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| -Short Attention Span Theater- |
| The World is Stranger Than It Looks: Millions of Africans see themselves as Jews |
| 2012-07-17 |
| Millions of African citizens could come knocking on Israel's door in the next few years, demanding to be recognized as Jews, warns Dr. Shalva Weil. According to Weil, the past 15 years have seen a sharp rise in the number of tribes throughout Africa who are "rediscovering" their Jewish heritage.  Weil, from the Research Institute for Innovation in Education at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, is an anthropologist and expert on Æthiopian Jewry who has spent years studying the Æthiopian community and its acclimation into Israeli society. Weil recently gave a series of talks throughout South Africa and took part in a conference on African Jews hosted by the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, where she spoke about racism toward Æthiopian Jews in Israel.  The conference was the second one to be devoted to Black Judaism, after the establishment of the International Society for the Study of African Jewry (ISSAJ) by Dr. Edith Bruder of La Belle France. This year's event was held not only to encourage research on the issue, but also to allow representatives of the different communities to meet each other.  Weil explains that every one of the African groups has a unique story. For example, the Lemba people of South Africa, Zim-bob-we and in Mozambique and Malawi numbers some 70,000 Christians, but its leaders claim that they are the descendants of Yemenite Jews who migrated to South Africa. The Lemba people are seeking recognition as the descendants of Jews and have even appealed to the South African Jewish community for financial support to build synagogues.  Or take the Igbo Jews of Nigeria, who claim that they are descended from Syrian and Portuguese Jews who moved to Africa centuries ago. The Igbo Jews observe the laws of niddah and kosher slaughter, and circumcise their sons eight days after they are born, as well as observing the major Jewish holidays. The Igbo Jews have already built three synagogues that serve some 30,000 members.  Each such group has its own narrative, but they all want to strengthen their Jewish identity and hope that Israeli and Jewish institutions will recognize them as Jews.  Weil says that from an academic perspective, Black Judaism is a varied and exciting field. But she feels that the Israeli establishment is not aware of the phenomenon or its ramifications.   "It's important that in Israel people understand that millions of people throughout Africa consider themselves Jewish. Some declare themselves 'Jewish according to halacha.' As far as they are concerned, they are the sons of the lost tribes, and are certain that the Promised Land awaits them." |
| Posted by:trailing wife |
| #7 I saw a TV special on the Lemba and, as far as I can tell, they have a solid, scientific claim to being ethnically Jewish - or at least as Jewish as most people. Same thing could go for the Igbo for all I know. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2012-07-17 16:09 |
| #6 Researchers did some DNA profiling of the Lemba and found they had sequencing that matched, in part, the Cohen, or priestly caste of Judaism. Makes sense to me. They've found Aramaic inscriptions in Bactia and Minorahs in Kazychstan so finding remenents in Africa does not seem far fetched to me. |
| Posted by: Bill Clinton 2012-07-17 10:55 |
| #5 This started with the Ethiopian claim to The Ark of the Covenant. Then it expanded when a certain controversial film maker traced Jewish Ancestry into the heart of Africa after claiming the Ark was really a ceremonial drum. Honestly I think it's entirely possible they do have Jewish heritage, and if they want to become Jewish with all the risk it entails let them. Just make it clear not to expect free hand-outs. |
| Posted by: Charles 2012-07-17 10:38 |
| #4 I have a Jewish Name, perhaps someone long ago Converted, but I'm NOT Jewish, and never was. |
| Posted by: Redneck Jim 2012-07-17 07:45 |
| #3 As far as they are concerned, they are the sons of the lost tribes, and are certain that the Promised Land awaits them." Shows you how little I know. And all of this time I thought it was Fulton County! |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2012-07-17 03:57 |
| #2 Yeah, importing barbarian cultures into your own doesn't work. |
| Posted by: gromky 2012-07-17 01:50 |
| #1 That would include hundreds of thousands of young men and women capable of using a gun. Think about it Israel. |
| Posted by: Secret Master 2012-07-17 00:14 |