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{{short description|Sect of Black Hebrews}}
{{Judaism}}
{{Black Hebrews}}
__NOTOC__
⚫ The '''Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God Pillar & Ground of Truth, Inc.''' are a group of ], who believe that people of ]n descent represent one of the ].<ref name="maahcg"/> They claim ] and the ] as their ancestors, and believe the ] were black.<ref> {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060408152951/http://religiousmovements.lib.virginia.edu/nrms/blackjews.html |date=April 8, 2006 }}</ref> They originated in ], ], in 1919.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wiener |first=Robert |title=Tragedy at African-American synagogue |url=http://njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com/tragedy-at-african-american-synagogue/ |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
{{outdated|date=April 2013}}
⚫ The '''Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God Pillar & Ground of Truth, Inc.''' are a sect of ], founded in 1919 by ],<ref name="maahcg">''The Manhattan African-American History and Culture Guide,'' Museum of the City of New York</ref> who believe that people of ]n descent represent one of the ].<ref name="maahcg"/> They claim ] and the ] as their ancestors, and believe the ] to have been black.<ref></ref>


⚫ Most of its members are ] but since its founding it has had diverse visitors, and occasionally white members. They use the ] ] prayerbook, the ] ], parchment ] scrolls, and offer standard orthodox ] style Sabbath and Jewish Holy Day services.<ref name="ABC-CLIO">{{cite book|editor1-last=Pinn|editor1-first=Anthony B.|title=African American Religious Cultures|date=2009|publisher=ABC-CLIO|isbn=978-1-57607-470-1|pages=169–174|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xEEIY4Q1ZAIC&dq=%2231+Mount+Morris+Park+West%22&pg=PA171|accessdate=8 March 2016}}</ref>
⚫ ].]]

⚫ The mother congregation of the movement has since 1962 been located at 1 West 123rd Street in ], ]. Most of its members are black but it has always had white visitors and occasionally white members. They use the ] ] prayerbook, the ] ], parchment ] scrolls, and offer standard orthodox ] style Sabbath and Jewish Holy Day services.
== History ==
⚫ ] holding a ].]]
Rabbi ] created the Commandment Keepers Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth and the Faith of Jesus Christ in 1919, with members largely self-identifying as Afro-Caribbean and African American. <ref>{{Cite web |title=Between Diasporas: Religious Fluidity of Black American Jews |url=http://skidmoreanthropology.weebly.com/15/post/2014/05/between-diasporas-religious-fluidity-of-black-american-jews.html |access-date=2023-10-23 |website=Engaged Anthropology at Skidmore College |language=en}}</ref>

Originally a Christian church, the Commandment Keepers, led by Matthew, increasingly deemphasized Jesus Christ's value and accepted Orthodox Jewish practises. As a result of these doctrinal developments, the group's name was changed to Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God Pillar & Ground of Truth.<ref name="maahcg">''The Manhattan African-American History and Culture Guide,'' Museum of the City of New York</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.harlemworldmagazine.com/commandment-keepers-in-harlem/|title=Commandment Keepers in Harlem|date=2012-07-08|website=Harlem World Magazine|language=en-US|access-date=2019-10-21}}</ref> The ] notes that while some other Black Hebrew organizations are anti-semitic or racist, Matthew refrained from anti-semitic or racist teachings, and advocated for kindness between his followers and white Jews.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Extremist Sects Within the Black Hebrew Israelite Movement |url=https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounders/extremist-sects-within-the-black-hebrew-israelite-movement |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Anti-Defamation League |language=en}}</ref>

In 1962 the mother congregation of the movement purchased the historic John Dwight house at 1 West 123rd Street/31 Mount Morris Park West Harlem, New York City.<ref name="ABC-CLIO"/>


The congregation is featured in a scene from the 1970 motion picture '']''<ref>, MGM.com</ref> which starred ] and ]. The congregation is featured in a scene from the 1970 motion picture '']''<ref>, MGM.com</ref> which starred ] and ].


On June 12, 1971, Rabbi W.A. Matthew ordained three individuals as ]s, his grandson Rabbi David Matthew Doré, Rabbi Jonah McCullough, and Rabbi Willie White.
⚫ In 1973, Matthew died, creating an internal conflict over who would be the new leader. David Matthew Doré, who was 16 years old at the time, was named spiritual leader of the congregation just before Matthew’s death. In 1975, the board of the congregation elected Willie White to be the new leader. Doré continued to host services at the synagogue until the early 1980s, when White began locking people out. Doré at this time was working as a ], but states that he often tried to enter the synagogue. Throughout the 1990s membership was declining. In 2004, Zechariah ben Lewi became the rabbi for the Commandment Keepers, and membership has dropped to eight people. A ] was filed against Doré that year for wrongfully claiming himself to be the spiritual leader of the congregation. The court ruled against Doré.<ref name="Jewish Week">{{cite news |first=Eric |last=Herschthal |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Decline Of A Black Synagogue |url=http://joi.org/bloglinks/black%20synagogue%20Jewish%20Week.htm |work= |publisher=] |date=2007-07-06 |accessdate=2008-02-09 }}</ref> The ruling was overturned on July 9, 2007.<ref>Commandment Keepers v. Doré, David Matthew. Supreme Court of the State of New York. Index #100769/2004.</ref> The board proceeded to sell the building at 1 West 123rd Street. Doré, as attorney for Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God Pillar and Ground of Truth, Inc., filed a lawsuit against the board for selling the historic landmark, and in October 2007 a court vacated the sale and ordered a trial.<ref>Commandments Keepers. Supreme Court of the State of New York. Index #117509/2006.</ref> As of 2011, Doré's suit against the buyer and the individual who claimed authority to sell the historic landmark was pending.<ref>Commandment Keepers v. 31 Mount Morris Park. Supreme Court, New York County. Index #106102/2007.</ref>

In 1973, Matthew died, creating an internal conflict over who would be the new leader. David Matthew Doré, who was 18 years old at the time, was named by Rabbi Matthew as spiritual leader of the congregation just before Matthew's death. In 1975, the board of the congregation elected Willie White to be the new leader and without congregational approval shortened its name to Commandment Keepers Congregation.<ref name="Jewish Week" />

Doré continued to host services at the ] until the early 1980s, when White began locking people out. Doré at this time was working as a ], but states that he often tried to enter the synagogue. Throughout the 1990s membership was declining. In 2004, Zechariah ben Lewi became the rabbi for the Commandment Keepers, and membership had dropped to eight people, with over two hundred actual members locked out of the temple.<ref name="Jewish Week"/>

⚫ A ] was filed against Doré that year for wrongfully claiming himself to be the spiritual leader of the congregation. The court ruled against Doré.<ref name="Jewish Week">{{cite news |first=Eric |last=Herschthal |title=Decline Of A Black Synagogue |url=http://joi.org/bloglinks/black%20synagogue%20Jewish%20Week.htm |publisher=] |date=2007-07-06 |accessdate=2008-02-09 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://archive.today/20130112220712/http://joi.org/bloglinks/black%20synagogue%20Jewish%20Week.htm |archivedate=2013-01-12 }}</ref> The ruling was overturned on July 9, 2007.<ref>Commandment Keepers v. Doré, David Matthew. Supreme Court of the State of New York. Index #100769/2004.</ref> The board proceeded to sell the building at 1 West 123rd Street. Doré, as attorney for Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God Pillar and Ground of Truth, Inc., filed a lawsuit against the board for selling the historic landmark, and in October 2007 a court vacated the sale and ordered a trial.<ref>Commandments Keepers. Supreme Court of the State of New York. Index #117509/2006.</ref>

As of 2011, Doré's suit against the buyer and the individual who claimed authority to sell the historic landmark was pending.<ref>Commandment Keepers v. 31 Mount Morris Park. Supreme Court, New York County. Index #106102/2007.</ref>
The named defendants submitted motions to dismiss the action, Doré, as counsel for the congregation, filed opposition papers and both motions were denied. Defendants then appealed to the Appellate Division First Department. After oral argument the Appellate Division, in a unanimous decision issued June 4, 2013, denied defendants appeal to dismiss the case and affirmed the ruling of the lower court that denied defendants motion to dismiss.<ref>Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God v. 31 Mount Morris Park, LLC 107 A.D.3d 406, 965 N.Y.S.2d 727 N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept. 2013.</ref> The case was on the trial calendar for April 2, 2014 before Justice Richard F. Braun.

The Dwight house is now owned by poet ] and his partner ] who purchased it in 2010 from a development company.<ref name="Wills">{{cite news|last1=Wills|first1=Cheryl|title=Poet Takes on Massive Renovation of Historic Harlem Home|url=http://www.ny1.com/nyc/manhattan/news/2015/07/21/poet-takes-on-massive-renovation-of-historic-harlem-home-.html|accessdate=8 March 2016|publisher=Warner Cable News|date=July 22, 2015}}</ref>

As of 2014 Black Jews influenced by the Commandment Keepers continue to practice at Mt. Horeb Congregation in the Bronx, Beth Shalom in Bedstuyvesant in Brooklyn, B'nai Adat in Brooklyn, and Beth Elohim in Queens; and as of 2009 at ] in ].<ref name="ABC-CLIO"/><ref name=":0" /> In 2014 they compiled their first ], a Jewish prayer book, prepared specifically for Black Jews.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2014-09-09 |title=Black Jewish Temples Get Their Own Prayer Book |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/belief/articles/black-jewish-siddur |access-date=2022-05-19 |website=Tablet Magazine}}</ref>

According to a 2014 piece in ], the practices of the Commandment Keepers have gradually become more orthodox in observance over time, and there is diversity in the traditions of individual temples.<ref name=":0" />


⚫ == References ==
The congregation will be profiled in a documentary film currently under development, which will be released in the near future.<ref></ref>


⚫ ==References==
===Notes===
{{Reflist}} {{Reflist}}


===Bibliography=== ==Bibliography==
* , jewishvirtuallibrary.org * , jewishvirtuallibrary.org
* at nyc-architecture.com * at nyc-architecture.com
* at film website * at film website
* on congregation. * on congregation.


==External links== ==External links==
* *
*
* *


] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]
] ]

Latest revision as of 08:10, 6 June 2024

Sect of Black Hebrews
Black Hebrew Israelites
Subgroups and denominations
People

The Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God Pillar & Ground of Truth, Inc. are a group of Black Hebrews, who believe that people of Ethiopian descent represent one of the lost tribes of Israel. They claim King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba as their ancestors, and believe the biblical patriarchs were black. They originated in Harlem, New York City, in 1919.

Most of its members are Afro-Caribbean but since its founding it has had diverse visitors, and occasionally white members. They use the De Sola Pool Spanish and Portuguese prayerbook, the Hertz Chumash, parchment Torah scrolls, and offer standard orthodox Sephardi style Sabbath and Jewish Holy Day services.

History

Rabbi Wentworth Arthur Matthew holding a Torah scroll.

Rabbi Wentworth Arthur Matthew created the Commandment Keepers Church of the Living God the Pillar and Ground of Truth and the Faith of Jesus Christ in 1919, with members largely self-identifying as Afro-Caribbean and African American.

Originally a Christian church, the Commandment Keepers, led by Matthew, increasingly deemphasized Jesus Christ's value and accepted Orthodox Jewish practises. As a result of these doctrinal developments, the group's name was changed to Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God Pillar & Ground of Truth. The Anti-Defamation League notes that while some other Black Hebrew organizations are anti-semitic or racist, Matthew refrained from anti-semitic or racist teachings, and advocated for kindness between his followers and white Jews.

In 1962 the mother congregation of the movement purchased the historic John Dwight house at 1 West 123rd Street/31 Mount Morris Park West Harlem, New York City.

The congregation is featured in a scene from the 1970 motion picture The Angel Levine which starred Harry Belafonte and Zero Mostel.

On June 12, 1971, Rabbi W.A. Matthew ordained three individuals as rabbis, his grandson Rabbi David Matthew Doré, Rabbi Jonah McCullough, and Rabbi Willie White.

In 1973, Matthew died, creating an internal conflict over who would be the new leader. David Matthew Doré, who was 18 years old at the time, was named by Rabbi Matthew as spiritual leader of the congregation just before Matthew's death. In 1975, the board of the congregation elected Willie White to be the new leader and without congregational approval shortened its name to Commandment Keepers Congregation.

Doré continued to host services at the synagogue until the early 1980s, when White began locking people out. Doré at this time was working as a lawyer, but states that he often tried to enter the synagogue. Throughout the 1990s membership was declining. In 2004, Zechariah ben Lewi became the rabbi for the Commandment Keepers, and membership had dropped to eight people, with over two hundred actual members locked out of the temple.

A lawsuit was filed against Doré that year for wrongfully claiming himself to be the spiritual leader of the congregation. The court ruled against Doré. The ruling was overturned on July 9, 2007. The board proceeded to sell the building at 1 West 123rd Street. Doré, as attorney for Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God Pillar and Ground of Truth, Inc., filed a lawsuit against the board for selling the historic landmark, and in October 2007 a court vacated the sale and ordered a trial.

As of 2011, Doré's suit against the buyer and the individual who claimed authority to sell the historic landmark was pending. The named defendants submitted motions to dismiss the action, Doré, as counsel for the congregation, filed opposition papers and both motions were denied. Defendants then appealed to the Appellate Division First Department. After oral argument the Appellate Division, in a unanimous decision issued June 4, 2013, denied defendants appeal to dismiss the case and affirmed the ruling of the lower court that denied defendants motion to dismiss. The case was on the trial calendar for April 2, 2014 before Justice Richard F. Braun.

The Dwight house is now owned by poet James Fenton and his partner Darryl Pinckney who purchased it in 2010 from a development company.

As of 2014 Black Jews influenced by the Commandment Keepers continue to practice at Mt. Horeb Congregation in the Bronx, Beth Shalom in Bedstuyvesant in Brooklyn, B'nai Adat in Brooklyn, and Beth Elohim in Queens; and as of 2009 at B'nai Zaken in Chicago. In 2014 they compiled their first Siddur, a Jewish prayer book, prepared specifically for Black Jews.

According to a 2014 piece in Tablet magazine, the practices of the Commandment Keepers have gradually become more orthodox in observance over time, and there is diversity in the traditions of individual temples.

References

  1. ^ The Manhattan African-American History and Culture Guide, Museum of the City of New York
  2. University of Virginia New Religious Movements website Archived April 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  3. Wiener, Robert. "Tragedy at African-American synagogue". njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  4. ^ Pinn, Anthony B., ed. (2009). African American Religious Cultures. ABC-CLIO. pp. 169–174. ISBN 978-1-57607-470-1. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  5. "Between Diasporas: Religious Fluidity of Black American Jews". Engaged Anthropology at Skidmore College. Retrieved 2023-10-23.
  6. "Commandment Keepers in Harlem". Harlem World Magazine. 2012-07-08. Retrieved 2019-10-21.
  7. "Extremist Sects Within the Black Hebrew Israelite Movement". Anti-Defamation League. Retrieved 2022-05-19.
  8. The Angel Levine, MGM.com
  9. ^ Herschthal, Eric (2007-07-06). "Decline Of A Black Synagogue". The Jewish Week. Archived from the original on 2013-01-12. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  10. Commandment Keepers v. Doré, David Matthew. Supreme Court of the State of New York. Index #100769/2004.
  11. Commandments Keepers. Supreme Court of the State of New York. Index #117509/2006.
  12. Commandment Keepers v. 31 Mount Morris Park. Supreme Court, New York County. Index #106102/2007.
  13. Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God v. 31 Mount Morris Park, LLC 107 A.D.3d 406, 965 N.Y.S.2d 727 N.Y.A.D. 1 Dept. 2013.
  14. Wills, Cheryl (July 22, 2015). "Poet Takes on Massive Renovation of Historic Harlem Home". Warner Cable News. Retrieved 8 March 2016.
  15. ^ "Black Jewish Temples Get Their Own Prayer Book". Tablet Magazine. 2014-09-09. Retrieved 2022-05-19.

Bibliography

External links

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