Poraz to grant Black Hebrews permanent residence

[Gimel]

Interior Minister Avraham Poraz yesterday said he has accepted the recommendations of an interministerial committee to grant members of the Black Hebrew community in Dimona permanent residence in Israel.

The community numbers 3,000-4,000 but the exact number is not known since there is no proper registration of births and deaths in the
community.

Yad'a Bat Yisrael, a member of the Black Hebrew community, last night said the community had not yet learned details of Poraz's decision, which they heard about from Dimona Mayor Gabi Lalush. "In any event," she said, "we are very happy to hear the news and are very grateful to everyone."
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/pages/ShArt.jhtml?itemNo=322756&contrassID=2&subContrassID=1&sbSubContrassID=0&listSrc=Y

[Noon_Blue_Apples]

1. Who came up with Black Hebrew?

Are they not Jews?


"Although they have been here since the 1970s,
the Interior Ministry has not granted them
citizenship for fear of creating a precedent
for thousands of others to follow in their
footsteps."

what took so long?

[LeftistGorilla]

2. what took so long?

this is why:

"for fear of creating a precedent
for thousands of others to follow in their
footsteps."

why this was a problem? well... :eyes:

[Noon_Blue_Apples]

3. Yup, gotta keep that pure ethnic state

nice and shiny white. Don't want anybody muddying up the waters.


Bill

[Gimel]

5. Check this out, man

You are way off base.

[Gimel]

4. This group, The BH

They came from the US, mostly Chicago area, claiming they were descendants of Hebrew trips in Ethiopia or adjacent areas. They developed their own religious tradition, and were not considered Halachicly Jews by Mainstream Judaism. However, they persevered

They were supported in part by US State department funding a "Meals on Wheels" program.

Finally they have gained recognition. Traditions of more than 3000 years change slowly.