- unitid
-
{"value"=>"186540", "type"=>"local_mss"}
{"value"=>"b22252561", "type"=>"local_b"}
{"value"=>"Sc MIRS Beth 1995-25", "type"=>"local_call"}
- unitdate
-
{"value"=>"1991-1995", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1991/1995"}
- unittitle
-
{"value"=>"Beth Elohim Hebrew Congregation audio collection"}
- physdesc
-
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"10 audio_recordings", "unit"=>"audio_recordings"}]}
- repository
-
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division</span>"}
- abstract
-
{"value"=>"Beth Elohim Hebrew Congregation is a Black Jewish congregation in Queens, New York. The collection consists of ten audio recordings of interviews with leaders and longtime members of the Hebrew Israelite community in New York City conducted by Rabbi Sholomo Ben Levy, in addition to a sermon by Chief Rabbi Levi Ben Levy."}
- langmaterial
-
{"value"=>"English"}
- origination
-
{"value"=>"Beth Elohim Hebrew Congregation (New York, N.Y.)", "type"=>"corpname"}
- bioghist
-
{"value"=>"<p>Beth Elohim Hebrew Congregation is a Black Jewish congregation in New York City. It was founded in 1983 by Chief Rabbi Levi Ben Levy (1935-1999), Rabbi Sholomo Ben Levy (b. 1964), and the Levy family. Rabbi Sholomo Ben Levy has been the spiritual leader of the congregation since 1988. The synagogue is located in St. Albans, Queens.</p>"}
- scopecontent
-
{"value"=>"<p>The Beth Elohim Hebrew Congregation audio collection consists of ten audio recordings. Since the collection's original formats are audio cassettes, the items contain two parts, one for each side of the cassette. They are arranged alphabetically by last name and in sequence by parts.</p> <p>The interviewees are: Rabbi Irving J. Block, Hannah Harrison, Brother David Lee, Chief Rabbi Levi Ben Levy, Maude McLeod, Rabbi Hailu Moshe Paris, and Rabbi James (Yokanan) Poinsett. All interviews are conducted by Rabbi Sholomo Ben Levy, unless stated otherwise. A brief biography for each person is included in the item descriptions. The scope of the interviews range from subjects' relationship with Rabbi Wentworth Arthur Matthew (Rabbi W.A. Matthew), their religious journeys, the founding of the Hebrew Israelite community in New York City, and their experiences as Black Jews.</p> <p>Many of the interviewees trace the beginnings of their religious journey to Rabbi W.A. Matthew (1892/3 -1973). He was a prominent leader of the Hebrew Israelite community (also referred to as Black Hebrew Israelites, Black Hebrews, Black Israelites, and African Hebrew Israelites). In 1919, he founded the Commandment Keepers of the Living God (now Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation of the Living God Pillar & Ground of Truth, Inc.) in Harlem, New York City. He also founded the Israelite Rabbinical Academy, teaching and ordaining many African American rabbis.</p>"}
- acqinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Gift of Rabbi Sholomo Ben Levy, president of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis, July 1995.</p>"}
- separatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>See the Manuscripts, Archives, and Rare Books Division for the Beth Elohim Hebrew Congregation records 1977-1995, Sc MG 573.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>See the Photographs and Prints Division for the photographs.</p>"}
- processinfo
-
{"value"=>"<p>Collection inventoried by <span class=\"name\">Nathan Evans</span>. Collection processed and described by <span class=\"name\">Ornella U. Baganizi</span>, archivist; and <span class=\"name\">Shola Lynch</span>, curator. Finding aid published in <span class=\"date\">2024</span>.</p>"}
- relatedmaterial
-
{"value"=>"<p>Commandment Keepers Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation records, Sc MG 574.</p>"}
- sponsor
-
{"value"=>"An anonymous donor funded preliminary processing for this collection. The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation supported a research library-wide grant for the digitization, and funded the Schomburg for the description and production of the finding aid as part of The Next Century of Black Studies Project."}
- revisiondesc
-
{"value"=>"Item titles, scope and content notes, and extent notes updated to facilitate public access by Ornella U. Baganizi.", "date"=>"2026-04-22"}
- date_start
-
1991
- keydate
-
1991
- date_end
-
1995
- date_inclusive_start
-
1991
- date_inclusive_end
-
1995
- prefercite
-
{"value"=>"Beth Elohim Hebrew Congregation audio collection, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Moving Image and Recorded Sound Division, The New York Public Library"}