Have you ever used the words "Jewish" and "African" in the same sentence? If not, you are not alone. Many people are not aware that there are Jewish communities in Africa and African Jews throughout the world. The Jewish and African communities at Tufts came together last night at Hillel to learn more about this intermingling of cultures.
The evening began with a bicultural dinner featuring a variety of African and Jewish foods. Sampling everything from plantains and peanut soup to challah and matzah ball soup, curious students discussed ingredients and origins.
Musician and journalist Jay Sand, who has lived and researched Jewish communities in different parts of Africa, showed a slide show of his travels.
Sand first gave an overview of the African connection to Judaism. He explained that Israel and the surrounding areas, the birthplace of Judaism, served as a gateway between Africa and the continent of Asia. Peoples entering and leaving Africa passed through the area and interacted with one another.
Sand also explained that Ethiopian Jews consider themselves to be one of the 12 "lost tribes" of Judah - scattered in biblical times. Although their practices may be slightly different than those of Western Judaism, Ethiopian Judaism dates back several hundred years.
"With the foundation of Israel in 1948, there was much 'discovery' of these lost tribes," Sand explained. "Politically and practically, they could come and settle in Israel as citizens." During turbulent times in Ethipian history, he stated, tens of thousands of Ethiopians were airlifted to Israel and have been living there for many years.
During his travels, Sand developed an especially close connection with the Abayudaya Jewish community of Uganda and its rabbi, Gershom Sizomu. Rabbi Sizomu's father and grandfather were both rabbis, but he is the first to study at a Western rabbinical school. Sizomu is studying at a Yeshiva [rabbinical school] in New York.
Rabbi Sizomu spoke briefly about his community's history tonight, and will be giving a longer presentation tomorrow night.
The Abayudaya community, now a group of about 200 people, was founded in 1919 by a man named Semei Kukangulu, who "was convinced by Judaism after realizing that the [Christian] missionaries did not preach circumcision, yet it was emphasized in the Bible," said Sizomu. Kukangulu "saw in the Ten Commandments true guidelines for life. He wanted to be a part of the Children of Israel; the 'chosen people' of God." Kukangulu, along with a group of about three thousand men, circumcised himself and began observing Shabbat [the Jewish Sabbath] and other Jewish customs.
When asked how the surrounding non-Jewish community reacts to the Abayudaya, Sizomu replied that "the group is only different in practice. There is also religious freedom [in Uganda], so they are accepted. [They] have something to offer their neighbors. They work for non-Jews, and there is some intermarriage."
The Abayudaya community now has a Jewish high school which is named after its founder, Kukangulu. It also has five synagogues, and books and prayer shawls have been donated by other Jewish communities from around the world. It has its own "kosher" [blessed by a rabbi and made in traditional form] Torahs [the Jewish holy book], and observes Jewish holidays in much the same way as Western Jewish communities.
Sand also spoke about Jewish communities he visited in Ghana and Zimbabwe, and mentioned that some people in Zimbabwe "view Judaism as a Pan-African statement. Christianity was taught to them by the [foreign] missionaries during colonialism. They believe Judaism was lost [in Zimbabwe] for thousands of years, and now it is something they want to be doing again... an anti-Imperialist statement." Sand also stated that Nigeria, Burundi, and Rwanda also have groups with connections to Judaism.
Organizers of the program were glad to see such a sizeable turnout.
"One reason it's important to learn more about Jewish communities in Africa is because it breaks down stereotypes of who's Jewish and who's not," said Rabbi Jeffrey Summit. This is a time when it's so important to get beyond stereotypes and see how diverse our world is."
Adwoa Asare-Kwakye, a sophomore and Public Representative for the African Student Organization (ASO) said that she and liaisons at Hillel started working on the event in September, and were "glad to be able to do this. These are two different cultures, and to link the two makes people aware of differences and similarities."
The event took place at Hillel, and was sponsored by The Arts, Sciences, and Engineering Diversity Fund, the Music department, Hillel, the African Student Organization, the Pan-African Alliance, the Sociology department, the Africana Center, the German/Russian/Asian Languages Department, and the Office of the President. The event continues tonight with "Two Communities, One Shabbat" at Hillel beginning at six.
