By COLlive reporter
For some, the 1991 Crown Heights riots are all but a distant memory.
“Twenty years ago, the hotbed of Brooklyn racism was Crown Heights,” Nechemyah Davis is quoted as saying in a spread in the New York Magazine titled “The Black Orthodox” about African-American frum Jews.
“I tell my friends to try to educate their children so they know G-d created all kinds of people,” Davis says. “We’ll never stop being black. It’s who we are. It can get tiring, but being black and Jewish for us is the ultimate test of how to be righteous.”
Estimates for the number of black Jews in the U.S. vary wildly, from 20,000 to more than 150,000, with some experts saying the population is too small to accurately measure, Molly Langmuir reports in the article.
The article is based on photographer Wayne Lawrence‘s fascination with black Jews after moving to the Crown Heights neighborhood in Brooklyn.
The men and women he photographed included converts and some born into the faith, some of them Lubavitchers, some who call themselves chassidic, and others who simply say Orthodox or “observant.”
Joseph David Savoy, for example, comes from a dysfunctional family.
“People feel it’s extreme to be Hasidic, but I just think, Are you kidding me? Considering what I was born into, it’s pretty normal. It gives me structure and focus and order. I feel at peace finally after all these years.”
He says that while the reaction from the Jewish community has been wonderful, he gets looks and stares from African-Americans.
A chassidic couple that has been profiled in the article is Baruch Arky and Zehava Bracha Arky.
“I don’t think that people relate to us as an interracial couple. We’re both Jewish, and that seems to speak louder than color,” he noted.
Born to a Muslim and Christian background, Zehava says a friend suggested she go to Chabad, and has attended a Shabbos dinner and went to shul.
“I didn’t know exactly what was going on, but it was so interesting and deep. I realized that all the spiritual ideas I already had, which I had thought were just my own, were also a part of Judaism.”
“They are all orthodox Jews, not all Lubavitch, article was supposed to be more in depth, NY mag didn’t do it. Only 3 out of 5 are converts. They can dress how they want. Get over yourselves. Just have ahavas yisrael and be proud that Judaism spans across all different types of people.”-Some Dude I don’t know
This is the best post yet 🙂
They are all orthodox Jews, not all Lubavitch, article was supposed to be more in depth, NY mag didn’t do it. Only 3 out of 5 are converts. They can dress how they want. Get over yourselves. Just have ahavas yisrael and be proud that Judaism spans across all different types of people.
Well if #27 dosent contact me…I post this to all COL readers. I know an amazing African American young lady in he earl thirties. She is amazing,kind,sweet,involved,fun, ect. She is all around wonderful,never married,tall and pretty. She dosent care what color the skin of the person is,she just needs to meet Mr.right. So..if any of you know a frum lubavitch young man who would like to meet her please contact COLlive.
So are these Blacks African Americans practicing Judaism or are they Jews?
Im still waiting for #27 to contact COLlive to see if there is something to talk about….pleasae…
Nechemyah Davis is a rock solid dude!
This article just perpetuates the stereotype that all orthodox Jews are “black hats” nothing more nothing less.
If there is no look, then perhaps it would have been better to highlight one or two Modern Orthodox, Black Jews. Judaism, even Orthodox Judaism, can be found outside of the bubble of Crown Heights. I would have written the exact same thing #18 did if this article highlighted White Jews dressed in Eastern European garb. It’s sad that in order to be considered “Orthodox” one must surrender to the Haredi, Hasidic expression of Judaism. All Jews, Hispanic, Black, Indian , White, Chinese or otherwise have something distinct to add to Judaism. Why highlight primarily Haredi, Hasidic Black Jews as… Read more »
I think number 18 should refer to number 26
I’m black,Hispanic, and white. I’m also Jewish.
There is no look that African Americans should wear, trust me I’m a fashion student. I’ve gone to crown heights. This is being spoken about because if you go there is a small minute that are African American.
People need to wake up
To say that the Adrian American “abandoned” and ” traded”. Is so offensive. I am a fourth generation Jew. I went to an orthodox school. That is how orthodox dress. The Jews you see that are African American clearly aren’t orthodox if their dress isn’t similar. I’ve been to crown heights, in fact nov1-4 and am from long island.
I just wish people weren’t so ignorant
Judaism is a religion, not a specific race with a certain “look”
NO BLACK YELLOW OR “PINK” WHAT A RACIST ARTICLE … “LOOK AT THE BLACK JEWS…” DISGUSTING…JEWS ARE JEWS NO BLACK YELLOW OR PINK…
Fellow Toledoan! Nice to see you!
To number 27…I will contact collive today and give them my email address, which hopefully you will contact them and they will give it to you. Looking forward to sharing information and sharing good news.
http://nymag.com/news/features/black-jews-2012-12/
morristowner
why does color make a difference?!?
have a lot of groupies but i knew them way back when here in LA.
Everyone has such strong opinions. Basically, some ppl think its an amazing article, and some ppl think that it’s totally wrong, shallow, and racist. I guess I’m a combination of both. I I think that it is a drop racist to write such an article. Why don’t they write about the Japanese converts, or the Russian converts ever? Why is it always about the ppl that look different from most typical Jewish ppl? I think that regardless of the color of someone’s skin, all converts are special and the African Americans shouldn’t be treated any differently. If it had to… Read more »
boruch is the shizzel, supper chassidish, amazing food!
I’d love to hear a little more about these people, it seems fascinating. Maybe someone can write up a more comprehensive story.
Yossi savoy with the sidder!!!! We love you so much and we are so proud of you!!!! Love you family….
the conversation that can ensue about identity issues and other things is so very deep. this article gets a thumbs down. too simple for a far too complex and fascinating subject.
go boruch and zahava arki!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
whats the difference what color a person is , if they are frum and thats who you want to marry so be it.
Was his name assumed later on or was it given from birth? Either way, the person who gave it to him, really has a great sense of humor and creativity
I don’t know you the arkis but I admire you…. and all the others as well!!
ppl my age (i’m 32) really dont care anymore… we were born decades post segregation and we dont understand your fascination with race for better or worse… (which is why listening to some of the commentary on recent election from both sides of the political divide was tiring if not mildly offensive)
time to move on
I would date a black girl – unfortunately she is quite a bit older than me. I don’t care about the girl’s background as long as she is a good character and baal midos tovos.
agree with you
YOSEF DOVID!!! you look great holding that sidur.
May Hashem send you a shiduch very soon. AMEN!!!
Regards
AY
thanks for posting something really interesting and eye-opening!
Thank you for posting the link to the video. It was beautiful! Mazal Tov to the newlyweds. Mrs. Benjamin – amazing job!
Mi k’amcha Yisrael….
I might know a guy for her how do I contact col to get through to you ????
ONE- Not all of them are converts.. so that comment can just be deleted. TWO- It’s to celebrate diversity in Judaism. No one is abandoning anything. The point is that you can celebrate being black AND Jewish not Black OR Jewish. Just because they aren’t wearing brightly coloured african garb doesn’t mean they are conforming to something else. Let go and just see the beauty in it. There’s more to a man than clothes. And who are you to say what their heritage is. Judging them to say they are supposed to be a certain way or dress a certain… Read more »
Long lost LA friends.
B”H Why is it that Crown Hts 1991 is almost always referred to as having been “a hotbed of racism”? Racism, really?! Somehow a pogrom perpetrated against innocent Jewish men, WOMEN AND CHILDREN is politically corrected into Crown Hts having been a hotbed of racism – and we all know only white people are racists – and therefore, the Jews had it coming to them. Nothing could be farther from the truth. As a victim of the pogrom along with my family, I have long been outspoken against this deliberate manipulation of the facts. My story and thoughts about the… Read more »
i think your comment shows you are interested to know more about it. the article is short, and it is interesting. it is challenge for the bigger group to accept the smaller, and of course a challenge for the smaller group to feel accepted, to be at peace, etc. these blacks that converted are people of strong character, like BTs in general, and like chassidische FFbs too.
if their really frum then why bring up their being black? weird in my opinion…
SMILE!!! You’re young, healthy, happily married…show it! 🙂
He isn’t immature. On the contrary, he is looking for depth which the article does not have.
What motivated these people? What were their experiences? How do they overcome any obstacles? How rewarding is it for them? How do their children feel? Etc Etc.
The article does not address any of these questions and just offers very shallow information.
Besides this article should mention Rabbi Enan Francis, a Lubavitch Rabbi who is black and is the principal, of Judaic and Secular studies at the Lubavitch Day School in New haven CT.
I have to agree, the article doesn’t come close to doing justice to the depth of faith, commitment and sacrifice existent in converts, who have to excel twice as much to be considered as “good” as anyone born Jewish (to paraphrase GS). The obstacles, heartache, determination and strength that goes into being who you ARE – Jewish – are beyond words. Perhaps that is why the article is so vague?…Nevertheless, kudos to all the article refers to, no matter what background. To #13, you’re right, the Torah only mentions Moshe’s wife’s background in passing – a lesson for all –… Read more »
Other than the color of their skin, I don’t understand how this article highlights and contrasts their Blackness and Jewishness? To me, it appears as though these Jews have abandoned their unique, distinct African-American cultures and have adopted Old World, Eastern European traditions and appearances. The way they are dressed, as pictured, has NOTHING to do with Judaism. It’s sad – this Eastern European expression of Judaism has become the default for many Black Jews. There are PLENTY of Jews of Color who are observant, but choose not to completely abandon their own heritage to adopt that of Old World… Read more »
You do realize that part of the point of this article is that NOT all of these people are converts, right? and that there are JEWS, including MULTI-GENERATIONALLY jewish people of color, including African-Americans. But yes, why dwell on the differences? If you could help spread that idea in your community, articles like this would never be necessary. To #10, there is positive. This article (well, the original New York Mag article) was intended to be in part an answer to Oprah’s special a while back. As well, it wasn’t about publicity as much as making everyone else go “And… Read more »
You guys look great!! (just a little too serious 😉
You made a beautiful Kiddush Hasham!!
I see Jews in this picture. Jews who want to keep Torah and Mitzvohs and do the will of HaShem. The color of their skin is irrelevant.
Thereyre are converts from all over the world. Even Japanese. A jew is one who converts orthodox and we have a mitzvah to love them. Why dwell on differences? MOshes wife was Ethopian convert but the torah only mentions this in passing.
you sound like a young and very immature some one who needs to be heard keep your negative comments to yourself and grow up a little.
they look like nice people I would like to know but I tend to agree with #3.
they look like nice people I would like to know but I tend to agree with #3.
Unless the interviewees wanted the publicity or thought there is a positive thing to be gained from exposing themselves, I don’t get it. They’re Jewish. They happen to be Black as well. And so?
Baruch and Zehava, may the Aibishter give you guys Brocha. VeHatzlocha bechol maase yedaychem,you are the Rebbes Shluchim, and I’m certain that he sheppes nachas from both of you!
All my love.
An old friend
I know of a wonderful 35 year old frum lubavitch black young lady,never married, nice, friendly,pretty, and everything a young man would want from a girl.Please contact COL if you know someone….Thanks…A Good Friend
This is a beautiful article that highlights diversity and promotes respect, because people may seem different to us, and articles like this point out that even those who may seem different on the outside are all part of the family, and have the same Neshoma as we do.
The Arky’s were recently profiled at the KSCVK dinner.
You can watch the video here:
http://vimeo.com/51726964
lotsa love from Atl:)
Great!
This article is decidedly vague and shallow. Other than acknowledging that there are some African American Chassidishe and just plain observant persons it doesn’t really say much at all.
such a great idea for an article, and something we can all learn from- new perspectives
Go Boruch and Zahava we love you