Blog

Thoughts on race, religion, and other topics that interest me.

Tel Aviv bookseller turns customers into characters in first book

Tel Aviv bookseller turns customers into characters in first book

Crossposted on my Times of Israel blog. There are more than 60,000 titles for sale at Halper’s Books, a labyrinthine store on Allenby Street in Tel Aviv. Most of the inventory is used, but a couple of weeks ago, a brand new book appeared on proprietor Yosef...

No, Hebrew Israelites Are Not a Threat

No, Hebrew Israelites Are Not a Threat

In an era of renewed anti-Semitism, we must remain vigilant against all those who exhibit hostility toward us Jews. But we should not exaggerate threats, either. Instead, when we encounter Hebrew Israelite zealots in public, we should know that they do not speak for all Hebrew Israelites.

Celebrating a Century of Judaism in Uganda

Celebrating a Century of Judaism in Uganda

“We made 100, may we make 100 more years!” went the chorus of a song that was pumped through speakers throughout the day. “Resilience, unity, and confidence. Look at where we at, look at where we go!”

A Star Is Born in Dimona. And Another One. And Another One.

A Star Is Born in Dimona. And Another One. And Another One.

When the African Hebrew Israelites began settling in the Holy Land in 1969, Israelis viewed them with a mix of fascination and suspicion. One of the ways that the Hebrews endeared themselves to their neighbors was by entertaining them.

Should Hebrew Israelites Serve in the Israeli Army?

Should Hebrew Israelites Serve in the Israeli Army?

On the night of February 21, 2015, Cpl. Toveet Radcliffe was on duty in a guard post on an Israel Defense Forces base north of the Israeli city of Ashdod. Sometime before midnight, she was shot in the head. Her lifeless body was discovered by another soldier around midnight.

Meet Israel’s Dopest Hebrew Israelite MCs

Meet Israel’s Dopest Hebrew Israelite MCs

Kendrick Lamar and Kodak Black are popular rappers with millions of fans. They are also self-proclaimed Israelites. In a recent Genius article, Sam Kestenbaum explained that Kendrick and Kodak aren’t the first American rappers to embrace the Hebrew Israelite spiritual movement, which promotes the ideas that the ancient Israelites were black and African Americans are their direct, genealogical […]