The Issues

The "Jews of Africa" presentation can be as simple as a slide show and as intricate and complex as a debate about the always controversial answer to the question, "Who is a Jew? We will work together to decide what issues you believe the members of your organization would like to address and we will create a program to fulfill those interests.

For Jewish organizations

"The Jews of Africa" presentation can raise and address questions in a Jewish group like:

Are Jews a race? A culture? A nation? 

What makes someone Jewish? What is the definition of "a Jew?"

If someone only goes to synagogue on the High Holidays and does not keep kosher or follow the Shabbat, is he any "less Jewish" than an observant Jews?

If someone never follows Jewish rituals can s/he still be considered Jewish? 

Where did the Jewish people originate? What color skin did the original Jews have? Why do we envision contemporary Jews as being white?

Are Jews of European origin genetic descendants of the first Jews? If not, how did they come to be Jewish?

Often people define "a Jew" as being the genetic offspring of a Jewish woman. Can one be considered Jewish if his/her mother is not Jewish but his father is and s/he is raised with Jewish observances?

Should people who are Jewish by birth but do not observe any Jewish rituals be considered Jewish?

Should people who follow Jewish observances but are not genetic offspring of Jews be considered Jewish?

Are Jews for Jesus who are genetic offspring of Jews still considered "Jewish?"

When does one stop being Jewish? Is formal conversion to another religion required?

What if you were raised in a Jewish household but discovered later in life that your mother had not been born Jewish and had never formally converted? Would you feel the need to convert according to Jewish law?

If a Reform rabbi performs a conversion ceremony on someone should Orthodox Jews automatically recognize the person as being Jewish?

What criteria do the State of Israel use to determine if someone is Jewish? Are those criteria religiously or politically motivated?

What if someone is the genetic offspring of a Jewish woman who married a Catholic and, without converting, raised her children as Catholics? Is that person considered Jewish? What if the Jewish woman was the person’s great-great grandmother – can "being Jewish" pass from mother to daughter to her daughter and so even after generations of the family is generally perceived to be Catholic? Should descendents of marranos be considered Jewish? If they want to reclaim the Jewish heritage of their ancestors must they convert? 

For African and African-American organizations

"The Jews of Africa" presentation can raise and address questions in an African or African-American group like:

Where did the Jewish people originate? When and why did they have their first contact with the African continent? 

What is the perception in the African-American community of "a Jew?" How much of that perception is based up the culture of the Jewish people? The observances of the Jewish people? The economic status of the Jewish people?

What was the skin color of the first Jews? How does the perception that most contemporary Jews are white effect their position in society? If Jews were not perceived to be white, how would that effect their position in society?

Is someone who is a descendent of slaves still considered "African?" At one point has someone become "African-American" rather than "African?" In a similar vein, how does a Jewish person become a "Jewish-American" rather than a simply "Jewish?" How does someone who is "African" lead life differently than someone who is "African-American?" How does someone "Jewish" live differently than a "Jewish-American?"

What common culture and observances did the ancient Jews share with the ancient Africans? How did ancient Judaism differ from any traditional African religion? Did it? How does modern Judaism differ traditional African religion? How and why did Judaism develop from ancient to contemporary beliefs?

How do the political choices of different governments and groups effect the ethnic and cultural identity of Jews, Africans or African-Americans? 

For Black/Jewish Relations Groups

Jay can raise all the above topics and more, delving into the complex relations between Blacks and Jews and how those relations are based upon cultural, ethnic, economic and political similarities and differences.

"The Jews of Africa" presentation can raise all of these issues and more in a creative manner that meets your group’s interests and needs.