When I first started thinking about Black Jews, it was just another typical Sunday afternoon, nursing a hangover, partly watching Rachel Ray miraculously whip up another 30-minute meal, and, like all other single women in the Upper West Side, browsing for my beshert on JDate. Too old, too young, too short, too fat, too cute, too gross; it was more of the same until all of a sudden I came across YesImReallyJewish.
You are?!… You?…
I had my doubts. You see, YesImReallyJewish appeared to be a toned, tall, dark and handsome Black man. Indulging in my curiosity (and my love for Black men,) I agreed to meet him for a drink. I hate to admit, but like most of us, I questioned his “authenticity.” How could this person, who was so apparently different from me, be from the same religion?
After getting to know YesImReallyJewish, I realized that he was in fact not just Jewish, but a big Jew. He went to a Jewish day school, led a Passover Seder, travels to Israel, and appreciates a good matzoh ball. (Now there’s a JDate profile.) Even so, after six months I still catch myself testing his Jewishness by asking him things like, “So, like, have you ever had a really good apple kugel?” Yes, he has.
We Jews take pride in the fact that we raise our kids to be educated, open-minded and tolerant. Yet we essentially teach them that to be Jewish is to be White. In fact Gary Tobin, a San Francisco based demographer, shows in his research, one out of every seven Jewish households is interracial.
Marlaine Glicksman, in her new film Commandment Keepers (which explores the under appreciated–and largely unknown–existence of the only African-American Jewish community in Harlem), raised the issue when she began her research on the synagogue, Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation. The Synagogue was founded in 1919 by Rabbi Wentworth A. Matthew, an African-American, during a time when White Jews largely inhabited Harlem. Glicksman’s film, The Commandment Keepers not only explores the past and present history of Black Jews, but also discusses the historic relationship between Blacks and Jews in general.
There’s a widespread misconception that because Jews and Blacks have so much in common in their history (persecution, life in a diaspora, minority status) there should be nothing but a positive bond between the two. In actuality the harsh break between the communities has been prevalent for decades. (The Crown Heights riots being a prime example.) Commandment Keepers is about the history of Jewish Harlem, Black Harlem and Black-Jewish Harlem.
Marlaine Glicksman’s The Commandment Keepers is being screened on Tuesday, April 17th, 8:00pm at the 92Y. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit: http://bit.ly/CKSocial
Related Posts
About the Author
Claire Hoffman is a Boston-bred artist, writer and lover. She currently works at the Museum for African Art and studies jewelry design at FIT.
More posts by Claire Hoffman
27 comments
LP
Apr 16, 2012
Didn’t you see Oprah’s interview with Black Chassidic Jews? This is not new news! :-)
timm
Apr 16, 2012
I love it. I love being black jew and proud about who i am. I can relate to being tested almost daily on how it is somehow impossible to be a brown skinned jew. People are like what? No! Hell No! What? I catch heat from white and black folks. I don’t know who is more ignorant. I feel its a tie. I just plead the fifth and go on with my day. I did get called a dirty jew by a mexican woman once. The comment made my day. People are so dumb. I know one day will come where our backgrounds or skin color won’t matter. I hope this day comes tomorrow.
Abigail
Apr 16, 2012
@LP I’m glad you think you know everything but I’m afraid you’re part of the problem here. Not all Black Jews are the same. Oprah interviews a Lubavitch couple in Crown Heights. This film explores the history of an Ethiopian synagogue in Harlem.
JDate
Apr 16, 2012
Great article – JDate’s President and CEO interviewed Alysa Stanton, the first ordained African American rabbi for JMag, JDate’s online magazine. Eye-opening – read more here: http://www.jdate.com/jmag/2009/07/from-conversion-to-ordination/
antonietta
Apr 16, 2012
I remember my family attending synagogue, Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation starting in 1959 – 1980′s. I visited before it closed, I am so sorry it closed down. That was an experience, that i will never forget. I went to Jewish day school my family spoke Hebrew.
bam bam
Apr 17, 2012
Lmao @ black jew…thats like saying white caucasians smh.
Nimal
Apr 19, 2012
Go to Isreal and see many black jews
Orit
Apr 20, 2012
The documentary is well done and very informative. I hope she gets the funding she needs to complete it. There’s just one thing – they aren’t Jews. They are Hebrews – big difference – and the film – which I saw at the Y – makes that pretty clear. There are black Jews, no doubt, but these are not they. They never wanted to be call Jews before, they made certain you knew they were Hebrews. What changed?
MaNishtana
Apr 20, 2012
@abigail the film does not explore the history of an ethiopian synagogue, since none of its members or founders were actually ethiopians. also, since no one ever converted, this isnt a story of “black-jewish harlem” or of the history of black american jews either.
–sincerely, an actual black jew.
Erika Davis
Apr 20, 2012
I’ve been sitting with this article all day. There are huge issues that I’d like to point out:
1-As Orit says these people are not Jews, by their own assertion and by anyone else’s. They’re Hebrew Israelites. In my opinion, and this is just that, it’s like comparing Nation of Islam to Islam. Most Muslims would not say that the Nation is Islam in any way, because the Nation is not Islam. Hebrew Israelites are not Jews.
2-This is simply bad research/reporting/journalism. To compare the gentlemen you went on a date with, because you like black men, to the people in this film is completely inaccurate, unless he was an Israelite and therefore not a black Jew.
3-Again to parrot Orit. There are and have always been black Jews in the U.S and around the world.
4-I would hope that folks interested in learning about black Jews (or any other racially diverse Jews) would do better research than the author. Just to name a few organizations and people doing amazing work within the Jewish community in the hopes of creating more richly diverse Jewish experiences are (in alphabetical order) Asian Jewish Life, Be’chol Lashon, The Jewish Multi-Racial Network, Jews in All Hues, Kulanu, Manishtana, Y-Love and countless others.
5-This is also not to discredit the history and culture of Hebrew Israelites/Commandment Keepers. It’s a rich history that is filled with tradition, it’s just not Jewish tradition.
6-If Heeb were really interested in engaging in conversation with non-white Jews, it should seriously consider doing a bit more research.
Aviellah
Apr 20, 2012
To the author: You went out with this man to “indulge your curiosity.” Really?!?!? That statement is as ignorant as the rest of this article. Six months later you’re still testing him? He’s a fool for wanting anything to do with you.
LilahTov
Apr 20, 2012
Good grief, this article is so unbelievably offensive starting out with the fact that you only went out with this man to satisfy some mandigo curiosity. You are still questioning his authenticity six months later and this fool is still with you?!? Add to that your complete ignorance about this film and the difference between Black Jews vs. Hebrews and Israelites. Clearly, there was absolutely no research done before writing this article.
manishtana's groomsman
Apr 20, 2012
to reiterate many of the good comments, Dear Author, you really should have researched before writing something this ignorant. HEEB – shame on you. the commandment keepers are israelites not black jews – big difference. black jews, don’t worry, you see us all of the time. you ask us ignorant questions and cloak your ignorance in “curiosity.” we are on the upper west side too – mingling with the modern orthodox and hadarniks.
@erika davis sums it up perfectly.
@aviellah – great comment.
@jdate – she is not the first black rabbi. there are tons in the woodwork.
- sincerely, another black jew
Claire Hoffman
Apr 21, 2012
Dear readers,
The purpose of this article was to promote an interesting movie and to recount my experiences in a humorous way. I used the filmmaker’s synopsis (which says nothing of the Israelites or Hebrews). I would suggest you contact the creator of the film and/or 92Y to straighten up this misunderstanding. This article is not supposed to be a history lesson, but I welcome any of you to write one. It is great thing that Heeb and Glicksman raise this (apparently) obviously heated conversation; one that many don’t even know anything about.
I never once said that I “ONLY went out with this man to satisfy some mandigo curiosity.” The fact that his screen name was “YesImReallyJewish” speaks to the fact the many people doubted him. I was admitting that I was one of them, and since most of us are curious about things and people that are different, I was stating the obvious. The sad truth is that most of us are ignorant. I went out with him because we made a connection (don’t worry, it was not only because I was curious).
Readers, try not to look for opportunity to get offended and use that as an excuse to make assumptions and ad hominem attacks. I definitely look forward to reading your future articles on the subject.
niche williams
Apr 21, 2012
Israel is a nation of people consisting of 12 twelve tribes, one of which is the tribe of Judah. Descendants of Judah are judites or judeans,if you will. The correct term to use when referring to all of the tribes is ‘israelites’. Gamal Adel Nassar stated that ‘the jews left israel black and came back white’. The israelites did not originate in Europe. They scattered and after the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD many fled into Africa and they went into europe, then many of the europeans in russia, poland, kazaria, etc converted to judaism. The info is out there. Read the bible, do the research
Why Heeb’s Article on Commandment Keepers is Making it Harder to be a Black Jew. « Black, Gay and Jewish
May 7, 2012
[...] Late Friday afternoon (April 16, 2012) an article on the Heeb newsletter caught my eye: “The New Film Commandment Keepers Explores the History of Black Jews.” Excitedly I clicked the link, thankful Black Jews were being written about for such a broad Jewish audience. My excitement turned to disappointment when I saw the picture—a muscular, topless black man with a Star of David over his crotch – and the phrase “…Indulging in my curiosity (and my love for Black men)” followed by, “after six months I still catch myself testing his Jewishness.” Looking at a film about Commandment Keepers and calling it Black Judaism is easy, but it’s incorrect. That’s because the film, The Commandment Keepers, doesn’t explore the History of Black Jews, it explores the History of Commandment Keepers, a group with a rich history rooted in Jewish-like traditions. They’re just not Jewish traditions—by their own assertion. I appreciate the ability to learn about Commandment Keepers and have great admiration for their history, even if it’s not my history. But painting all Black Jews with this brush does nothing but make the rift between Jews and Jews of Color wider (You can read the article and my response in the comments here). [...]
Joel
May 8, 2012
Rather than admonishing us for taking offense at what you wrote, the better thing would be to listen to what we are saying to you about what is offensive. To not do so is to diminish our concerns. This article is very problematic, and you need to listen to that.
MaNishtana
May 8, 2012
@Claire Hoffman, are you saying that Heeb is interested in actively looking for a piece or is asking one to be written for them to showcase here on this site? Or are you saying that if one “happens” to cross your path you “might” read it?
Judith Samuels-Thomas
May 8, 2012
Niche Williams is exactly 100% accurate, and as stated “do the research”. The Hebrew Bible “Tanach” calls the children of Jacob aka Israel “Bnai Yisrael, and never refers to them as Jews. The more appropiate question is when did these europeans become Jews. I am the daughter of a Rabbi,and was born and raised in Harlem, and born into Commandment Keepers Congregation 69 years ago. As far as that ignoramous who states that we are not Ethiopian. The term Ethiopian was generally used to identify with Africa and Blackness in those days “dummy”.
Akedah R. Fulcher
May 8, 2012
“We Jews take pride in the fact that we raise our kids to be educated, open-minded and tolerant”..Seriously?? Not sure what part “YOU” were playing in that “WE” when you wrote this, but for those civic minded journalists amongst us trying hard “not to forget” the atrocities WE JEWS suffered as a result of hateful stereotypes popularized by Nazi German media …your post “dear sister” is a shameful embarrassment that few of us will soon forget. This article reflects a flagrant denial of all things beautiful and Jewish and speaks to a total lack of Jewish love, honor and sensitivity. I have NEVER seen a piece more narrow minded and ignorant in scope, and I would strongly suggest that you revisit this in time. I would also recommend that you use an alternate mode of expression to channel your “ungodly” obsession with Black men. If your “feelings of love and passion” lead you to spew this type of ignorant rhetoric across a public forum generally reserved for creative Torah dialogue and healthy Jewish discussion, then you REALLY need to seek professional help soon. Posted pictures of half naked non Jewish men in low riders shielding their testicles with the symbol of our faith is not “Black Jewish History” of any kind; it simply attests to YOUR overall indecency and failure to heed commandments known to Jews and Gentiles alike..”Love Your Neighbor as yourself” is not a “suggestion”, its a direct order from the One who created us all…revisit your Jewish roots soon!
not a Khazar
May 9, 2012
AKEDAH R. FULCHER wrote,
“. If your “feelings of love and passion” lead you to spew this type of ignorant rhetoric across a public forum generally reserved for creative Torah dialogue and healthy Jewish discussion, then you REALLY need to seek professional help soon. ”
Exactly! Finally, someone who didn’t just get here from some “advocate” listserve, but who understands what Heeb is all about. Can we please get back to Torah dialogue, people?
NICHE WILLIAMS wrote,
” Gamal Adel Nassar stated that ‘the jews left israel black and came back white’.”
THANK YOU! Nassar, who promised to “throw the Jews into the sea,” is who ALL Jews, regardless of color, should be looking to for leadership.
JUDITH SAMUELS-THOMAS wrote,
“Niche Williams is exactly 100% accurate”
THANK YOU! Throw the Jews into the sea!!
Yafeū Taom
May 9, 2012
Unless influenced by the ubiquitous Chabad missionaries, I wonder how many age old communities of Jews from Morocco to Manipur would pass your matzah balls and apple kugel so-called test? Ashkenazi cuisine does not all of K*lal Yisrael make! Never eaten albondigas nor apam? > Must not be really Jewish. BTW, many older communities traditionally prefered some variation of b*nei Yisrael as ID rather than Jew(ish).
MaNishtana
May 10, 2012
@Judith Samuels-Thomas, aside from the fact that abyssinian was more common in those days to identify with africa and blackness, abigail wrote “This film explores the history of an Ethiopian synagogue in Harlem”. do you think she knows the difference btw a real ethiopian synagogue and a faux one seeking an identification with africa? if we’re talking about doing the research, then it clearly shows that europeans did not “become jews”,”the majority” of russian and polish jews are not converts, and only a small percentage [less than 17%] have *possible* khazarian descent. if you are looking for some swell of european converts then you would *actually* be looking in the direction of rome and greece, the majority of the population of both having long since died out. additionally, reading the tanach reveals that one of jacob’s blessings to judah is that all of israel will be called by his name, hence “jews”. the more appropriate question is when did the commandment keepers become jews? following jewish-like ritual and labeling one’s self “rabbi” does not a jew make.
Judith S.-T.
May 11, 2012
Poor Manishtana,at least you do acknowlege the relationship of these europeans to the Khazars,which incidently I never mentioned. Beyond that nothing you have said deserves further attention or comment because whatever you claim to know,I do believe the Most High knows who is who.
Black and Jewish? « Black, Gay and Jewish
May 11, 2012
[...] the infamous Heeb article several weeks ago many of my friends who are JOCs have written in their disappointment and disgust [...]
Joel
May 11, 2012
http://manishtana.net/profiles/blogs/confoundment-keepers
Adam
Jun 2, 2012
Oh boy, did this stir the pot! I read this article and laughed, I perceived that it was written with some humorous intent, I guess others didn’t but it doesn’t require stoning via the comment section. Claire, write more.