Comments on Silver Spring, Singular: Bethesda is Boring

Come on up to Silver Spring's baby sister, Wheaton...

2008-08-25T10:03:00.000-05:00

Come on up to Silver Spring's baby sister, Wheaton. It is refreshingly not Bethesda or D.C.

love your blog.

rickyr1983,Bear in mind that if anyone says anythi...

2008-08-05T07:36:00.000-05:00

rickyr1983,

Bear in mind that if anyone says anything that Anonymous Troll doesn't like, he immediately labels you as a white supremacist KKK member who hates Maryland.

He's really rather entertaining, to a certain degree. He's very reactionary, engages in a lot of false dichotomies, and overall has very little logic to his arguments. He's simultaneously left-wing (with his pro-black-business sentiments and morbid overeagerness to accuse people of racism) and right-wing (with his condemnation of Takoma Park "commies" and his rabid pro-development stance, seemingly feeling that a neighborhood just isn't complete without six or seven Tyson's-Corner-style shopping malls). His posts are riddled with spelling errors like "speach" and he capitalizes waaaay too much. He usually comes across as being more interested in ranting and flinging wild accusations than he is in actually engaging anyone in discussion. Ultimately he's impossible to take seriously because he has no credibility and no manners. He feels that he is right in all things and anyone who disagrees with him, even in the slightest, is evil and beyond the pale.

Pay no attention to him; he's not worth the effort.

RE: I'm not suprised that a Caucassian Southern pe...

2008-08-05T02:10:00.000-05:00

RE: I'm not suprised that a Caucassian Southern person would refer to Black Muslims as Racist. I guess you view the KKK as Human Rights Activist that only wants to exercise their Freedom of Speach...

Anonymous,

The Israelites are not black Muslims, they consider themselves Jews or some sects consider themselves Christians.

And who the hell told you I was white?

rickyr1983 said... If those are indeed black Israe...

2008-08-04T23:43:00.000-05:00

rickyr1983 said...
If those are indeed black Israelites, those people are racist and crazy. At least the ones I've seen in New York are.

As for Bethesda, I agree wholeheartedly: Great restaurants, not much else to do.

I love the liveliness of Silver Spring.

I only wish their shops were a little more diversified. Whose bright idea was it to put a "high-end" dog store, Living Ruff, in DTSS?

And American Apparel is in a terrible location. It should be where NY & Co. is. Why isn't H&M in DTSS? Gap? And can we get an Apple Store or something? DTSS needs better shops. Oh yeah, and I think we could do without the Red Lobster and Eggspectation.

8/03/2008 3:03 AM

RE: I'm not suprised that a Caucassian Southern person would refer to Black Muslims as Racist. I guess you view the KKK as Human Rights Activist that only wants to exercise their Freedom of Speach...

Totally racists. And the tribes from Puerto Rico ...

2008-08-04T10:30:00.000-05:00

Totally racists. And the tribes from Puerto Rico and Cuba? Do the Aladin boys realize that Puerto Ricans as most latin carribeans, are of mixed race? Don't think you can say that about Alabama. Don't be afraid to talk to your fellow man, and saddle up to those guys and ask them honestly.

Have you ever noticed that every religious zealot ...

2008-08-03T18:52:00.000-05:00

Have you ever noticed that every religious zealot out there considers that only they have God's blessing? Is God really so narrow minded that his true followers know what God's fashion preferences are? My God is not facist, racist, sexist, is not afraid of gay people, white people, black people, purple people, protozoa or Ron Paul. Lastly, my God does not believe that faith must be expressed by a fashion statement other than our Birthday Suits!

Deal with it people, and get a furkin' grip!

If those are indeed black Israelites, those people...

2008-08-03T03:03:00.000-05:00

If those are indeed black Israelites, those people are racist and crazy. At least the ones I've seen in New York are.

As for Bethesda, I agree wholeheartedly: Great restaurants, not much else to do.

I love the liveliness of Silver Spring.

I only wish their shops were a little more diversified. Whose bright idea was it to put a "high-end" dog store, Living Ruff, in DTSS?

And American Apparel is in a terrible location. It should be where NY & Co. is. Why isn't H&M in DTSS? Gap? And can we get an Apple Store or something? DTSS needs better shops. Oh yeah, and I think we could do without the Red Lobster and Eggspectation.

Salonista said... Is that you, Thrasher? 8/0...

2008-08-01T15:53:00.000-05:00

Salonista said...

Is that you, Thrasher?

8/01/2008 7:41 AM

RE: Oh Hell No

"RE: It looks like some smartass fool has been dip...

2008-08-01T07:41:00.000-05:00

"RE: It looks like some smartass fool has been dipping in the Happy Feelgood White Powder, LOL!!!

But then again thats considered normal for the anti-social misfits from Gool Ol' Communist Republic of Takoma Park, LOL!!!!!"

Is that you, Thrasher?

Thayer Ave., too said... Also on Ellsworth last Sa...

2008-07-31T23:03:00.000-05:00

Thayer Ave., too said...
Also on Ellsworth last Saturday night: a bunch of kids with droopy pants dancing to the Latin music from the open windows above at Ceviche. Saturday night was a pretty lively evening downtown-- pretty cool. You know, for a bunch of Maryland Hating Trolls. Actually, I think I'm going to start signing all my posts "MHT."

7/31/2008 8:11 PM

RE: It looks like some smartass fool has been dipping in the Happy Feelgood White Powder, LOL!!!

But then again thats considered normal for the anti-social misfits from Gool Ol' Communist Republic of Takoma Park, LOL!!!!!

Anonymous said... those guys in Aladin outfits ARE...

2008-07-31T22:59:00.000-05:00

Anonymous said...
those guys in Aladin outfits ARE RACIST.
just go talk to them if you are a blue eyed devil...

7/31/2008 12:35 PM

RE: Something tells me that this person is not from Montgomery County, Maryland instead he/she is more than likely from Montgomery County, Alabama...........

Anonymous said... those guys in Aladin outfits ARE...

2008-07-31T22:57:00.000-05:00

You all are stupid and dumm and don't desserve to ...

2008-07-31T22:53:00.000-05:00

You all are stupid and dumm and don't desserve to life in MARYLAND. I think the guy from Howerd County calls them EMO kidz. With the droppy pants.

Tonight was rather lively too. I even danced for ...

2008-07-31T21:40:00.000-05:00

Tonight was rather lively too. I even danced for once.

Also on Ellsworth last Saturday night: a bunch of ...

2008-07-31T20:11:00.000-05:00

Also on Ellsworth last Saturday night: a bunch of kids with droopy pants dancing to the Latin music from the open windows above at Ceviche. Saturday night was a pretty lively evening downtown-- pretty cool. You know, for a bunch of Maryland Hating Trolls. Actually, I think I'm going to start signing all my posts "MHT."

I like the Silver Spring Wayne Ave. shops and rest...

2008-07-31T18:15:00.000-05:00

I like the Silver Spring Wayne Ave. shops and restaurants, however, the parking garage is a NIGHTMARE. It's really going to turn me away from going there. Too bad, in this day and age of huge gas prices and being nickel and dimed to death by parking fees and tickets, you would think they would encourage you to go there instead of the geographic and beurocratic nightmare they have made it. I'll be going somewhere easier to access.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/printerpage.php...

2008-07-31T13:01:00.000-05:00

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/printerpage.php?id=34768
Here is the city paper on the guys in the white and red outfits.

Uh, PG county won't compete with us until MC police starting killing Labrador Retrievers who run away from them.

Andrea- a long time Silver Springer

those guys in Aladin outfits ARE RACIST.just go ta...

2008-07-31T12:35:00.000-05:00

those guys in Aladin outfits ARE RACIST.
just go talk to them if you are a blue eyed devil...

I think dude is fulfilling his potential.

2008-07-31T08:47:00.000-05:00

I think dude is fulfilling his potential.

Thayer,You're right, and I was a little hotheaded,...

2008-07-31T08:30:00.000-05:00

Thayer,

You're right, and I was a little hotheaded, but it wasn't just the potentially gay man comment (heck, I'm potentially Spiderman too, depending on what freaky accident might happen to me) but the overall tone of the message, which -- not to belabor a point -- was idiotic.

I mean, how do you get from "Those black guys in the pirate-like outfits might be from a group that considers itself Jewish" to "racist"?

Not surprisingly, that Anon was the same Anon who calls everyone a "Maryland Hating Troll."

Springvale Roader:I think Anonymous 11:45 simply s...

2008-07-31T08:11:00.000-05:00

Springvale Roader:

I think Anonymous 11:45 simply said you were a Potentially Gay Man. Just like he's a Potentially Idiot. And for all intents and purposes, he's a Potentially Gay Man, just like anyone with the XY chromosome would be a Potentially Gay Man.

Perhaps if his grammar was a little better he wouldn't be so much of a Potentially Idiot. Or just a Potentially Simple-Minded Fellow.

Oh, I agree with "The Promenade." I tried to get i...

2008-07-31T02:41:00.000-05:00

Oh, I agree with "The Promenade." I tried to get into it at JUTP, but for whatever reason it never quite caught on. It just bothers me when I hear "Ellsworth Avenue" or "Ellsworth Street" instead of Ellsworth Drive. Sort of like the "Wheaton Plaza" thing, you know, it's like our special "I was here when . . ." kind of thing.

Or not, and I'm just BSing you. Either way, it's a winner!

Springvale Roader said... Anonymous 11:45, not to ...

2008-07-30T22:58:00.000-05:00

Springvale Roader said...
Anonymous 11:45, not to make too fine a point of it, but you are an idiot. If I was gay I would say so. What I have noticed, along with plenty of other people, is that neighborhoods with a good gay presence tend to be pretty damn vital and interesting.

As for being racist for pointing out that those African American guys seem to be, from what I've observed, representing themselves as Jews, or Hebrews: again, not to make too fine a point of it: you are an idiot.

7/30/2008 4:38 PM

RE: And you are a Maryland Hating Troll

GroupsDuring the late 19th and early 20th centurie...

2008-07-30T20:54:00.000-05:00

Groups
During the late 19th and early 20th centuries, dozens of Black Hebrew organizations were established.[5] In Harlem alone, at least eight such groups were founded between 1919 and 1931.[12] The Church of the Living God, the Pillar Ground of Truth for All Nations is the oldest known Black Hebrew group[13] and the Church of God and Saints of Christ is one of the largest Black Hebrew organizations.[14] The Commandment Keepers are noted for their adherence to traditional Judaism[15] and the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem are widely known for having moved from the United States to Israel.[16][17][18]

[edit] Church of the Living God, the Pillar Ground of Truth for All Nations
The oldest known Black Hebrew organization is the Church of the Living God, the Pillar Ground of Truth for All Nations.[13][19] The group was founded by F. S. Cherry in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1886, and later moved to Philadelphia.[20] Theologically, the Church of the Living God mixed elements of Judaism and Christianity, counting the Bible — including the New Testament — and the Talmud as essential scriptures.[21] The rituals of Cherry’s flock incorporated many Jewish practices and prohibitions alongside some Christian traditions.[22] For example, during prayer the men wore skullcaps and congregants faced east. In addition, members of the Church were not permitted to eat pork.[22] Prayers were accompanied by musical instruments and gospel singing.[23] After Cherry's death, members of the church believed he had left temporarily and would reappear soon in spirit to lead the church through his son.[14]

[edit] Church of God and Saints of Christ
Main article: Church of God and Saints of Christ
The Church of God and Saints of Christ was established in Lawrence, Kansas, in 1896 by William Saunders Crowdy.[24] The group established its headquarters in Philadelphia in 1899, and Crowdy later relocated to Washington, D.C., in 1903. After Crowdy's death in 1908, the church continued to grow under the leadership of William Henry Plummer, who moved the organization's headquarters to its permanent location in Belleville, Virginia, in 1921.[25] In 1936, the Church of God and Saints of Christ had more than 200 "tabernacles" (congregations) and 37,000 members.[14][26] Howard Zebulun Plummer succeeded his father and became head of the organization in 1931.[27] His son, Levi Solomon Plummer, became the church's leader in 1975.[28] Since 2001, the Church of God and Saints of Christ has been led by Rabbi Jehu A. Crowdy, Jr., a great-grandson of William Saunders Crowdy.[29] As of 2005, it had fifty tabernacles in the United States and dozens in Africa.[24]

The Church of God and Saints of Christ describes itself as "the oldest African-American congregation in the United States that adheres to the tenets of Judaism".[30][19] It teaches that all Jews had been black originally, and that African-Americans are descendants of the lost tribes of Israel.[31][32] Members believe that Jesus was neither God nor the son of God, but rather an adherent to Judaism and a prophet. They also consider William Saunders Crowdy to be a prophet.[33]

The Church of God and Saints of Christ synthesizes rituals from both Judaism and Christianity. They have adopted rites drawn from both the Old Testament and New Testament. Its Jewish observances include circumcision of newborn boys, use of the Hebrew calendar, wearing of yarmulkes, observance of Saturday as the Sabbath, and celebration of Passover. Its New Testament rites include baptism (immersion) and footwashing, both of which have Old Testament origins.[31][32]

Part of a series of articles on
Jews and Judaism

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God · Tanakh (Torah · Nevi'im · Ketuvim) · Mitzvot (613) · Talmud · Halakha · Holidays · Prayer · Tzedakah · Ethics · Kabbalah · Customs · Midrash

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Ancient · Temple · Babylonian exile · Jerusalem (in Judaism · Timeline) · Hasmoneans · Sanhedrin · Schisms · Pharisees · Jewish-Roman wars · Relationship with Christianity / with Islam · Diaspora · Middle Ages · Sabbateans · Hasidism · Haskalah · Emancipation · Holocaust · Aliyah · Israel (History) · Arab conflict · Land of Israel · Baal teshuva

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[edit] Commandment Keepers
Main article: Commandment Keepers
Wentworth Arthur Matthew founded the Commandment Keepers Congregation in Harlem in 1919.[2] Matthew was influenced by the white Jews he met and by Marcus Garvey and the Universal Negro Improvement Association. One of the accomplishments of Garvey's movement was to strengthen the connection between black Americans and Africa, Ethiopia in particular, and when Matthew learned about the Beta Israel — Ethiopian Jews — he identified with them.[34]

The Commandment Keepers follow traditional Jewish practice and observe Jewish holidays.[15] Members observe Jewish dietary laws, circumcise newborn boys and celebrate bar mitzvah, and their synagogue has a partition to separate men and woman during worship.[35]

Wentworth Arthur Matthew holding a Torah scroll.The Commandment Keepers believe they are descendants of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba.[36] Matthew taught that "the Black man is a Jew" and "all genuine Jews are Black men",[37] but he valued white Jews as those who had preserved Judaism over the centuries.[2] Matthew maintained cordial ties with white Jewish leaders in New York and frequently invited them to worship at his synagogue.[38]

Matthew established the Ethiopian Hebrew Rabbinical College (later renamed the Israelite Rabbinical Academy). He ordained more than 20 rabbis, who went on to lead congregations throughout the United States and the Caribbean.[38][37] He remained the leader of the Commandment Keepers in Harlem, and in 1962 the congregation moved to a landmark building on 123rd Street.[39]

Matthew died in 1973, sparking an internal conflict over who would succeed him as head of the Harlem congregation. Shortly before his death Matthew named his grandson, David Matthew Doré, the new spiritual leader. Doré was 16 years old at the time. In 1975, the synagogue's board elected Rabbi Willie White to be its leader. Rabbi Doré occasionally conducted services at the synagogue until the early 1980s, when White had Doré and some other members locked out of the building. Membership declined throughout the 1990s and by 2004 only a few dozen people belonged to the synagogue. In 2007 the Commandment Keepers sold the building that housed their synagogue while various factions among former members sued one another.[35][40]

Beside the Harlem group, there are eight or ten Commandment Keeper congregations in the New York area and others throughout North America and in Israel.[41] Since 2000, seven rabbis have graduated from the Israelite Rabbinical Academy founded by Matthew.[42]

[edit] African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem

African Hebrew Israelites speak to visitors in Dimona.Main article: African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem
Ben Ammi Ben Israel established the African Hebrew Israelites of Jerusalem in Chicago, Illinois, in 1966. In 1969, after a sojourn in Liberia, Ben Ammi and about 30 Hebrew Israelites moved to Israel.[17] Over the next 20 years nearly 600 more members left the United States for Israel. As of 2006, about 2,500 Hebrew Israelites live in Dimona and two other towns in the Negev region of Israel, where they are widely referred to as Black Hebrews.[43] In addition, there are Hebrew Israelite communities in several major American cities, including Chicago, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.[44]

The Black Hebrews believe they are descended from members of the Tribe of Judah who were exiled from the Land of Israel after the Romans destroyed the Second Temple in 70 CE.[43][45] The group incorporates elements of African American culture into their interpretation of the Bible,[44] and they do not recognize rabbinical Jewish interpretations such as the Talmud.[43] The Black Hebrews observe Shabbat and biblically-ordained Jewish holidays such as Yom Kippur and Passover.[46] Men wear tzitzit on their African print shirts, women follow the biblical laws concerning menstruation,[44] and newborn boys are circumcised.[17] In accordance with their interpretation of the Bible, the Black Hebrews follow a strictly vegan diet and wear only natural fabrics.[45][17] Most men have more than one wife, and birth control is not permitted.[43]

When the first Black Hebrews arrived in Israel in 1969, they claimed citizenship under the Law of Return, which gives eligible Jews immediate citizenship.[47] The Israeli government ruled in 1973 that the group did not qualify for automatic citizenship, and the Black Hebrews were denied work permits and state benefits. The group responded by accusing the Israeli government of racist discrimination.[48] In 1981, a group of American civil rights activist led by Bayard Rustin investigated and concluded that racism was not the cause of Black Hebrews' situation.[16] No official action was taken to return the Black Hebrews to the United States, but some individual members were deported for working illegally. Some Black Hebrews renounced their American citizenship to try to prevent more deportations. In 1990, Illinois legislators helped negotiate an agreement that resolved the Black Hebrews' legal status in Israel. Members of the group are permitted to work and have access to housing and social services. The Black Hebrews reclaimed their American citizenship and have received aid from the U.S. government that helped them build a school and additional housing.[48] In 2003 the agreement was revised, and the Black Hebrews were granted permanent resident status.[18][49]

The Black Hebrews have become well-known for their gospel choir, which tours throughout Israel and the United States. The group owns restaurants in several Israeli cities.[48] In 2003 the Black Hebrews garnered much public attention when singer Whitney Houston visited them in Dimona.[50][51][52] In 2006, Eddie Butler, a Black Hebrew, was chosen by the Israeli public to represent Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest.[

Black Hebrew Israelites (also Black Hebrews, Afric...

2008-07-30T20:52:00.000-05:00

Black Hebrew Israelites (also Black Hebrews, African Hebrew Israelites, and Hebrew Israelites) are groups of people of African ancestry situated mostly in the United States who believe they are descendants of the ancient Israelites. Black Hebrews adhere in varying degrees to the religious beliefs and practices of mainstream Judaism. They are generally not accepted as Jews by the greater Jewish community, and many Black Hebrews consider themselves — and not mainstream Jews — to be the only authentic Jews. Many choose to self-identify as Hebrew Israelites or Black Hebrews rather than as Jews.[1][2][3][4]

Dozens of Black Hebrew groups were founded during the late 1800s and the early 1900s.[5] In the mid-1980s, the number of Black Hebrews in the United States was between 25,000 and 40,000.[6] In the 1990s, the Alliance of Black Jews estimated that there were 200,000 African-American Jews, including Black Hebrews and those recognized as Jews by mainstream Jewish organizations.[7]
While Black Christians traditionally have identified themselves with the Children of Israel, they never claimed to be descendants of the Israelites.[8] In the late 19th century among some African-Americans, an identification with the ancient Hebrews developed into an identification as ancient Hebrews.[5] One of the first groups of Black Hebrews, the Church of God and Saints of Christ, was founded in 1896.[5] During the following decades, many more Black Hebrew congregations were established. These groups claimed descent from the ancient Israelites. They selected elements of Judaism and adapted them within a structure similar to that of the Black church.[5]

The beliefs and practices of Black Hebrew groups vary considerably. The differences are so great that historian James Tinney has suggested the classification of the organizations into three groups: Black Jews, who maintain a Christological perspective and adopt Jewish rituals; Black Hebrews, who are more traditional in their practice of Judaism; and Black Israelites, who are most nationalistic and farthest from traditional Judaism.[9]

Nevertheless, Black Hebrew organizations have certain common characteristics. Anthropologist James E. Landing, author of Black Judaism, distinguishes the Black Hebrew movement, which he refers to as Black Judaism, from normative Judaism practiced by people who are Black (black Judaism):

Black Judaism is ... a form of institutionalized (congregational) religious expression in which black persons identify themselves as Jews, Israelites, or Hebrews...in a manner that seems unacceptable to the the "whites" of the world's Jewish community, primarily because Jews take issue with the various justifications set forth by Black Jews in establishing this identity. Thus "Black Judaism," as defined here, stands distinctly apart from "black Judaism," or that Judaic expression found among black persons that would be acceptable to the world's Jewish community, such as conversion or birth to a recognized Jewish mother. "Black Judaism" has been a social movement; "black Judaism" has been an isolated social phenomenon.[10]

Landing's definition, and its underlying assumptions about race and normative Judaism, have been criticized,[11] but it provides a helpful framework for understanding some of the common traits that various Black Hebrew organizations share.