Torah to the People #11 - Black Hebrew Israelites with Rabbi Brett Weisman

Today Rabbi Jeff Driefus sits down with Rabbi Brett Weisman. Rabbi Brett currently serves as Assistant Rabbi at Temple De Hirsch Sinai in Seattle, WA. Rabbi Brett and Jeff were classmates during Rabbinical school, and today’s episode discusses Brett’s thesis about the Black Hebrew Israelite community.

Expect to learn about the history of the Black Hebrew Israelites, the development of their faith and how it relates to slavery in America, and the process of ethnographic interviews performed by Weisman. Rabbis Driefus and Weisman discuss the two hallmarks of Black Hebrew Israelite ideology: that they are the “true Jews” and Deuteronomy 28 as a foundational text. 

During this conversation, you will learn how Black Hebrew Israelites see themselves in the Exodus narrative, what Black Hebrew Israelite religious practice entails, whether “Redemption Song” by Bob Marley is related to their community, and the similarities and differences of the concept of “chosen-ness” in Judaism vs. Black Hebrew Israelite religious thought. 

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Opening song - "Let There Be Love" by Noah Aronson; performed by Temple Israel Cantorial Soloist Happie Hoffman

Find sermons, music, conversations between clergy and special guests, and select Temple Israel University (TIU) classes – easily accessible to you through our podcast, Torah to the People.

Learn more about Temple Israel-Memphis at timemphis.org.