Ben Ammi Ben Israel

What is it about?

Ben Ammi Ben Israel provides a comprehensive intellectual biography of Ben Ammi, spiritual leader of the African Hebrew Israelite community who left America and have resided in Israel since 1969. After decades of tension, the "Black Hebrews" were granted permanent resident status in the early 21st century, and constitute one of Israel's model minorities: at 2,500 people they constitute the largest settlement of African Americans outside of America, and claim to have helped spur Israel's vegan movement as well as representing Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest. Presenting Ben Ammi as the most sophisticated theologian of the "Hebrew Israelite" movement, this text covers the main aspects of Ben Ammi's sociopolitical thought and theology, showing how he drew upon many previous schools of African American thought, as well as showing how his interpretation of the Tanakh has often paralleled Jewish traditions.

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Photo by Navi on Unsplash

Photo by Navi on Unsplash

Why is it important?

This is the first book-length analysis of Black Hebrew Israelite thought/theology, and the first on Ben Ammi.