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Atlanta - Conversions to Judaism Among African-Americans Are Growing |
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Pamela Harris, and her husband, Jimmy, are part of a growing a trend in the US, blacks converting to Judaism.
As a black woman and a Baptist in the South, that was a peculiar, somewhat troubling realization. But when she turned her doubts about Christianity into a search for answers, the truth became evident: She had to go deeper than the Old Testament. She had to convert.
"It's odd to see black people convert to Judaism, and even Jewish people look at me strangely, I'm not going to lie," says Ms. Chaim "But once everybody sees that I can recite the prayers in Hebrew, their attitudes change."
Sen. Barack Obama is lighting up connections to the black-Jewish alliance of the 1960s while at the same time trying to calm Jewish fears over his Muslim middle name and ties to pro-Palestinian activists. This could have critical implications in key states with large Jewish populations such as Florida and Pennsylvania.
In Brooklyn's heavily Orthodox Jewish communities, New York Assemblyman Dov Hilkind doubts whether conversion trends will affect campaign tactics. He says it's traditional Jewish communities that are giving Senator Obama a hard time while exploring the more hawkish Republican nominee, John McCain, for his position on US and Israeli security concerns.
"A lot of people are nervous about [Obama], and he needs to address this, "says Mr. Hilkind, who predicts that more Jews will vote for McCain than the 37 percent who voted for Ronald Reagan in 1980.]
On the other hand, "I think there is a great desire ... to reestablish the very powerful and successful alliance between the African-American community and the Jewish community," says Jennifer Rubin, a freelance writer who blogs about Israel at Commentary.com. "Obama will appeal to that."
Yet for many recent black converts, politics, culture, and history have little to do with their decision. For Sivan Ariel of Atlanta, who grew up in the US Virgin Islands, the spiritual search began with memories of a grandmother she believes was Jewish. The most comfortable place in the world for her today, she says, is a synagogue.
Though primarily an intensely personal journey, the black conversion movement comes at an important time for Afro-Judaic relations in the US.
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Read Comments (29) — Post Yours »
1
Jul 17, 2008 at 06:50 PM chaim .B. Says:
do they keep shabbes?
Kashrus?
Can they even read the alaph beis?
Main question: Do they speak Yiddish??????
2
Jul 17, 2008 at 06:55 PM zelig Says:
This doesn't look like giyur k'halocho, does it? I know some black yidden, some bnei geirim and some geirim themselves. They keep kalo k'vachamuro, are chassidishe yidden etc. The above sounds too fishy.
3
Jul 17, 2008 at 07:11 PM Danny Says:
when did (white) jews become so self righteous that you have to be so skeptical of how people practice judaism just because they are not white? we are not red necks or nazis and the last thing we should do is question jews who convert or are not white. isnt it enough of a kiddush hashem that they want to be jewish in the first place? kol hakavod to them all!
4
Jul 17, 2008 at 07:49 PM BRAVES Says:
TO the above:
Just to let you know I know these Geyrim.
They are 100% Shomer Shabbos Torah Umitzvos and go under rigerous Geyrous process By Hrav Feldman and scrutinezed by Kollel Yungerleit in the Atlanta Kolel.
These precious Geyrim are do not speak a word of Loshon Horah or recheilus and daven at minyan (men) three times a day (davening with kavanah). Midakdek,mitzvos and kasherous. They are Tamid and would never create a public Chilul Hashem.
It is such a chutzpah to post a degaragetory comment regarding this matter, as Geyrim have the same status of special treatment as a Yosom and Almanah.
5
Jul 17, 2008 at 07:55 PM Annonymous Says:
To: Chiam B
one thing for sure!
These converts are more carefull regarding the horrible aveira of "Onas D'Varim"and Loshon Horah than you are!
PS learn the sugyah Bava Metzia 59b
6
Jul 17, 2008 at 07:58 PM Annonymous Says:
To: Zelig
I would imagine anybody who does not dress like you in your eyes would be a Frayer Yid or even a shaigatz!
7
Jul 17, 2008 at 08:49 PM Anonymous Says:
Please let us be nice to each other. The Three Weeks are starting. The reason why some are judgmental is only because they may find being Religious very restricted and can not imagine why anyone who has a choice would actually consider this way of life. Some might feel privileged to have been born Religious and think that only those who are like them they can relate to they think their way is the only real way to be. There may also be some that don't really trust others. The point I am making is, really does not matter why or how. The main thing is. We should be proud that we are Jews. We should Love each other. Never judge. Be the best we can etc. And hope to bring Moshiach together as one.
8
Jul 17, 2008 at 09:03 PM to Chaim B. and Zelig Says:
Why are you so cynical? What makes a Black goy's conversion any less authentic than a white goy??
Unless you know the convert personally, you should not even think of doubting their authenticity!! -- and even then some!!
9
Jul 17, 2008 at 09:04 PM Anonymous Says:
geyrus has become too easy. We need to tighten the restrictions as many rabbis have become far too lax
10
Jul 17, 2008 at 09:09 PM homey Says:
They contribute a lot to our religion with their more careful ways. And they'd help out on the courts too.
11
Jul 17, 2008 at 10:05 PM Brutha From Anutha Mutha Says:
Werd
12
Jul 17, 2008 at 11:08 PM AHAVAS YISROEL Says:
blessed be all jews no matter what color their skin is
13
Jul 18, 2008 at 01:50 AM Drill Here!! Drill Now!! Save Money!! Says:
And this is supposed to be a good thing for Osama Hussein Obama? I dont get it. Obama is still an empty suit with no leadership experiance and he cant speak a word unles he has a teleprompter uh uh uh uh uh in front of him.
DRILL HERE!!
DRILL NOW!!
SAVE MONEY!!
14
Jul 18, 2008 at 02:25 AM YS-DP-UA Says:
BS"D
These Yidden who happen to be "of color" are geirei tzedek who should never chas vesholom be confused with the Black Hebrews or other strange cults that have popped up in the African-American community.
And while all of these geirei tzedek clearly have Yiddishe neshomes, some probably do have Jewish heritage because of the historical presence of Jewish traders in Africa and the Caribbean - and even in the US South.
15
Jul 18, 2008 at 02:58 AM Anonymous Says:
to Chaim B: Why do they have to speak Yiddish?
I really hope you were joking.
to Anonymous 9:04-
Can we start by eliminating racists like
yourself?
16
Jul 18, 2008 at 05:17 AM Just_A_Thought Says:
To Chaim B., Zelig and others:
For your information, about 400 years ago there was ENTIRE NATION known as the Khazars that converted to Judaism all at once.
17
Jul 18, 2008 at 08:19 AM Anonymous Says:
Wasn't Moses' wife Tzipora from Africa? Wouldn't that make her black?
18
Jul 18, 2008 at 10:26 AM Anonymous Says:
She was from Midyan, and she was NOT black, look in Rashi as to your confusion at the end of Beha'aloscha.
Rabbi Miller said historically, Jews have never been black and anyone who says otherwise has no clue about Jewish history (his words). Of course, if they convert, we welcome them as we do anyone, but there were no blacks in our history.
19
Jul 18, 2008 at 10:36 AM Shloimy Says:
Once someone undergoes a proper geirus, they become part of Acheinu Bais Yisroel. They become my brother, my sister. End of story.
It is assur m'doraysa to remind a ger of his/her prior status, and we are chayuv to love them as ourselves, as every Yid should know. (Vayikra 19:33-34)
20
Jul 18, 2008 at 01:48 PM Anonymous Says:
I'm no Torah expert. I've heard numerous Orthodox rabbis discuss this very topic and they all said she was black. I'm not in a position to argue with anyone about it.
21
Jul 18, 2008 at 03:35 PM Fed Up Reform Jew Says:
Chaim B: are you a racist or just skeptical? I imagine the former.
22
Jul 19, 2008 at 02:51 AM Danny Says:
to anon 1026. i am not religious but i think your rabbi miller is wrong. sheba was located in present day ethopia... how much you wanna bet they were not white?
23
Jul 19, 2008 at 10:48 PM anonymous Says:
Sorry Danny boy, Rabbi Miller is not known to be wrong, especially in Jewish History. What is more probable to be wrong is the authenticity of Ethiopian Jews. There were doubts cast on them when they first came out as "Jews", thus many opinions of Jewish sages held they had to be converted out of doubt. Rabbi Miller was not the first or only one. Even if he was, I would still trust him. Read some of his books or listen to his tapes and maybe you'll see why I trust him so much.
And if you're not religious, why would you be on this blog?
24
Jul 19, 2008 at 11:29 PM Barry Says:
Annonymous 07-18-2008 - 10:26 AM: Rashi says the term "Cushite" is used to describe Tzipporah's beauty, both internally and externally. Rashi makes no mention of her color, so you are making an assumption.
As to Annonymous 07-19-2008 - 10:48 PM, you are making a Chillul Hashem with your arrogant and condescending remark, i.e. Danny "boy." Perhaps Danny is on this blog to learn how Torah Jews think and believe. You should think about that when responding to someone in the future.
Also, Ethiopian Jews went through a conversion because of the doubt of the continued purity of their Jewish lineage. It had nothing to do with a doubt as to their Jewish heritage.
25
Jul 19, 2008 at 11:36 PM anonymous Says:
Barry, you are waaaaaaay too sensitive. "Danny boy" wasn't meant at all as a derogatory term. I'm sure he didn't take it the wrong way, unlike you, who is a moron (that time I DID mean it in a derogatory way).
26
Jul 20, 2008 at 12:59 AM Barry Says:
Annonymous 07-19-2008 - 11:36 PM. Keep it up, you're just demonstrating what an arrogant fool you are. This is what people do who can't debate an issue on the merits.
27
Jul 20, 2008 at 03:35 AM Milhouse Says:
Sh'va was in Arabia, not Ethiopia. And in any case, what has it got to do with anything? There were no Jews in Sh'va. It was a 100% goyishe country, so who cares where it was, or what colour its people were? But the fact is that it was not in Ethiopia, and its people were probably not black.
As for the Ethiopian "Jews", those who have converted are of course Jewish, but R' Miller was right, the others are probably NOT of Jewish origin.
28
Jul 20, 2008 at 08:10 AM anonymous Says:
These comments are way to entertaining for a fast day..WHO CARES! Be happy for them; they're probably more medakdek on mitzvos than most frum yidden...hamayven yavin
29
Jul 21, 2008 at 07:22 AM Shmuel Says:
All I can say -- and all ANY frum person SHOULD say -- is that ANY true Yiddishe Neshama is welcome, no matter the circumstances of their birth or the color of their skin. We should all be overjoyed that these Neshamas managed to find their way back.
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