On Oct. 17, a couple got married in Davis. A typical wedding would not be cover-worthy news at J., but the couple who wed are members of the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem, a community based in Dimona, Israel, with adherents around the world. J.s editors saw the union of Micael Ben Shaleahk and Aminah Ha Rofah as a unique opportunity to provide a glimpse inside a Jewish adjacent community that many may not be familiar with.
Yet some readers found our coverage of the wedding to be strange, even offensive. They protested that Hebrew Israelites are antisemitic, that they are non-Jewish cultural appropriators who are trying to erase halachic Jews by claiming descent from the ancient Israelites and that, therefore, we should not write about them. One person commented on Facebook, I dont understand why you would glorify a cult with an antisemtic reputation for a Jewish mag, a polygamous male-dominated cult no less.
For over a decade, Ive been researching and publishing articles about Hebrew Israelites in Jewish publications. I know this is a sensitive topic for Jewish readers, one that raises hard questions about identity, authenticity, race and communal boundaries. It is also a topic that requires readers to keep an open mind. There are extremists in the Hebrew Israelite movement, just as there are in every religious and spiritual movement, and unfortunately those extremists have largely shaped the public narrative about who Hebrew Israelites are and how they feel about Jews.
For the record: The African Hebrew Israelites those who, like Micael and Aminah, follow the teachings of spiritual leader Ben Ammi Ben Israel are not antisemitic, cultural-appropriating cultists who are trying to erase Jews. Most live in Israel, where their youth serve in the Israel Defense Forces. They attend Israeli schools and intermarry with Jews. They may have beliefs and customs such as the practice of polygamy that some Jews find uncomfortable or even repellent, but they are not trying to erase Jews or do us harm.
Meanwhile, Jews of color feel that coverage of Hebrew Israelites often comes at their expense. They grumble when the media shine a spotlight on Hebrew Israelites and ignore their stories and concerns. As UC Davis sociologist Bruce Haynes put it to me, Normative Black Jews like [Forward editor] Robin Washington are not as sexy as Hebrew Israelites who curse at the Capitol Mall.
Moreover, Jews of color already struggle to be accepted in Jewish spaces, and some argue that coverage of Hebrew Israelites in the Jewish press makes that process even more challenging because the groups can become conflated in peoples minds.
So why, given these fault lines, did we report on Micael and Aminahs wedding? Because at J., we are tasked with exploring our Northern California Jewish community in all its complexity. Its why we regularly write about Jews from every denomination, and no denomination. Its why we have reported extensively on Karaite Jews, who have a community center in Daly City. And its why we cover non-Jewish religious communities that are connected to us in some way. For example, we recently wrote about a Messianic Jewish synagogue in Carmichael that was plastered with antisemitic flyers. We did so not because we accept Messianic Jews as being inside of our proverbial tent, but rather because as two small religious minorities in proximity to each other, we sometimes face similar challenges, from antisemites in particular.
The Bay Area is full of communities of people who follow different lifestyles and traditions. J. is a Jewish community newspaper, but Jews are not an island. In order to understand our place in the larger society to which we belong, we at J. believe it is important to understand the place of communities like ours, communities like the African Hebrew Israelites.
More:
Why we covered a Hebrew Israelite wedding J. - The Jewish News of Northern California
- Why 'Sister Wives' Star Kody Brown Thought Polygamy Was 'Unfair' - PEOPLE - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Mr Seed's Marriage in Trouble Over His Sentiments About Polygamy: "Insensitive" - Tuko.co.ke - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Exclusive: Mr Seed clarifies controversial statement on polygamy after wife's outburst - Nairobi News - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Sister Wives: Kody & Robyn Brown Will Probably Get A Divorce (Their Problems Are Getting Worse) - Screen Rant - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Miriam Lord: Polygamy and throuples in the Dil chamber? Doesn't sound like a durable relationship - The Irish Times - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Kody Brown's 'Confidence Is Coming Back' as He Looks Forward to 'a Lot More Understanding' in Family (Exclusive) - Yahoo Canada Shine On - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Referendum to expand definition of family will not include protections for polygamy or throuples - http://gcn.ie/ - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Sister Wives star Christine Browns new husbands niece and her 2 children tragically murdered in Mex... - The US Sun - January 23rd, 2024 [January 23rd, 2024]
- Polygamy: The case of Mufti Muhammad Sadiq Sahib - The Weekly Al Hakam - December 7th, 2023 [December 7th, 2023]
- The acceptance of polygamy and the slippery slope - The Christian Post - December 7th, 2023 [December 7th, 2023]
- Sister Wives Fan Theory Proves Why Robyn & Kody's Marriage Doesn't Work Without His Exes - Screen Rant - December 7th, 2023 [December 7th, 2023]
- Sister Wives: How Kody Brown & Robyn's Relationship Led To The Family's Downfall - Screen Rant - December 7th, 2023 [December 7th, 2023]
- COMMENT | Why is it so hard to stamp out misogyny and sexism? - Malaysiakini - December 7th, 2023 [December 7th, 2023]
- What Entails the Call to theological and pastoral discernment on the ... - ACI Africa - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Is it time to rethink monogamy? | Nation - Nation - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Karen Nyamu should answer why Edday relocated to US not me ... - K24 TV - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Cardinal Cupich on the synod, women deacons, giving bishops job ... - America: The Jesuit Review - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- 'Sister Wives' Season 18 Episode 11 Recap: A Cringey Anniversary ... - The Ashley's Reality Roundup - November 4th, 2023 [November 4th, 2023]
- Letter: Like James Huntsman, I cannot accept the doctrine of polygamy - Salt Lake Tribune - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- Orem's Pioneer History Comes to Life City of Orem - City of Orem - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- From draft to final text: 10 ways the synod report changed - The Pillar - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- Mitt Romney, We Hardly Knew Ye - The Federalist - October 31st, 2023 [October 31st, 2023]
- Living in polygamy: Local author looks back on growing up in ... - Wyoming Tribune - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Sister Wives: Robyn Brown's All About Monogamy Now (Was She ... - Screen Rant - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- First, make all polygamy illegal | India News - Times of India - Times of India - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Polygamy going down among Muslims, says GoI supported ... - THE INDIAN AWAAZ - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Article XVIII of the BF&M: The Family - The Pathway - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- Apologetics that (Might) Matter - By Common Consent - July 21st, 2023 [July 21st, 2023]
- It's not just Muslims who have multiple wives in India. But practice ... - ThePrint - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Performance review: The Poison of Polygamy, La Boite Theatre - ArtsHub - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Jake Shields wants polygamy to be legal in the US after several attacks on the transgender community - Sportskeeda - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Rajasthan Man Marries Two Sisters, Here's The Reason Behind It - SheThePeople - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- India News LIVE | Assam forms 4-member panel to examine possibility of law to end polygamy - Republic World - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- A Muslim woman responds to Prof Wasey's article on inheritance ... - Awaz The Voice - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- Musa Mselekus son on polygamy and wanting more than four wives - TimesLIVE - May 18th, 2023 [May 18th, 2023]
- KNUT Boss Urges Men to Consider 3 Wives in Polygamous ... - Tuko.co.ke - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Sister Wives Christine Brown shows off slimmed-down figure in sexy V-neck top after engagement to David W... - The US Sun - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Brazilian man spends Rs 80 lakh for bed to share with 6 wives: What is polyamory? - Firstpost - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Same-Sex Marriage Case : Sexual Autonomy Argument May Be Used To Defend Incest, Argues Solicitor General; ... - Live Law - Indian Legal News - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Population anxiety in Pakistan - The Express Tribune - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Indore: City youths give thumbs up to same-sex marriage - Free Press Journal - April 30th, 2023 [April 30th, 2023]
- Sister Wives Kody Brown Has Been Outspoken About His Thoughts on Polygamy and Monogamy: Quotes - inTouch Weekly - March 31st, 2023 [March 31st, 2023]
- Pros And Cons Of Polygamy (29 Things You Should Know About Polygamy) - March 4th, 2023 [March 4th, 2023]
- Rev Father Kelvin Ugwu knocks women wishing to be Ned Nwokos next wife after condemning polygamy - WITHIN NIGERIA GIST - January 27th, 2023 [January 27th, 2023]
- Top judge who upheld Canada's polygamy law announces he will be retiring - Vancouver Sun - January 10th, 2023 [January 10th, 2023]
- Polygamy: Yul Edochie publicly apologises to first wife - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Utah polygamist sect accused of indoctrination, rape and child marriage ... - December 26th, 2022 [December 26th, 2022]
- Difference Between Monogamy and Polygamy - December 21st, 2022 [December 21st, 2022]
- Take out the polygamy and the Browns of Sister Wives are just another messed up family - Toronto Star - December 16th, 2022 [December 16th, 2022]
- Tony Perkins slams New York courts pro-polygamy ruling | Politics News - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Polygamist leader had at least 20 wives, mostly minors, documents say - NPR - December 12th, 2022 [December 12th, 2022]
- Polyandry in Tibet - Wikipedia - November 1st, 2022 [November 1st, 2022]
- Why is polygamy in the Vaticans synod document? - The Pillar - November 1st, 2022 [November 1st, 2022]
- "Chubby and Slim, Nice": Loving Man Wows His 2 Wives, Gifts Them New Cars on the Same Day in Cute Video - Legit.ng - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Heartbroken Womans Husband Goes on Weekend Business Trip, Comes Back Wanting a Polygamist Marriage - Briefly - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Sister Wives Season 17 Is a Triumph of Documentary Filmmaking - Gawker - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Triple talaq to hijabHow Hindutva reversed gains made by Muslim womens movements - ThePrint - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- "Sign the divorce paper" Netizens fire Yul Edochie as he begins another project with Judy Austin - Kemi Filani News - October 17th, 2022 [October 17th, 2022]
- Escape from Polygamy (TV Movie 2013) - IMDb - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- What The Bible Really Says About Polygamy | The Daily Wire - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Judge allows public school with ties to polygamy to keep its board, for now - FOX 13 News Utah - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- 'The Colony' revisits the 2019 cartel murder of 9 women, children in Mexico - KNPR - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Like some other religions, LDS Church seems obsessed with sex. - Salt Lake Tribune - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- Sharia Court Holds That Divorce Is The Only Circumstance In Which A Muslim Man, Who Contracted A Marriage Under The Marriage Act Can Practice Polygamy... - September 11th, 2022 [September 11th, 2022]
- What Is Polygamy? A Polygamist Debunks the Allure of Marrying More Than One Partner - Esquire - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Siege warfare, polygamy and sacrilege: meet history's most outrageous king, Demetrius the Besieger - The Conversation - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Ivorian Parliament to Review Polygamy in a Blow for Womens Equality - IDN InDepthNews | Analysis That Matters - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Minimum age for women to marry increased to 18 in Kedah, one year jail for polygamy without permission - The Star Online - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- 'Mseleku is the face of heartbreak': Tweeps react to 'Mnakwethu' episode - TimesLIVE - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- Utah's Pioneer Day celebrates Mormons' trek west but there's a lot more to the history of Latter-day Saints and migration - The Edwardsville... - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- How I survived depression after my husband took a second wife May Edochie - Daily Post Nigeria - July 25th, 2022 [July 25th, 2022]
- New book, 'The Colony,' takes readers into a realm they never could have imagined - Mesquite Local News - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- Challenging the conventional way of loving - Hindustan Times - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- 'What We Do in the Shadows' Season 4's most uncanny twist is a total delight - Inverse - July 13th, 2022 [July 13th, 2022]
- Legality of polygamy - Wikipedia - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- Legality of polygamy in the United States - Wikipedia - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- Letter to the Editor: Rep. Lauren Boebert's comments about church and state are wrong - Summit Daily - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- Elon Musk jokes after twin reveal: I'm 'doing my best to help the underpopulation crisis' - Marca English - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- The Resurging Spectacle of the LDS Church in Film and TV - Study Breaks - July 11th, 2022 [July 11th, 2022]
- Drake Makes Tristan Thompson Best Man in Polygamy-Themed 'Falling Back' Vid - June 29th, 2022 [June 29th, 2022]