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Introduction
The "Commandment Keepers:" are a sect of Jews, founded in 1919 by Nigerian-born Rabbi Arthur Wentworth Matthew, 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 to have been black.
Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation – Beth Ha-Tefilah Headquarters diverse and culturally rich history goes back to 1919 when the late Chief Rabbi Wentworth Arthur Matthew zt”l"Chief Rabbi Matthew" established his Orthodox Ethiopian Hebraic congregation in Harlem, New York.
Its mission was to inspire Orthodox Ethiopian Hebraic Culture in the hearts of the people of the Ethiopian Hebrew linage and faith, and to inspire in them a desire for the knowledge, learning, love and respect for HaShem, blessed be HE, in the Ethiopian Hebrew tradition.
Congregation Growth
The late Chief Rabbi Matthew in his Minute Book gives an account of the congregation’s growth from 1919 – 1942 :
“Unto the Commandment Keepers Congregation of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth, everywhere —
Greetings in the Name of the God of Heaven, The God of Abraham, of Isaac and Jacob:
It has been indeed a long time since we have had the privilege of printing the minutes of our activities in the U.S.A. and over seas.
As we all know, the years of adversity which blanketed the whole world from 1929 to 1940 have been years only of the survival of the fittest. I consider that we were fortunate in that we were able to survive, even though we had to go without our yearly guide and minutes. It is because of these facts that I shall endeavor to give a bird’s eye view of our activities of the last ten years, and a synopsis of the last twenty years.
From 1919 to 1930 The Commandments Keepers Congregation of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of the Truth prospered, as we surged back and forth with the tides of life, doing all the good we could for all who came unto us seeking our spiritual and moral aid. During the aforementioned period, under the spiritual guidance of Rabbi W.A. Matthew, the work grew and prospered. Branches were set up in many eastern cities, also in the south, south-west, and in the West Indies . Among these cities and towns and islands are New York; New Rochelle; Brooklyn, N.Y.; Arverne, L.I., N.Y., Jersey City, N.J.; Youngstown, O.; Phila., Pa.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Columbus, O.; Cincinnati, O.; Arkansas; Los Angeles, Cal.; Cullen, Va.; Jamaica, B.W.I.; St. Christopher, B.W.I.
Then came the financial crash of 1929. The closing of banks, the loss of savings and investments, people losing their jobs, the bread line, people’s belongings being thrown on the streets everywhere, while others lost their homes, and still others fell into despondency and died. Throughout the first and second years we held our own, but the pressure soon began to make itself felt upon us, and in April 1932 the congregation wilted under the impact and we lost our house of worship and our school and Old Folks Home in New York City. But taking courage, a few of the pure gold members got together, made the supreme sacrifice and raised enough to rent space at 30 West 129th Street…
We carried on under these conditions for four years, from 1932 to 1936. Then by rapid strides and careful manipulation of what little finance we were able to accumulate, we obtained the property at 87 West 128th Street, N.Y.C., and again assembled the work and consolidated our efforts, bringing the congregation and the school and Royal Order of Ethiopian Hebrews under one roof. Also the Home and the Mikvah (Place of ritual bath) on the floors above.
The newspapers began to take particular notice of us in giving us all manner of publicly; this has been of considerable help to us. We can only say: ‘God moves in mysterious ways, His wonders to perform.’ Foremost among the leading newspapers and magazines were: The Amsterdam News, the Afro-American and, topping them all, The Pittsburgh Courrier. Among the whites, were: The Forward, The Tog (The Day), and the Friheight. The Times Magazine, some High School newspaper, and others too numerous to mention. In spite of all our troubles we held a conference each year…
The Conference of 1932, the year of our greatest trial, found us with thirty and two additional members, bringing the membership record to five hundred and eighty (580). The Conferences of 1933, 1934, 1935 and 1936 found us in the most gigantic struggle of any people for a place under the sun. Having moved to our present place of worship and cultural education, we accepted the challenge of our fate.
The Conference of 1937 showed that we had grown from five hundred and eighty (580) members to eight hundred and seventy (870)…
The Ethiopian Hebrew Rabbinical College of the Royal Order of Ethiopian Hebrews also shewed a tremendous stride forward…
The Annual Conference of 1938 convened August 19th, 1938, at 87 West 128th Street , New York City …the enrolled membership to one thousand (1,000)…
The Annual Conference of 1939 convened at 10 a.m., August 2nd…
The 21st Annual Conference of the Commandment Keepers Congregation of the Living God convened at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, July 30th, 1941, at 87 West 128th Street, New York City…”[
Founding of Commandment Keepers
"Semitic Cushim Judaism" began to emerge in Harlem as early as 1899. There was Prophet Crowdy who preached in the streets of Harlem. Elder Robeson, Arnold J. Ford, West Indian born, W.A. Matthew, West Indian born, and Mordecai Herman who were linked to the movement of early "Semitic Cushim Judaism" in New York City. The teachings of these men had a great impact on the Semitic Cushim in Harlem . However, of all the men who have established congregations, the late Chief Rabbi Matthew was most renowned, because his congregation attracted the media and various scholarly studies conducted by sociologists, students, and men of academia. In particular, the studies of sociologist student, Howard M. Brotz, who later wrote a book entitled: "The Black Jews of Harlem" would be responsible for the increase in further studies of Chief Rabbi Matthew's congregation.
Chief Rabbi Matthew had been a bishop in the Church of the Living God, the Pillar and Ground of Truth, a Pentecostal church that had endorsed the UNIA. It was during this time that Chief Rabbi Matthew began to examine the spiritual, psychological, economic, social and political conditions of Semitic Cushim Hebrews-Jews. He associated himself with Rabbi Arnold Josiah Ford, a devout follower and musical director of Marcus Garvey's UNIA. Rabbi Ford influenced Chief Rabbi Matthew's perspective on religion and Ethiopia. Rabbi Ford's influence, opened the door for Chief Rabbi Matthew who embraced Orthodox Ethiopian Hebraic tradition. More important, Chief Rabbi Matthew began to identify with the Falashas, the Semitic Cushim Jews of Harlem.
Crowning of Emporer Haile Selassie
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In 1935, His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie, Lion of Judah, descendant of Menelik, descendant of Solomon was crowned emperor of Ethiopia. The crowning of His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Haile Selassie was one of the turning points for Chief Rabbi Matthew, having received from His Imperial Majesty, through Rabbi Arnold Ford who had lived in Ethiopia, an official Ethiopian document authenticating the Commandment Keepers congregation as the Ethiopian Hebrews in the Americas.
Name Change and Move
Despite the adversity from 1919 to 1942 as documented in his Minute Book, the congregation was successful. On July 13, 1921 Chief Rabbi Matthew filed the Certificate of Incorporation in the Office of the County Clerk, New York County, under the original name of the congregation: The Commandment Keepers Church of the Living God The Pillar and Ground of the Truth and the Faith of Jesus Christ. Forty-one years later, on March 10, 1962, Chief Rabbi Matthew filed a Certificate of Name Change to name the congregation: The Commandment Keepers Church of the Living God The Pillar and Ground of the Truth.
Chief Rabbi Matthew and his congregation purchased a five-story brownstone at 31 Mount Morris Park West also known as 1 West 123rd Street, in Harlem, New York. The brownstone was designed in 1890 by Frank H. Smith for the John Dwight family. John Dwight was the baking soda baron whose famous "Arm & Hammer" brand continues to enjoy popularity today. The building was converted into a synagogue by its founder the late Chief Rabbi Matthew in 1962. Influenced by the Falashas in Ethiopia, Chief Rabbi Matthew commissioned Rabbi Nathaniel Levy to make a sign for the front entrance of its new building in Harlem which read: Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Cong., Inc. Beth - Ha-Tefilah Headquarters.
On Sunday, December 23, 1962, at 2:00 p.m., Chief Rabbi Matthew and the congregation, held its dedication of its new synagogue. The congregational procession took place at 1:30 p.m. The congregation walked from 87 West 128th Street to their new synagogue building at 1 West 123rd Street. The torahs were placed in the new synagogue building by the rabbinical staff: Chief Rabbi Matthew, Rabbi D. Small, (Associate Rabbi), and Rabbi M. Stephen, (2nd Associate Rabbi). Chief Rabbi Matthew conducted the prayer service; Rabbi Stephen gave the welcome address; the dedication sermon was given by Rabbi I. Block of the Brotherhood Synagogue; and Chief Rabbi Matthew gave the closing remarks.
The synagogue's name had evolved from The Commandment Keepers Church of the Living God The Pillar and Ground of the Truth and the Faith of Jesus Christ to Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Cong., Inc. Beth - Ha-Tefilah Headquarters to reflect the delicate balance between the influence of the community in which the Hebrew congregation lived, legal requirements, Ethiopian Hebraic culture and Hebrew fundamental beliefs illustrating "continuity and change" of the Hebrew congregation as Chief Rabbi Matthew developed his congregation moving it closer to an Ethiopian Orthodox Hebraic tradition and away from Christian ideology.
Chief Rabbi Matthew understood the Ethiopian Hebraic mindset that a name and entity are linked together to form a unity and ultimately its destiny. The use of a name creates a relationship with the entity named. As Chief Rabbi Matthew evolved in his own spiritual, cultural and political development the name of the congregation evolved to create a mission and destiny for his congregation. As the climate and race relations in America had begun to change; it became more popular, and seemingly easier for Chief Rabbi Matthew to declare the existence of the "Semitic Cushim Hebrews - Jews" in Harlem.
Rabbi Matthew
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During his tenure as Chief Rabbi of Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation, Inc. Beth-Ha-Tefilah Headquarters, Chief Rabbi Matthew was assisted by Rabbi Darnley Smalls and Rabbi Matthew Stevens until his death in 1973. Prior to his death, he ordained three rabbis, Rabbi White, Rabbi McCullough and Rabbi Dore. Rabbi Chaim White zt"l succeeded Chief Rabbi Matthew as spiritual leader.
Delinquent Taxes
On July 8, 1969, the City of New York listed a number of parcels to be taken due to delinquent taxes. 31 Mount Morris Park West appeared on the list; the property was In Rem. The building that became home to the oldest Semitic Cushim Hebrew congregation of the United States and the Caribbean Islands was in danger of being taken by the City of New York. Chief Rabbi Matthew while still alive, fought vigorously to regain possession of the building so that Hashem's will, blessed be HE, would be done.
Rabbi White assuming the responsibility of the congregation understood the congregation was still at risk of losing its house of worship, the building was still In Rem.
Rabbi White, with a few "pure gold members"---!What's a pure gold member?--!, got together and raised enough funds to satisfy the delinquency. Gabbi David Lee, an elder, financial secretary, and member in good standing of the congregation for over fifty years, sat outside of the office while Rabbi White took care of the outstanding monies owed to The City of New York. The City of New York after receiving satisfaction of payment from Rabbi White, released the building back to the congregation.
Many of the elders who have been members for fifty or more years, Gabbi Lee, Emah Shellmon, and a host of other elders, all recall this event as it was a crucial and turning point for Commandment Keepers. The elders have often attributed Rabbi White's courage, determination and sacrifice along with those few "pure gold members", who together raised the necessary funds to have the building released from the City of New York as one of the single and most important event in the history of Commandment Keepers. {{fact} They have all commented that Rabbi White and those pure gold members "saved" Commandment Keepers and its house of worship.
Rabbi White
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Rabbi White dedicated his life to maintaining the tradition developed from the teachings of the late Chief Rabbi Matthew---he preserved the legacy, and continued to promote integrity in worship to the many followers of Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation, Inc. Beth---Ha-Tefilah Headquarters until his death in 1997.
Rabbi Yhoshua Yohanatan succeeded Rabbi White and became acting spiritual leader until he retired in 2000.
Commandment Keepers Currently
Its current congregation continues its ancient Ethiopian Hebraic traditions and culture of the late Chief Rabbi Matthew through its spiritual leader, Rabbi Zechariah Lewi. However, after more than 30 years of hard work, adversity has taken its toil on Commandment Keepers. The synagogue is currently in its greatest hour of test, and the few dedicated members remaining have been faced with the daunting task of finding a way to revitalize and continue Chief Rabbi Matthew's legacy.
On April 21, 2007, the congregation closed its synagogue doors in Harlem which has been the congregation's home for over forty-five years. This was considered to be necessary so as to strageically move to another place . It has become a challenge for the remaining members .
From 1962 to 2007, the congregation has been located at 1 West 123rd Street in Harlem, New York City. Most of the members of the congregation are black but has always had white visitors and occasionally white members. They use the De Sola Pool Spanish&Portuguese prayerbook, the Hertz Chumash, parchment Torah scrolls, and offer standard orthodox Sephardi style Sabbath and Jewish Holyday services.
The congregation will be profiled in a documentary film currently under development, which will be released in the near future.
References
- ^ The Manhattan African-American History and Culture Guide, Museum of the City of New York
- University of Virginia New Religious Movements website
- "The Commandment Keepers" film website
- Article on Black Jewish community, jewishvirtuallibrary.org
- Synagogue profile at nyc-architecture.com
- Congregation description at film website
- New York Post article on congregation.