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Black Hebrews celebrate

Published:Sunday | June 6, 2010 | 12:00 AM
Members of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem dance during festivities marking the holiday of Shavuot in the southern Israeli town of Dimona, Sunday, May 30. About 2,500 Hebrew Israelites, who are originally from the United States, live in the southern Israeli town and are widely referred to as Black Hebrews. Black Hebrews follow many of the practices of mainstream Judaism.

African Hebrew Israelites, commonly known as Black Hebrews, originally migrated from the United States, spent two years in Liberia as part of a spiritual cleansing, before settling in Israel in 1969, as a part of their quest to return to God. Predominantly black and started by black Americans, the group is polygamous but also practises many tenets of Judaism.

The original group, started by Ben Ammi Ben-Israel, was sent to a dessert town called Dimona where they thrived despite the impoverished circumstances.

They struggled with issues of citizenship, as in the 1970s and '80s mass arrests and deportations were rampant in regards to them, as well as accusations of racism against them. The group has battled with the Israeli government for decades over the right to immigrate to Israel in accordance with the Law of Return.

The first member of the community was granted full citizenship in 2009.

They do not consider themselves a religious group, rather a set of truthseekers.

http://www.haaretz.com - Three Decades after exodus from America, the first Black Hebrew becomes an Israeli citizen.