Around Jewish
Africa
 Yes, there are Jewish
communities in Africa, in every part of the
continent. These communities have come to Judaism
in different ways and have struggled in different
ways to maintain their Jewish observances and
identity. "The Jews of Africa"
presentation will introduce you and members of
your group to these communities by involving you
in their history, music and food, by giving you a
window into their religious and secular lives and
by raising the complex religious, cultural,
historical and political issues that one must
confront after recognizing the existence of
African Jewry.
Communities with Jewish practices around Africa:
--The Abayudaya
of Uganda:
The Abayudaya of Eastern Uganda have been an
active Jewish community for more than 80 years
since their leader, Semei Kakungulu, discarded
the Christianity of the British colonialists for
Judaism.
--The House of
Israel Community of Ghana: The community, centered in
the Southwestern Ghanaian town of Sefwi Wiawso,
came to Judaism approximately twenty years ago
when a local Ghanaian recognized Jewish
characterisics in the ancient traditions of the
Sefwi people.
-- The Beta
Israel of Ethiopia: Though most of the members
of this 2500 year old Biblically Jewish community
are in Israel now thanks to two Israeli airlifts,
some remain in camps in Addis Ababa and in remote
northern villages.
--The Community of
Rusape, Zimbabwe:
The Rusape Community came to Judaism embarked on
a spiritual quest to America and connected with
African-Americans practicing "prophetic"
Jewry.
--Moroccan Jews: Though much of this ancient
Jewish community has emigrated to Israel an
active contingent still practices a unique form
of spiritual, distinctly North African Judaism.
-- The Jews of
Tunisia: Jews
on the Isle of Djerba are part of a community
that has been practicing consistently for more
than 2000 years.
-- The European-descended
Jewish community of South Africa Theirs is the largest and
strongest Jewish community in Africa. --The Lemba of
Southern Africa:
This community claims to be descended from the
foot soldiers of King Solomon; recent genetic
evaluations have proven their connection to the
Semitic people.
Dormant or
recently depleted Jewish communities:
--Mozambique: European settlers seeded a
small Jewish community which has the opportunity
to reemerge now that the government has softened
its stance on Westerners.
--Egypt: The Egyptian Jewish
community has effectively disappeared, though the
synagogue in Cairo is still a testament to a rich
Jewish past.
Historically
Jewish communities:
--Timbuktu, Mali: In the middle of the 2nd
millennium Timbuktu was an important trading
center and home to an active Jewish community.
The Jewish community has since disappeared but
its descendants are beginning to explore their
ancestors’ faith.
--Cape Verde: The community of Jews moved
to the islands of Cape Verde to flee the
Portuguese Inquisition has since stopped
practicing actively but has begun to experience a
revival.
-- Sao Tome and
Principe: A tragic episode during
the Inquisition brought Jews to these small
islands off the west coast of Africa. The Jewish
community has since disappeared but the memory of
Jewish Sao Tome and Principe remains.
history
|
