British Israelitism
vs. Black Hebraism
Rabbi Yehudah ben
Shomeyr
Sadly, our human psyche seems to be predisposed
to spotting differences instead of commonalities and connective threads.
Humanity seems to thrive on taking sides and holding on to extremes. Our minds
have difficulty reconciling balance. We like mechanical separators on a
conveyor belt, believe things have to be one way or the others. Our vocabulary
is peppered with this philosophy when we say, “S/He ALWAYS!” or “They NEVER!”
or “US” and “THEM” and “This” and That.” Therefore when one considers aspects
of British Israelitism and Black Hebraism they see two extremes, Black and
White (pun intended) and therefore opposites to which never the twain shall
meet. Juxtaposed like magnetics poles repelling one another. British
Israelitism is often falsely seen as white supremacy. Colonialism and a form of
replacement theology. Black Hebraism is at times falsely seen as prejudice,
Afro-centric, and a type of religious Black Panther movement.
Am I saying there is not extremist and or extremism
in these two camps? Am I saying both are 100% correct? NO! Absolutely not! What
I am saying is that if you look past the biased veneer, rhetoric and racial propaganda
and cultish smoke and mirrors that at times enshrouds it, as well as the
radicals that are found within these two camps you will see that both at the
core have a solid Biblical and Historical bases and truth to them. It is simply
that each hone in on a unique aspect of the scattering and journeys of the 10
Tribes. British Israelitism focuses on the Northern and Western expansion of
the Tribes and Black Hebraism focuses on the Eastern and Southern expansion of
the Tribes. It does not have to be one way or the other. It is both. Similar to
how light is both a particle and a wave. Is not Light and Darkness together both
make a Day? Is there any place on earth where dust and sand are not found; is
there not a place on the globe to which the innumerable stars cannot be seen?
Was this not the prophecy and promise of Almighty GOD that the sons of Abraham,
Isaac and Israel (Jacob) would be scattered and countless as sand and stars (Gen.
15:5, 22:17, 28:14)!? Is GOD a liar? Is His Word fallible? Of course not! So
where did the 10 Tribes go? Where are they? They are not “lost” but have been
hidden and obscured by time and history. But scholars have filtered the biased
history of the conquerors through Scripture and have, like literary archeologists;
have uncovered the path and settlements of the 10 tribes. And new things seem
to come to light practically daily! I personally have found the Gadite thread
that stretches from Nigeria to Germany to Scandinavia, which I will elaborate
on in the near future.
Man’s deprave nature which spawns prejudice and ethno-centric
bias keeps these too schools of thought apart like fighters of the octagon in
their respective corners who only come to meet with blows when the air horn
sounds. Only Faith and Truth can cross this divide and bring to Light the Truth
contained in BOTH camps and tear down the color barrier, the dividing wall
between us.
“For He is
our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of
partition between us.” -- Eph. 2:14
