Ben Carter
Encyclopedia
Ben Ammi Ben-Israel (born 1939) is the American founder and spiritual leader of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, a group that developed in Chicago, Illinois among the African-American community. Claiming to be a lost tribe of Israel, most of its members have lived in Dimona, Israel since the late 1960s. They have recently been accepted as citizens, although the Chief Rabbinate does not recognize them as Jews.
. In the vision he claimed he was instructed to: "Lead the children of Israel among African Americans to the promised land, and establish the long-awaited Kingdom of God."
In 1967, Ben Ammi led approximately 350 of his followers to Liberia
to purge themselves of the negro mind they had received in the United States. After two and a half years, many had lost faith and returned home. At this point, in 1969, he decided to send five families to Israel
. Ben Ammi and more of his followers arrived in the ensuing months.
The Israeli authorities did not recognize the group as Jewish, and did not grant them entry under the Law of Return
; they did not receive Israeli citizenship. They were allowed entry into the country, and issued tourist visas. Conflict arose when it became apparent that the group had no intention of leaving.
In 1989, Ben Ammi met with the Israeli Interior Minister, and the following year the group's members were issued work permits. In 1991, they were given temporary resident status for a period of five years, which in 1995 was extended for another three years. At the beginning of 2004, the community was granted residency status by the Interior Ministry. In 2008 the Israeli president Shimon Peres
made a historic visit to the Black Hebrew community. In 2009 the first members of the community began receiving citizenship status within the State of Israel.
Early life
Born on October 12, 1939, Ben Ammi grew up in Chicago. At a young age, he worked in a factory casting airline parts. A coworker introduced him to the idea that African Americans are descendants of the Biblical Israelites.Biography
When ordained as a rabbi at the age of 22, he took the name Ben Ammi Ben-Israel. In 1966 Ben Ammi claims to have received a vision from the angel GabrielGabriel
In Abrahamic religions, Gabriel is an Archangel who typically serves as a messenger to humans from God.He first appears in the Book of Daniel, delivering explanations of Daniel's visions. In the Gospel of Luke Gabriel foretells the births of both John the Baptist and of Jesus...
. In the vision he claimed he was instructed to: "Lead the children of Israel among African Americans to the promised land, and establish the long-awaited Kingdom of God."
In 1967, Ben Ammi led approximately 350 of his followers to Liberia
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
to purge themselves of the negro mind they had received in the United States. After two and a half years, many had lost faith and returned home. At this point, in 1969, he decided to send five families to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
. Ben Ammi and more of his followers arrived in the ensuing months.
The Israeli authorities did not recognize the group as Jewish, and did not grant them entry under the Law of Return
Law of Return
The Law of Return is Israeli legislation, passed on 5 July 1950, that gives Jews the right of return and settlement in Israel and gain citizenship...
; they did not receive Israeli citizenship. They were allowed entry into the country, and issued tourist visas. Conflict arose when it became apparent that the group had no intention of leaving.
In 1989, Ben Ammi met with the Israeli Interior Minister, and the following year the group's members were issued work permits. In 1991, they were given temporary resident status for a period of five years, which in 1995 was extended for another three years. At the beginning of 2004, the community was granted residency status by the Interior Ministry. In 2008 the Israeli president Shimon Peres
Shimon Peres
GCMG is the ninth President of the State of Israel. Peres served twice as the eighth Prime Minister of Israel and once as Interim Prime Minister, and has been a member of 12 cabinets in a political career spanning over 66 years...
made a historic visit to the Black Hebrew community. In 2009 the first members of the community began receiving citizenship status within the State of Israel.