6 Friday, July 6, 1984
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Vague stand on Black Hebrews
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came to Israel in 1969 from mendations of the Glass Re-
Liberia, which sought to port, according to Dr.
expel them after the group Gruen, were these: that the
had tried to resettle in that Black Hebrews be allowed
country. The first group was to stay; that the group be
followed by others. They granted legal status in ac-
were given tourist visas cordance with the Law of
while the rabbinic courts Entry into Israel; that an
undertook to discover area be assigned for the
whether or not they were group to establish its own
authentically Jews eligible community, and that the
for automatic citizenship preceding recom-
under the Law of Return.
mendations be conditional
The city of Dimona in upon the cult's agreement
southern Israel offered the not to add new immigrants
newcomers housing, clo- from abroad to their com-
thing, and language in- munity.
"While the recom-
struction, primarily as a
mendations were never im-
humanitarian gesture.
"Exceptional measures plemented by Minister of
were taken to aid the group, Interior Joseph Burg, he
largely because of Israel's also did not adopt the
special sensitivity toward draconian legal alternative
persons who had suffered of expelling all those who
discrimination and also its entered or remained in Is-
concern to avoid any possi- rael illegally," Dr. Gruen
ble suspicion of racism," ex- writes.
Since the Glass Report,
plains Gruen.
In belief and practice, the Israeli authorities re-
however, the Black He- port continued efforts of
brews differed radically Black Hebrews to enter the
from their Dimona country, according to Dr.
neighbors, according to Dr. Gruen, who adds that the
Gruen's research: They fast sect members say their
each Sabbath, observe strict commitment to stop illegal
vegetarianism, do not immigration depended
adhere to Talmudic Law, upon the government's im-
plementation of the entire
and practice polygamy.
In addition, he notes that Glass Repott.
In addition, Dr. Gruen
the group's leader, Ben-Ami
Carter, strenuously opposed cites the Interior Ministry's
formal conversion to reluctance to grant the
Judaism by his members, as group permanent legal
recommended by Rabbi status because of periodic
Dar'i of Jaffa, who promised reports of members' crimi-
to aid membes interested in nal activities in the United
States. "There have also
the conversion process.
AcCording to the Gruen been recurrent •allegations
study,
the
rabbinic by defectors from the Black
authorities eventually Hebrews that the discipline
ruled that the Black He- imposed by the leaders of
brews were not Jews. The the cult on women and chil-
civil courts nevertheless dren is harmful," he writes.
The issue has resurfaced
recbmmended that those
living in Israel be allowed to in the news this year follow-
ing critical statements by
remain.
From the 1981 findings of the new mayor of Dimona
a delebation of black and by Knesset Member
American civil rights lead- Dov Shilansky.
The American Jewish
ers investigating charges of
racism against the Black Committee urged the Is-
Hebrews, Dr. Gruen quotes: raeli Government to dis-
The general agreement is avow Mr. Shilansky's
that the official difficulties statement that the Black
stem from deep-seated reli- Hebews "are worse than the
gious, philosophical and PLO" and that the group
political differences. From "won't be here very much
all the evidence we have longer." Assurances were
heard, including that from given by Israeli Govern-
the Black Hebrew commu- ment officials that there has
nity, we conclude that offi- been no change in their
cial racism plays no part in status, nor are there plans
to take imminent• action
this sensitive problem."
Various efforts were against them, as implied br
made to alleviate certain Mr. Shilansky.
_ "Following the Israeli
aspects of the problem. In
1980, Jacques Amir, then elections, the new govern-
Mayor of Dimona, moved ment should try once again
the group to larger living to work out a comprehen-
quarters, which the group sive, humanitarian and
then restored.
equitable solution,"
suggests Dr. Gruen. "any
The study also cites the solution must be based upon
work of a special committee, respect• for Israel's sover-
headed by David Glass, eignty and obedience to its
then chairman of the Knes- laws, on the one hand, and
set's Law Committee, which the safeguarding of the
in 1980 issued a 147-page human rights and funda-
report following a 20-month mental freedoms of all indi-
investigation of the group.
viduals living iii its terri-
The central recom- tory, on the other."
New York — Over the
years, Israeli governments
have tried to search for a
humane policy toward the
Black Hebrews living there,
former Americans number-
ing about 2,000, who
entered the country illeg-
ally and whose residency is
still disputed.
This is the major conclu-
sion of a new study just re-
leased by the American
Jewish Committee, The
Position of the Black He-
brews in Israel — An Exam-
ination of the Complex Is-
sues Involved," by Dr.
George E. Gruen, director of
the Israel and Middle East
Affairs Division of AJC's In-
ternational Relations De-
partment.
The Black Hebrews, who
originated in Chicago in the
1960s, advocate a messianic
form of fundameltalist
Judaism blended with black
nationalism, claiming to be
the true descendants of the
original Israelite nation,
according to Dr. Gruen's re-
port.
"There is little or no evi-
dence to suggest that racism
has played a part in the pro-
ceedings of the government
regarding the Black He-
brews," asserts Dr. Gruen.
Nevertheless, he points
out: "The problem remains
unresolved. The longer the
unsatisfactory status quo is
maintained, the more com-
plex the problem becomes."
According to his study,
the first 39 Black Hebrews
Continued from preceding page
that they are doing God's
will.
Had they succeeded with
their plans to bomb Arab
buses, many innocent Arab
men, women and children
would have died, also many
Jews who frequently use
these buses. This would
have brought down the
wrath of the entire world on
the Jewish state where such
an event can take place.
If their plan to destroy the
Mosque on Temple Mount
had succeeded, it would
unify the entire Arab and
Moslem world and would
bring on a terrible war on
the Jewish state, which
could also lead to a World
War, to bring about the end
of the Jewish as well as the
rest of the civilized world.
These terrorists and their
supporters were not only
risking their own lives and
the lives of their families,
they endangered the entire
world. All this as a result of
their interpretation of the
Bible and the will of God.
William Braiterma n
Hadeva, Israel