First Kendrick Lamar, Now Kodak Black — Another Rapper Goes Hebrew Israelite
Image by Getty Images
By Sam Kestenbaum June 14, 2017
Weeks after Kendrick Lamar surprised some listeners by calling himself an Israelite, another celebrity rapper has done the same.
Kodak Black may have just gone Hebrew Israelite.
In a string of Instagram posts this month, the 20-year-old rapper told his millions of followers that he is now an Israelite — specifically from the tribe of Levi. In one photo, Black posed in a suit while wearing a Star of David pendant. One photo was partially captioned: “I Can’t Lie I’m #Israel #12TribesOfIsrael #Levite.”
Hebrew Israelites are people of color, mostly but not all African American, who identify as the true descendant of the biblical Israelites. The movement is diverse and has multiple branches or denominations. Some high profile celebrities have recently referenced or embraced this identity, including Lamar and basketball star Amar’e Stoudemire.
Black’s reference to being a Levite stems from a popular Hebrew Israelite teaching that specific nationalities are descended from the Twelve Tribes of Israel. Haitians, according to a widely circulated “tribe chart,” are descended from the tribe of Levi.
Black was introduced to this belief and others while serving a jail sentence in Florida. A teacher known as Priest Kahan, who conducts prison ministry in the state, made contact with Black and studied scripture with him.
“Kodak Black is another individual who has unfortunately been caught up in the system,” Kahan told the Forward in a phone interview. “He’s facing so much temptation.”
Kahan now leads a Hebrew Israelite congregation that, according to its website, “observe[s] and teach[es] the laws and statutes of the Most High through Hamashiach Yahawashi,” using a Hebrew name for Jesus and describing him as the Messiah.
Kahan met with Black half a dozen times over the course of the rapper’s imprisonment. “I just tried to enlighten him,” he said. “This is new to him.”
Black served 97 days in jail for violating house arrest in relation to another case. He was released on June 5.
Email Sam Kestenbaum at [email protected] and follow him on Twitter at @skestenbaum
This is a moment of great uncertainty. Here’s what you can do about it.
We hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, we’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s independent Jewish news this Passover. All donations are being matched by the Forward Board - up to $100,000.
This is a moment of great uncertainty for the news media, for the Jewish people, and for our sacred democracy. It is a time of confusion and declining trust in public institutions. An era in which we need humans to report facts, conduct investigations that hold power to account, tell stories that matter and share honest discourse on all that divides us.
With no paywall or subscriptions, the Forward is entirely supported by readers like you. Every dollar you give this Passover is invested in the future of the Forward — and telling the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
The Forward doesn’t rely on funding from institutions like governments or your local Jewish federation. There are thousands of readers like you who give us $18 or $36 or $100 each month or year.
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
