Wentworth Arthur Matthew (June 23, 1892[1][2] – December 1973),[3] a West Indian immigrant to New York City, was the founder in 1919 of the Commandment Keepers of the Living God, a Black Hebrew congregation.[4][5] It was influenced by the pan-Africanism and black nationalism of Marcus Garvey from Jamaica. Matthew developed his congregation along Jewish lines of observance and the theory that they were returning to Judaism as the true Hebrews. He incorporated in 1930 and moved the congregation to Brooklyn. There he founded the Israelite Rabbinical Academy, teaching and ordaining African-American rabbis. His belief that Black people are descended from ancient Israelites is not widely accepted by the greater Jewish community.
According to Matthew, he was born in Lagos, Nigeria. Other sources, including his own records, say he was born in St. Kitts, British West Indies.[6] He and his family became naturalized United States citizens.
- ^ "Selected U.S. Naturalization Records - Original Documents, 1790-1974 [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network. 1927-05-26. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ "U.S. World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942 [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network. 1942. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ "Social Security Death Index [database on-line]". United States: The Generations Network. Retrieved 2009-04-30.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
levywas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ The Manhattan African-American History and Culture Guide, Museum of the City of New York
- ^ Zev Chafets, "Obama’s Rabbi," The New York Times, April 5, 2009.