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Rusape, Zimbabwe  "We believe most African (Black) descendants are in fact the ancient Hebrews and in fact most Blacks are the descendants of the 12 children of Israel . . . . We believe the true faith of the African descendants is Judaism and not Islam, as Islam is a revelation for descendants of Ishmael." -- Solomon Guwazah of the Rusape, Zimbabwe, community, in a letter to The African Sun The community of self-proclaimed Jews centered in Rusape, about two hours from Harare, Zimbabwe, appreciates its unusual history. On one hand they claim to be spiritually, if not genetically, descended from a "Lost Tribe" of Jews who migrated from the North. On the other, they can trace their recent incarnation back to a 1903 meeting between a former American slave named William Saunders Crowdy who was also a former Baptist deacon, and a spiritually hungry man named Albert Christian who eventually brought Crowdy’s teachings to Southern Africa. Today’s Rusape Jewish community is a vibrant, exciting group that comes together often in song in prayer at their recently rebuilt tabernacle, located about seven kilometers out of town. They follow the same holidays as Western Jews, are learning Hebrew, and are deeply devoted to reviving the Jewish culture of the Old Testament, which they believe is greatly in tune with their own ancient local ways. The community is several thousand strong and growing. history | the setting | religious life | secular life
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