Rabbi Sholomo Ben Levy
Spiritual Leader of Beth Elohim Hebrew Cong. 1988-
Present
President of the International Israelite Board of
Rabbis, 2001-Present
Assistant Professor of History (tenured), Northampton
Community College, 2005- Present
Education
Graduated Israelite
Rabbinical Academy,1985
Ordained by the Israelite Board of Rabbis , 1985
B.A. Middlebury College 1986
Tel Aviv University, Israel, 1985.
(Semester Abroad)
M.A., African American History, Yale University 1988
M. Phil., American History, Columbia University (2000)
Community Service
Dean of the Israelite Rabbinical Academy 1996-2000
President of New York Chapter of the IBR 2000
Chairman of the Israelite Archive Project, Zakor,
Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, New York City 1994-1996.
Kiwanis Club of Cambria Heights 1990s, Boy Scouts of
America, Bnai Brith, NAACP
Harvard University, Associate Editor, African American
Lives (2004) and African American National Biography, Henry Louis
Gates, Jr. ed.
Has taught at: LaGuardia Community College, Long Island
University, Medgar Evers College, and Middlebury College.
Awards, Citations, and
Articles
Rabbi W.A. Matthew Scholarship Award (1985)
Proclamation, Council of the City of New York, Honorable Leroy Comrie, 18 August
2002
Nominated for Christensen Excellence in Teaching Award , Northampton
Community College, ( 2007, 2008, 2010)
Arthur Vining Davis Fellow,
Middlebury College, 2001-2002
Documentary Heritage Grant from the New York State Archives and Records
Administration, 1994-1995. Schomburg Center for Black Culture, New York City.
National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), “We The
People Grant,” Faculty Coordinator 2011
New York Newsday,28 July 1993, 15 Sept 1995, 13 Dec
1998,
10 April 1999, and
11 April 1999
New York Times,
13 April 1999 ,
26 June 2000,
5 April 2009.
The Jerusalem Post 3 March 1995
Conferences and Lectures
(partial listing)
“Discovering the Jewish Jesus”
Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Four Part Series,
March 1 – 20, 2009.
Radio Appearance: WXXI, Am 1370
Rochester, “Judaism and Racial Identity” with host Bob Smith, aired 2/10/09.
Guest Speaker, Jewish
Community Federation of Greater Rochester, “The Commandment Keepers,”
1/29/09.
Memorial Lecture, “Martin and
Coretta: Partners in Leadership,” Warren County Human Relations Commission,
1/15/07.
Keynote Speaker, “Dr. King’s
Life in Pennsylvania: Formative Years,” Northampton Community College, 1/21/06.
Panalist, Let Justice Roll,”Toward
An African American Inter-Religious Symposium,” Harvard Divinity School,
4/08/05.
Faculty Address, Dr. Martin
Luther King, Jr. Breakfast, “The Mind of Martin Luther King,
Jr.,” Middlebury College 1/21/02
Keynote Speaker, Black
History Month, “Origins of the Zionist Impulse Among African Americans,”
Western Carolina University, 2/25/02
Guest Speaker, Hillel Jewish
Alliance, “Racial Diversity in American Judaism,” Chapel Hill University,
4/24/00
Radio Appearances: KYW
Philadelphia 1/16/06, WLIB New York City 4/2/00
Guest of Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg, 40th Anniversary of the Reunification of Jerusalem
Reception, Gracie Mansion, June 26, 2007
Participant, Mayor Michael R.
Bloomberg, Interfaith Prayer Breakfast, New York Public Library, 2006 to Present
Invocation, Thirty-Fifth Annual
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Luncheon, sponsored by Black Agency Executives,
Hilton Hotel, New York. 1/19/12.
Lecture, “Dr. Martin Luther
King, Jr. and the Jews: The Spiritual Influences of Judaism on Dr. King’s
Theology. ” Temple Israel. Great Neck, Long Island, NY, 1/22/12
Lecture, “Rediscovering the
Jewish Jesus,” Loyala University, Baltimore, MD, 2/24/12
Panalist, “Anti-Semitism and
Humanism in Shakespeare’s The Merchant of Venice, Chesapeake Shakespeare
Company, Baltimore, MD, 2/25/12
Personal
Married Rayah Levy 1999
Son, Levi Yosef Levy, born 2006
Resides in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania
What is Beth Elohim?
Beth Elohim Hebrew Congregation is a
family synagogue. It was founded in 1983, by Chief Rabbi Levi
Ben Levy, Rabbi Sholomo Ben Levy, and the Levy family. The synagogue
exists as a place of worship for all people of the Hebrew faith.
True to our founding principles, the family unit remains the model
upon which all spiritual and secular activities take place. We
believe that our way of life promotes strong families and encourages
the individuals of those families to be responsible, respected,
and productive members of society.
Beth Elohim is an affiliate congregation of the International
Israelite Board of Rabbis Inc. and fully embraces the ideals of
Resolution 801A, which was passed by the Board in 1981. It affirms
the brotherhood of all people who worship the God of Abraham,
Isaac, and Jacob without regard to race, tradition, or terminology
(for example: Black Jews, Hebrews, Israelites, Jews, etc.). However,
when among us, visitors are obliged to respect the customs and
traditions followed by our members.
Our particular religious practices were formulated from several
sources by our late Hon. Chief Rabbi W.A. Matthew. He was the
progenitor of our sect--formally called "Black Jews."
Many congregations throughout the United States and the Western
Hemisphere trace their origin to his teachings and those of his
students.
Today, many of us prefer the term Hebrew or Israelite
for the following reasons: (A) These are the terms used in the
Torah (Holy Scroll) to refer to the "children of Israel";
(B), they terms do not wrongly associate being Jewish with being
white---which is the prevalent misconception of the term; and
(C), they avoid the changing nomenclatures of terms like Negro,
Black, Afro-American, and now, African American. Although some
credible scholars have attempted to determine the racial classification
of the ancient Israelites, we believe that whatever the historical
truth was, the present reality is that G-d is spirit and those
who worship Him must "worship Him in spirit" instead
of pigmentation.
There are approximately 5.4 million white Jews in America
today and an estimated 40,000 Black Jews or Hebrew Israelites.
As a large community, we have theological, philosophical, and
political differences that divide us into distinct groups. We
here at Beth Elohim are proud of our uniqueness and hope that
you will also appreciate it and enjoy it.
Our way of life is practiced essentially as Rabbi Matthew
established it. Though the standard classifications of "Jews"
along Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform lines are extremely ambiguous,
our set of minhagim (customs) closely resemble those of the Modern
Orthodox with clear Conservative and African American influences.
For example, a layperson would notice that we maintain separate
seating for men and women in our sanctuary, but we believe in
the complete equality of women. We allow travel on Shabbat, follow
a biblical definition of kosher foods that prohibits the eating
of pork and certain kinds of sea food but does not require the
separation of milk and meat products.
Rabbi Sholomo Levy is the spiritual leader of our congregation.
He is assisted by his brother, Rabbi Benyamin Levy,Rabbi Eliyahu Ben Yehudah,
and Gabbi Azriel Ben Dan.
We observe all high holy days such as Passover, Rosh Hashanah,
and Yom Kippur. We recognize holidays such as Hanukkah, Tu-Be-Shavat,
and Purim. We have also instituted days of celebration to honor
the mothers, fathers, and children of the congregation, as well
as special Shabbat services to preserve the memory of the late
Hon. Chief Rabbi W.A. Matthew and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
During the year we have special seminars, lecture series,
exercise classes, bus outings, and an annual Family Day picnic.
These events are usually published in the Hakol newsletter
and sent to those on our mailing list.
Despite our size, Beth Elohim has a junior and senior choir.
We have a staff of shamuses (ushers) headed by Bro.Oriel Ben Reuben and we operate two schools. The first is the Beth Elohim
Sabbath School. It is directed by Sis. Deborah Levy Jackson.
The Sabbath School is designed to teach the children of the congregation
about their way of life in a manner suitable for their level of
learning. One way that our children demonstrate what they have
learned in these classes is by putting on plays and programs that
we, the adults, enjoy and eagerly await. Any month that you look
at our bulletin board you are likely to see the names of Beth
Elohim youth who have won academic honors, athletic awards, or
civic citations for their achievements in the synagogue, the community,
or in their schools.
Our second school is the Cushi Talmud Torah Hebrew School.
It offers classes in the Hebrew language to adults and children
after Sabbath service and on weekday evenings.
Since life is a learning process, the more we learn the better
we should be able to live. This concept is reflected in our services
and the schools we operate. These values are nurtured in our children,
molded and encouraged by our members, and supported by the congregation.
A love of learning should extend from religious to secular topics
and from learning about ourselves to learning about others.
Beth Elohim advocates no political philosophy. Though, Rabbi
S.B. Levy and many of our members, are very active in community
affairs. In sum, we believe that a person's faith is seen only
through their actions toward other people. This understanding
allows us--and indeed compels us--to work whenever possible, with
any group or person who is interested in the betterment of humanity.
Membership in Beth Elohim is achieved only after the successful
completion of a probationary period, with the recommendation of
the Membership Committee, and the approval of the spiritual leader.
However, membership is not necessary for regular worship with
us; therefore, all are welcome to visit as often as they like
provided they do so in harmony. All rites of the faith (marriages,
Bar Mitzvahs, funerals, counseling, letters of reference, etc.)
are reserved for members of the congregation exclusively.
Should you require further information you may send you questions
to:
Rabbi Sholomo Ben Levy
Beth Elohim Hebrew Congregation
189-31 Linden Boulevard
Saint Albans, New York 11412
(718)
712-4646 rabbilevy@blackjews.org
For additional reading we recommend the following books, though
the opinions of some authors may differ from our own.
Brotz, Howard M. The Black Jews of Harlem
Hughley, Ella J. The Truth About Hebrew-Israelites
Jochannan, Yosef Ben We the Black Jews Vol. I and II
Rudolph Windsor, From Babylon to Timbuktu
