the IDF. They have also taken part in international sports and academic events for Israel. They have even represented Israel twice in the Eurovision song contest.
Their Way of Life
The group follows a vegan diet. This means they eat no meat, dairy, or other animal products. They refer to a verse in the Book of Genesis (1:29) which talks about God giving humans plants for food. They became vegan in the early 1970s, though some were vegetarian before that. While they believe in non-violence, their main reason for being vegan seems to be for health. They believe that eating meat is linked to humans falling from a good state. They think they must stop eating meat to become truly righteous. They also avoid most medicines to stay connected to "cycles of life."
The community grows much of its own food. Its members are approved as organic growers by the Israel Bio-Organic Agricultural Association.
Members wear only clothes made from natural materials. These clothes are sewn by people in the community. All their clothes must have blue thread and fringes, as mentioned in the Bible (Deut. 22:11-12, Num. 15:37–40). Men wear a type of head-covering called a kippah and grow beards.
The group practices "polygyny". This means a man can marry several wives, up to six. In their community, this is called "Divine Marriage." It is based on examples from the Bible, like King David. Polygyny is not required. In 1992, about 37% of marriages in the community were polygynous.
What They Believe
The group believes that the ancient Israelites are the ancestors of Black Americans. They do not like using the term 'Jew'. This is because they believe Black Americans come from all 12 tribes, not just the Tribe of Judah. Even though they do not follow the religious forms of Judaism or Christianity, they believe the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) is from God. They also value the New Testament as a record of the words of Yeshuah (Jesus). They see him as one of many 'messiahs' sent by God to guide the people of Israel.
The Tanakh is central to their way of life. Ben Ammi says that "the Law and the Prophets...are the light." He believes they show people how to return to God. However, the group rejects the traditions of Rabbinic Judaism, including the Talmud. They believe these traditions are not truly from the original Hebrew religion.
Ben Ammi claims that Black Africans were victims of "a cruel plot to control us." He says this plot came because Black people did not obey God's laws. He sees the enslavement of Black Africans as a punishment for straying from the right path. He mentions an "oral tradition" that their people were cursed by God for breaking His laws. He connects this to Deuteronomy 28:68, which talks about a second captivity where Israelites would be taken on ships. He believes that the "Euro-gentile" (European-Gentile) establishment tried to hide the truth that ancient Hebrews were Black. He also says they created "the white Jesus deception."
To overcome the history of slavery in the United States, Ben Ammi says it is important to "reexamine and redefine all things." He believes people must question everything under "Euro-gentile dominion." He calls the ability to name and classify things "The Power to Define." He says this power is in the wrong hands and is "one of the greatest weapons that can be used to control men and nations." He believes this is key to freedom from past oppression. So, Ben Ammi claims true freedom cannot be found in a corrupt society. It can only be found by building a new society based only on God's laws. He states, "Their salvation is only of God."
Based on the Hebrew word eved (עבד), which means 'slave' or 'servant', Ben Ammi argues that work and worship are the same. He says that the activity we do with our lives is both our work and our worship. Therefore, "every job that does not enhance God as creator is the worship of the devil."
Ben Ammi cares not only for his own people but for all humanity. He sees the Black Hebrew Israelite community as "a light unto the gentiles." He believes Black Americans were "chosen by God to guide the world." Recently, the group has also started to say that being Hebrew is not just about family history. It can also be given through spiritual behavior.
Ben Ammi does not believe in an afterlife. He focuses on life on earth. He says, "Heaven is the reality of the righteous as they live, not a place for spirits after death."
Besides claiming that Jews are not descendants of the ancient Israelites, they also say that the Palestinian Arab population are not descendants of Ishmael. They believe that most of the people living in that region today are actually descendants of European Crusaders.
The group believes that a society's values are shown through its culture. So, they feel it is important that their "clothing, music, food and language reflect the glory and the higher standards of Yah (God)."
Building Bridges and Becoming Part of Israel
In their early years in Israel, Ben Ammi and the Black Hebrew community faced some challenges and misunderstandings. There were tensions between the community and the Israeli government in the late 1970s. However, relations improved during the 1990s. The Black Hebrew community moved away from some of its earlier strong positions.
Since then, the group has become a valued part of both the Dimona community and the wider Israeli society. They have worked to become more integrated. For example, they volunteer to serve in the IDF.
In 2011, the Georgia General Assembly in the United States passed a resolution. It recognized the Hebrew Israelite Community for its service to Israel. It praised their 40 years of history. The Assembly noted that the Dimona community is "one of the largest urban kibbutzim in Israel." It also said the community has attracted visitors because of its healthy lifestyle and organic farming. The Assembly concluded that the community's culture and traditions are rich, and its many contributions deserve recognition.
When asked about past concerns, community leader Prince Immanuel Ben Yehuda simply said they have "grown up." He explained that they have been there for 30 years, growing up together. Their children have gone to schools and played games together, creating new relationships.
In August 2008, Israel's president, Shimon Peres, visited the Village of Peace where they live. He told the Hebrew Israelites, "Your community is beloved in Israel...You give the country happiness and song and hope for a better world."
In March 2012, during the community's annual "New World Passover" celebration, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also expressed his appreciation. He praised "the cooperative society that is working towards the inclusion of the Hebrew Israelite community in Israeli society at large." He also said their experience in the land is "an integral part of the Israeli experience."
The Black Hebrews still have thoughts about the direction Israel is going. In an interview with Haaretz, a popular Israeli newspaper, Ben Ammi said that "peace will never come, and true freedom will never come, by way of politicians." He added, "We do give advice to politicians; because these individuals who are seen as leaders, if they would hear a message based upon truth, then it would influence that which they say they seek after – and that is peace. But without truth, and without spirituality, there can never be any genuine peace achieved in those lands."
Community Organizations
The African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem (AHIJ) have several important organizations:
- The School of the Prophets: This is a higher education academy. It includes an international branch called The Institute of Regenerative Truth.
- The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr./SCLC Ben Ammi Institute for a New Humanity: This is a research center that studies non-violence.
- The Middle East African Diaspora Unity Council: This is a non-governmental organization (NGO). It works to promote the knowledge and interests of African peoples in Israel and the Middle East.
- The African Hebrew Development Agency (AHDA): This is also an NGO that mostly works in Africa. It helps with things like health, farming, rural development, and protecting the environment. The AHDA has also worked with African organizations to help with the African Boreholes Initiative (ABI). ABI is a project that aims to provide clean water to African villages that do not have access to it.
Reaching Out to Others
In April 2011, Ben Ammi led a group of seven to South Africa. They met with Zulu king Goodwill Zwelithini and the South African government. They wanted to see if they could use their "Dimona Model" for community development in South Africa.
See also
- African American–Jewish relations
- Ben-Ami Ben Israel
- Black Hebrew Israelites
- Religion of black Americans
- Sister Wife, a documentary about the group
