Our Philosophy
Most of the time around the world, when men speak of the Kingdom
of God, they do so metaphorically. It is only some mythical paradise
located in outer space, where the problems which have plagued
humanity, magically cease to exist. What's more, one could only
reach this heaven after death.
But in this land, Israel, Northeast Africa our perspective is
different. Here the Biblical prophets, especially Isaiah and Daniel,
taught us of this very real kingdom. The scriptures told us that it
will be established in this land, at a time when larger nations
dominate the global scene. This kingdom would start as a mustard
seed, minute and obscure. Yet it will eventually grow, and never be
destroyed.
What does this mean to mankind now? That somewhere in this land,
there is a body of people dedicated to the fulfillment of this
prophecy...in order that the words inspired by the Holy One of
Israel, will not fail. Moreover, it is clear that Israel must live
out its prophetic purpose... to be a light unto humanity
demonstrating the benefits of living according to the word of God.
The African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem are comprised of
approximately 2,000 men, women and children residing in three
development towns - - Dimona, Arad and Mitzpe Ramon - - in southern
Israel. We maintain a vibrant culture which includes a communal
lifestyle, a vegan diet, a system of preventive health care and high
moral standards - - a holistic approach to life based on
righteousness. Our intent is to live according to the laws and
prophecies of God.
Since our arrival in Dimona, in 1969, it has been our objective
to be the foundation for the establishing of God’s Kingdom on Earth.
The accomplishments of the past years have only strengthened our
faith in the words of the prophets. Perhaps it will be hard for many
to conceive that the former African Americans would be the source of
this inspiration, and readily leave the pleasures of the
ultra-modern America for life in the desert wilderness. But it is
true. It is time now to bear testimony to the infallible word of
God.
“Hearken unto me, ye that know righteousness, the people
in whose heart is my law; fear not the reproach of men, neither
be afraid of their revilings (insults).”
Isaiah 51:7
Although our presence (in previous years) raised opposition,
controversy and much political clamor, we continue to nurture from
within a lifestyle which is proving to be inspiring as well as
refreshing to everyone in a world that has waxed cold.
Historical Background
As a direct result of their disobedience to the laws and
commandments of God, the ancient Hebrew Israelites were held captive
by various nations including the Egyptians, Assyrians and
Babylonians. In 70 C.E. the remnants of The African Hebrew
Israelites were driven from Jerusalem by the Romans into different
parts of the world, including Africa. Many Hebrew Israelites
migrated to West Africa where they, once again, were carried away
captive - this time by Europeans on slave ships - to the Americas
along with other African tribes people.
In 1966 our spiritual leader, Ben Ammi, had a vision that it was
time for the Children of Israel who remained in America (the land of
their captivity) to return to the Holy Land (the land of their
origin).
In 1967, after almost two thousand years in the Diaspora, four
hundred Hebrew Israelites were inspired by the spirit of God to make
an exodus from America. According to plan, they settled in Liberia’s
interior to purge themselves of the negative attributes they had
acquired in the captivity. After spending a two-and-one-half year
period in Liberia, The African Hebrew Israelites were prepared to
make the last portion of their journey home, returning to Israel in
1969.
In today’s world, man has created so many diversions from and
substitutions for the true worship of God that the people have lost
their way. We realized just how far we had been led away from God
and were astounded by the drastic changes required for those of us
who desired to fulfill our responsibility to God as Hebrew
Israelites. Nonetheless, we have committed ourselves to the high
degree of courage and discipline required to establish an
alternative lifestyle that is in harmony with the cycles of God.
Why Israel?
Israel was not intended to be fashioned after the standards of
Western societies. It was once a center of spiritual guidance and
instruction. Israel was to be a place where all nations would come
seeking the presence and wisdom of God. We have been motivated by
our spiritual teacher and leader, Ben Ammi, to take on the
Divinely-inspired mission to establish the prophetic “Kingdom of
God” in the Holy Land. We have built a society based on the precepts
of righteousness which emanates the presence of God and serves as a
living example for all men... a society where solutions to the
seemingly irreversible problems that plague mankind - rampant
disease, drug abuse, sexual abuse, corruption, ecological
destruction, disintegration of the family unity, etc. - can be
found.
We do not subscribe to any religion because religions have only
divided men. We regard the true worship of God as a continuous
process: 24 hours a day... 7 days a week.
“The true worship of God is an entire way of life, a
continuous action, from the meal you eat in the morning, to the
job you work on. It encompasses your every deed and thought.”
God The Black Man and Truth, by Ben Ammi
If we all worshipped God in this manner there would be no hole in
the ozone, the water would be safe to drink, there would be no
threat of war and there would be no inequality among men. As the
20th century comes to a close, we realize that pursuit of the modern
technological society is not the answer to that which ails man. For
this reason, we have sacrificed our individual interests and
invested our lives in the building of the Kingdom of God - a viable
solution for the salvation for all mankind.
Our Historical Connection To The Holy Land
Migration of The African Hebrew Israelites Throughout Africa
Prior to the excavation of the Suez Canal (1859-69) the entire
Arabian Peninsula and what has become known today as the ”Middle
East” were physically connected with the African continent. African
people lived and moved freely throughout this region of the world.
After the invasion of the Romans in 70 C.E., remnants of the
Hebrew Israelites were driven from Jerusalem. For more than 1,000
years many of them migrated across the continent, eventually
reaching West Africa.
From there, they were carried to the Americas where they were to
become victims of the most cruel and inhumane slavery in recorded
history. However, according to the word of God, this devastating
path would eventually lead them back to their homeland (Israel) to
fulfill their prophetic destiny.
"The number of slaves taken by the companies and private
traders during the whole period of the slave trade is difficult
to estimate. One French historian says that it is no
exaggeration to say that 100,000,000 people were lost...”
The Story of Sierra Leone, Frances A. J. Utting
There are many biblical references to various locations in Africa
and interaction between the ancient Israelites and African peoples
and places: King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba; migration into
Egypt and subsequent enslavement, etc. Considering that such
interaction and migration took place it is not hard to perceive that
Hebrew Israelites were among the one hundred million who were taken
from Africa during the trans-Atlantic slave trade. There is no way
they could have escaped.
This fact is supported by the numerous accounts of Hebrew
Israelite culture and religious tradition throughout Africa. In the
introduction to his book God the Black Man and Truth,
Ben Ammi points out that “We know that many West Africans,
especially the Ashantis, are direct descendants of the ancient
Hebrews because of the strong Hebrewisms that have been identified
in Ashanti tribal customs, observance of the Sabbath (Saturday) as
well as the name Ashanti from the words ‘ti,’ which in the west
African tongue means ‘race of’ and Ashan, a town in the domain of
Judah (see Joshua 15:42).”
An article published in one of Israel’s daily Hebrew newspapers,
Ma’ariv (16 Sept. 1991) states, “No other Zimbabweans blow the
Shofar except Zacharia who is of the lost tribe of Israel. Tens of
thousands of “Black Jews” were discovered there recently... They are
called “Lemba” and according to their tradition they are the
descendants of Abraham, Moses and Solomon.” Mary Benson documented
in her work Nelson Mandela The Man and the Movement, his reference
to Israelites in South Africa, “...in 1921 General Smuts, the Prime
Minister, had sent an army which massacred 163 men, women and
children at nearby Bulhoek in the Eastern Cape; members of an
Israelite sect...”
Acknowledging that a mass migration of Israelites did take place
throughout Africa forces us to follow their footsteps across the
landscape of time and to recall that during the centuries of
enslavement in America the captives rebelled against the slave
masters who stripped them of their names, their language, culture
and religion. In his writing, Before the Mayflower, Lerone Bennett,
Jr. points out that “Few slaves accepted this version of
Christianity. Their God was the God who delivered the Israelites.”
Additionally, the Israelites who were taken into America
maintained remnants of their heritage through the lyrics of what
became known as slave songs or spirituals, “Canaan’s Land where my
possessions lie...” They never stopped praising the God of Israel
and never turned their eyes from Zion. Even in terms of language
they continued to use certain words which were definitely rooted in
their original language (Hebrew). Words such as “ain’t,” which is
derived from The African Hebrew word “ayne” which also means no,
not, nothing, there is not, etc.
Throughout the prophetic exile, migration, enslavement and later
“assimilation” into the American way of life, many African Americans
still know that their heritage is rooted in the Holy Land - Israel.
On the eve of his assassination in 1968, the late Reverend Dr.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was inspired to prophesy, “I just want to do
God’s will... He’s allowed me to go up to the mountain... I’ve seen
the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to
know... that we as a people will get to the Promised Land.” His
words underscore an undeniable spiritual re-awakening.
Our presence in the Holy Land is fulfillment of Dr. King’s
vision, the words of the prophets - “And I shall put my spirit in
you, and ye shall live, I shall place you in your own land: then
shall ye know that I the Lord have spoken it, and performed it,
saith the Lord.” (Ezekiel 37:14) - as well as the spiritual yearning
of all those children of Israel who had been cast out and have
pleaded with God for almost two thousand years to be restored.
An unbiased investigation of the information presented in this
writing will bring us to the conclusion that people of African
origin have a definite connection with the Holy Land and a role to
play in the prophetic spiritual re-awakening that is in progress.
While we are acutely aware of the challenge presented, we are
prepared (for the sake of the creation and all humanity) to live out
our responsibility and invoke the presence of God in the affairs of
man. Our purpose in pursuing our heritage, against all odds, is to
establish the prophetic “Kingdom of God” in the Holy Land - to be
that inspiration and guiding light which is destined to shine forth
from Jerusalem.
“I just want to do God’s will... He’s allowed me to go up
to the mountain... I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get
there with you. But I want you to know... that we as a people
will get to the Promised Land.”
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 1968
“The truth is, blessings or curses are each the fruit
(results) of the works of those upon whom they fall. Thereby, in
the final analysis, man either blesses or curses himself.”
God and the Law of Relativity - Ben Ammi
Customs
Our life is a very active and fruitful founded on the laws,
commandments and prophecies of the Holy One of Israel which govern
interaction with family, friends and the community at-large. We do
not perceive man’s relationship with God as being prohibitive. We,
very simply, adhere to customs and traditions that have been, either
handed down to us from generation to generation or that have evolved
as we undergo a process of redemption - - the recuperation from the
effects of slavery and nearly having lost total knowledge of our
identity and heritage. The keeping of the Sabbath and Holy Days,
(Passover, Shavuout, Memorial Blowing of the Trumpets, Yom Kippur
and Succoth) as outlined in the Old Testament, is our way of
expressing appreciation to the benevolent God. In conjunction with
these Holy Days we also observe (among others) the following
Biblical laws: the maintenance of a vegan diet void of all animal
by-products (Genesis 1:29) the wearing of only natural
fabrics - - cotton, wool, linen and silk (based on Leviticus
12:12) the circumcision of our male children eight days after
birth (Leviticus 12:3) and, the maintenance of the laws of
purification for women relative to their monthly cycle and
childbirth (Leviticus 12:2-5) In accordance with the
prophetic return of the Children of Israel (Jeremiah 23:7-8)
annually, in mid-May, members of our community commemorate the
historic exodus of the vanguard group which left the shores of
America in May 1967. Two days of outdoor festivities, sports activities and
entertainment mark this important remembrance which is one of our
most festive, fun-filled events.
Conclusion
After more than 40 years in the Holy Land, the African Hebrew
Israelites of Jerusalem have managed inarguable string of
achievements: men who are capable, responsible and caring; women who
are valued as equals and encouraged to achieve; children who are
protected, nurtured and encouraged to grow and appreciate the
Creation and respect their role in it; elders who are healthy,
vital, revered for their wisdom and knowledge and expected to
continue as integral, functioning parts of the community. These are
the very tenants that once were the hallmarks of successful,
progressive societies. Whatever might be said about the African
Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, above all, it must be recognized as
a tangible, viable and more importantly, righteous, alternative for
those who long to see peace, justice, mercy, truth, love.
Selah
