MEMBERS OF A BETTER WORLD, ARAD ISRAEL
NEW IDEAS
M. B. Chism, MBW Staff
We planetary citizens bear witness today to our own evolution. Calculations of ancient Mayan astronomers have been confirmed and corroborated by the highly refined and powerful radio- telescopes orbiting our planet today: We are passing through that phase in which our solar system, and the entire galaxy of which it is a part, has returned to a starting point only reached every twenty-six thousand years. It is not, as doomsday prophets had fearfully surmised, an end – but a new beginning!
Our electronic 21st Century news media continuously brings before us reports of activities and events – global in scope and ubiquitous in their effect – that are no less than phenomenal. The Papacy of the Roman Catholic Church has reported the first retirement of a sitting Pope in seven centuries; The “Arab Spring” of 2010 saw reform and the overthrow of centuries old dictatorships across the Islamic world. The United States has seen the election – and re-election – of it's first African American President. The world is changing. And the Spirit of Reform is everywhere felt, heard and seen.
It is of little wonder, then, that within the social structure of the small community of American expatriates known as “The Original African Hebrew Israelite Nation of Jerusalem” - or “The Black Hebrews” of Israel, that that same “Spirit of Reform” is steadily doing its work today. It's current leadership is being challenged; it's current structure is being reevaluated; it's current membership is in contention – and it's small, but globally connected populace is beset with controversy and reform.
A little over forty years ago, a handful of Black Hebrews, under the leadership of Ben Ami Ben Israel, Asiel Ben Israel and Shaleak Ben Yehuda left the confines of an America, steeped at the time in the contentious social upheaval of the Civil Rights era, to resettle in the Holy Land of Israel. According to their Torah teachings, Israel was the prophesied homeland of their ancient Hebrew forefathers, Abraham, Issac and Jacob.
Initially held in hostile and unwelcoming suspicion, the Black Hebrews soon showed themselves to be motivated only by a desire to worship the God of Israel and be of benefit to their new homeland. Over the years, they made their own unique cultural and spiritual contributions to the growth and development of the fledgling Nation of Israel. From their initial offerings of music and song, unique pure fabric designer garments and original vegan vegetarian cuisine, to their award-winning athletic contributions, and their ultimately exemplary service in the Israeli (IDF) military, the Black Hebrew Community succeeded in assimilating and becoming a vibrant part of the Holy Land's life and character.
They built their own schools, maintained a vegan-herbal health system, their midwives delivered their own babies and their own appointed Priests taught Torah Law. Yet, while seeming idyllic to the numerous guests and tourists brought in by their Ambassador, Prince Asiel to visit the small Community in Dimona and it's “In-lying Cities” of Arad and Mitzpe Ramon, all was not ideal. While labeled by others as “The Village of Peace”, The Black Hebrew Community began to suffer from the effects of overcrowded housing conditions, sporadic underemployment and internal political unrest.
An undue amount of initial trust in their founders led, over time, to a unilateral, unrepresentative governance style which, by the mid-nineties, had deteriorated into a full-blown, uncontested dictatorship – this, in spite of having their own written and ratified scripturally-based constitution.
"Now we are engaged in a great Civil War...”, intones the well-known speech of the Great Emancipator, Abraham Lincoln. Those stirring words could aptly describe the current phase of the social conditions for the Black Hebrew Israelite's of Israel which persist today. Here, the words of a disgruntled Community member are apt to encapsulate many of today's Black Hebrew's attitudes:
"For the last 34 years of my life I've been a part of the [Community] and all of you that know me know my track record. Just about everything I've ever done as a member of the Community has been to help make it better. From the first week that I arrived in Arad in 1979 and realized that a lot of what I'd been told wasn't yet realized and made the decision then to “put my hand to the handle of the hoe” as we used to say, and helped to make a difference, and, until now, that has been my purpose: To help make the Kingdom be all that it is supposed to be.
"At this point I've come to the conclusion that the values and principles that I hold dear as a righteous woman differ greatly from those demonstrated by the state of affairs of the Community. (I recommend you read the document, Decline of a Nation). For me to remain an active member of the Community (not the Kingdom – there's a big difference) would, for me, be living a lie. I've tried to make a difference by working within the structure; however, I no longer believe that the changes that are required can be made by my continuing to do so. In order for me to be true to self, I have to make a physical distinction and separation between the things that I value and those that have shown me by their actions (or in-actions) that we don't share the same values.”
It is in the context of this reality that the Members of a Better World Community Organization has grown – and has chosen to do what it is doing today... i.e. to “Do the Work” to see that community (and any community beset with similar difficulties) is rejuvenated and on a path to social justice and well-being. We are in total agreement with, and are committed to, the principles of Love, Truth, Justice, Mercy, Equity and Peace as the tenets by which communities can form, govern themselves and their members, and subsequently grow and prosper. The one requirement of those who would benefit from the help offered by the Members of a Better World is “The Courage to Reform.” This requires that communities and their membership have no fear of healthy self-examination or healthy self-criticism.
Our goal is both to discourage and prevent those maladies caused by complacency that can become common to any community over time. Community members who become lazy about or discouraged from successfully and effectively engaging in their community's self-governance and improvement must know that they are supported. Access to resources and information is pertinent to development, growth, transparency and security. MBW will always be available to assist you with access to resources and support.
