black hebrew called african hebrew hebrew groups african americans believe descendants ancient adhere varying degrees religious beliefs practices christianity judaism recognized jews greater jewish community choose identify hebrew jews indicate claimed historic connections groups founded united_states late 19th early 20th centuries kansas new_york_city americans west indian immigrants mid-1980s number united_states 1990s longer operating estimated african american jews estimate based survey conducted exact number surveyed group remains unspecified overview black christians traditionally identified claimed physical descendants late 19th century african americans identification ancient developed identification ancient groups founded kansas retained elements connection jesus following decades congregations established connection christianity world war example immigrant founded congregation harlem claiming descent ancient called keepers living god similar groups selected elements judaism adapted structure similar black church incorporated moved congregation brooklyn later founded educated ordained beliefs practices groups vary considerably differences great historian suggested classification organizations groups black jews maintain perspective adopt jewish rituals traditional practice judaism traditional judaism organizations certain common characteristics author distinguishes movement refers judaism practiced people black black judaism significantly depend documented lineage jewish ancestors recognized orthodox conservative conversions form religious expression black persons identify jews manner unacceptable whites world jewish community primarily jews issue set forth black jews establishing identity black judaism defined stands distinctly apart black judaism expression found black persons acceptable world jewish community conversion birth recognized jewish mother black judaism social movement black judaism isolated social phenomenon landing definition underlying assumptions race judaism criticized groups late 19th early 20th centuries dozens organizations established harlem groups founded oldest known group largest organizations keepers founded new_york noted adherence traditional judaism widely known having moved united_states primarily chicago israel century oldest known organization group founded tennessee later moved philadelphia god mixed elements judaism christianity counting bible including essential scriptures rituals cherry flock incorporated jewish practices alongside christian traditions example prayer men wore faced east addition members church permitted eat pork prayers accompanied musical instruments gospel singing cherry death members church believed left temporarily soon spirit lead church son church god saints christ established lawrence kansas african american william group established headquarters philadelphia later relocated washington death church continued grow leadership moved organization headquarters permanent location belleville virginia congregations members succeeded father head organization son church leader led great grandson united_states dozens africa describes oldest african american congregation united_states judaism founded american william kansas teaches jews black originally african americans descendants lost tribes israel members believe jesus god son god judaism prophet consider founder kansas prophet christ rituals judaism christianity adopted rites drawn old testament include use jewish calendar celebration infant males commemoration saturday wearing rites include baptism origins keepers arthur matthew founded harlem matthew influenced non black jews met biblical jews exile metaphor black people north_america accomplishments movement strengthen connection black americans africa particular matthew later learned beta israel jews identified israel recognizes beta israel people descended historic jews ancestry today follow traditional jewish practice observe jewish holidays members observe newborn boys celebrate bar separate men women worship keepers believe descendants solomon queen matthew taught black man jew genuine jews black men valued non black jews preserved judaism centuries matthew maintained ties non black jewish leaders new_york frequently invited worship matthew established later renamed brooklyn ordained went lead congregations united_states caribbean remained leader harlem congregation moved landmark building street matthew died sparking internal conflict succeed head harlem congregation shortly death matthew named grandson new spiritual leader years old time board elected leader occasionally conducted services early 1980s white members locked building membership declined 1990s dozen people belonged keepers sold building factions members sued harlem group keeper congregations new_york area north_america israel seven graduated founded matthew african hebrew jerusalem established chicago illinois time black nationalism hebrew moved israel years nearly members left united_states israel hebrew live towns region israel widely referred addition hebrew communities major american cities including chicago washington black believe descended members exiled romans destroyed second temple group incorporates elements african american culture interpretation bible recognize jewish interpretations observe ordained jewish holidays men wear african print shirts women follow biblical laws concerning newborn boys accordance interpretation bible follow strictly diet wear natural men wife birth control permitted arrived israel claimed citizenship law return gives eligible jews immediate citizenship israeli government ruled group qualify automatic citizenship prove jewish descent undergone orthodox conversion denied work permits state benefits group accused israeli government racist discrimination group american civil rights activists led investigated concluded racism cause situation official action taken return united_states individual members deported working illegally renounced american citizenship try prevent illinois legislators helped negotiate agreement resolved legal status israel members group permitted work access housing social services reclaimed american citizenship received aid government helped build school additional housing agreement revised granted permanent residency israel black hebrew gain israeli citizenship israeli government said granted citizenship israel known gospel choir tours israel united_states group owns restaurants israeli cities garnered public attention singer visited chosen israeli public represent israel song contest allegations black supremacy racism late southern poverty law center described black called fringe hebrew movement wrote members groups believe jews openly condemn whites evil death slavery said hebrew explicitly racist anti semitic advocate violence groups characterized black include nation god jesus christ written tribes israel website maintained group promotes black supremacy
Black Hebrew Israelites