African Hebrew Israelites

The African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem are a religious community of African Americans who believe that Black Americans descend from the ancient Israelites, exiled to West Africa and carried to the Americas by the slave trade. Their founder, Ben Ammi Ben-Israel (born Ben Carter, 1939-2014), a Chicago metal worker, said that in 1966 the angel Gabriel told him to lead his people back to the Promised Land. About 350 followers left Chicago for Liberia in 1967 as a 'wilderness' stage, and from 1969 groups entered Israel on tourist visas, living without legal status for decades. They do not claim to be converts and are not Jews under Israeli law. The community is one branch of the wider Black Hebrew Israelite movement in the United States and is distinct from its street-preaching camps; most members now live in Israel, with extended families in the United States.

The community lives communally under the 'Divine Instructions' of its founder: a strict vegan diet without alcohol, tobacco or drugs, regular exercise and fasting, clothing of natural fibres with ritual fringes, and Hebrew names. Polygyny is permitted and was historically about a third of marriages. Gospel and soul music are central, through the Soul Messengers band and singers such as Eddie Butler, who represented Israel at Eurovision in 1999 and 2006. Besides the biblical festivals the community celebrates New World Passover, marking its exodus from America. Vegan restaurants, organic food production and a clothing workshop support it.

African Hebrew Israelites keep the Torah's Sabbath, festivals and dietary law as interpreted by Ben Ammi, without the Talmud or rabbinic tradition, and regard Jesus (Yeshua) as one of a line of messianic messengers to Israel rather than a divine saviour. Since Ben Ammi's death in 2014 the community has been led by a council of 'princes' and priests. Members are raised within the community's schools and communal life in Dimona.

Members are English-speaking, read the Bible and know Christianity from the Black churches of Chicago and other US cities, but see it as the religion imposed on enslaved Africans and reject the divinity of Jesus. Communal discipline and strong leadership make outside religious influence difficult. English Bibles and media are fully available; no outreach to the community is known.