Joburg Jewish Mommies Aid Hebrew Learning Across Communities in Nigeria.

Hebrew education in Nigeria remains a developing field, despite the central importance of the language in Jewish religious and cultural life. Chazanim, who read well, generally conduct prayer services at a fast reading pace, but many people in the community, especially young people and older people, still have trouble reading. They also have trouble with other parts of learning Hebrew, like writing and understanding (saying and hearing) Ivrit. In most communities, a random statistic will show that most people who learned Hebrew learned it informally from friends or family members, with limited access to structured learning materials.

But recently, a couple of learning initiatives have emerged to address this gap. One initiative is that of the Gihon Eden Academy, which, along with other synagogue-based study classes and mini-schools, is working to teach Hebrew to kids and teens in a structured way. These programs aim not only to teach language skills but also to keep students motivated and connected to Jewish learning. After quite some years of consistency, Gihon Eden, while maintaining an in-class feature in Abuja, has also leveraged the internet to reach more students anywhere they are in the country. Their work has brought to light the need for textbooks and educational resources across Nigerian Jewish communities to boost the learning rate.

A significant contribution to this effort has come from Joburg Jewish Mommies (JJM), a women’s group based in Johannesburg, South Africa. They appear to be one of the biggest women’s associations, with a dedicated Facebook group membership of over 10,000 participants. The group mobilized the donation of Hebrew learning materials to Jewish communities in Nigeria, recognizing the importance of supporting emerging and thriving centers of Jewish education across the continent. Their actions to heed this clarion call reflect a growing sense of responsibility and solidarity between Jewish communities in Southern and West Africa.

The journey of the donated books to their destination, Nigeria, took time and persistence. Individuals from South Africa, including Chaya Sarah, initially transported some materials in small batches. However, logistical challenges left a significant number of Judaica books stranded for an extended period. The delay was more than 3 years.

***Jator Abido, on behalf of IPJD, presented a book donation to Gihon Eden Academy, recently brought back from his trip to South Africa in August 2025.***

Through coordinated efforts involving the Initiative for Progressive Judaism Development (IPJD), the Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance (SAJA), SAJA Nigeria, and the Avraham Ben Avraham Foundation (ABAF), the remaining shipment was finally airlifted to Nigeria. ABAF played a key role in planning the national distribution of the materials, ensuring that they reached communities across the country.

The distribution process itself was notable for its organization and accessibility. Courier costs were mostly covered by IPJD, with the remainder covered by ABAF, and beneficiaries were not required to pay for the books. Recipients also do not need to travel out of their state; they only need to get to the main bus terminal in their state capital to collect their packages. In total, five learning centers and 31 congregations in all received materials, with priority given to communities running Hebrew education programs.

In addition to Hebrew textbooks and dictionaries, the shipment included other essential Judaica, such as Haggadot for Pesach, Siddurim, Tanach, Festival prayer books, and Chumash volumes, Jewish literature, and assorted simcha cards, including laminated cards printed with Birkat Hamazon. This wide range of materials ensured that both educational and liturgical needs were addressed across the numerous communities that benefited from the generous offer of the JJM network.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the distribution was its reach. The distribution included several locations that had never received educational or religious materials before. Among them was a remote congregation in Enugu State in Eastern Nigeria, whose representative traveled to the state capital to collect the package, which came alongside the package of another shul in the city center. After receiving the books, he shared a message of gratitude on Facebook under the name Dubem Chukwu, writing:

“On behalf of myself and all members of Igbo Jews, especially those at the Tent of the Igbos, I wish to convey our heartfelt gratitude to the Jews of South Africa and especially to you, our big sister, for the wonderful gift of books donated to us. We are overjoyed, and may the joy and blessings you brought to us be multiplied to you in good times. Toda rabah.”

This message reflects the emotional and educational impact of the donation in communities that have long lacked access to Jewish learning resources. The same goes for the Beth Harachman Community in Akwa Ibom, whose growing number is faced with a lack of praying material and got some pieces in this shipment. Together with the Brachot Yeshiva, a primary and secondary school run by the synagogue management, they expressed their profound gratitude to the South African donors and everyone whose input and support helped make this dream a reality.

***Students of Brachot Yeshiva with donated Hebrew learning textbooks***.

Special appreciation has been expressed to Prof. Francis Duru, Caroline Rozentvaig, Chaya Sarah, and the members of Joburg Jewish Mommies, as well as to Kulanu‘s logistic support that helped make the project realize its goals. Their combined efforts demonstrate how grassroots initiatives, when paired with institutional coordination, can produce meaningful change across borders. This collaboration is just the beginning, and further efforts will be made to sustain this pattern, ensuring that the broad intentions are met.

***In Lagos, Professor Francis Duru received a collection of books, both for himself and on behalf of Torah World Outreach***.

While this educational project was unfolding in Johannesburg back in August, parallel discussions were taking place about strengthening Jewish continental cooperation through sports and youth engagement. This discussion involved representatives from Maccabi Nigeria and their counterparts in South Africa. These conversations have since evolved into plans for the formation of a Maccabi African Confederation, now resulting in a pilot Pan-African Maccabi Tournament scheduled to take place in Nigeria during Pesach. The overlap between educational support and athletic collaboration highlights a broader vision of African Jewish development rooted in learning, unity, and no doubt other areas of cooperation waiting to be explored between the two countries.

Looking ahead, continued cooperation between Jewish communities in Southern and West Africa will be essential. South Africa’s long-established Jewish institutions provide excellent examples of community settings, education systems, kosher infrastructure, and rabbinic leadership. This is something many communities across Sub-Saharan Africa want to achieve: a setup of a typical community settlement pattern with Jews living side by side. At the same time, Nigerian Jewish communities will continue to aspire to grow in commitment and capacity, creating opportunities for partnership that can strengthen both regions.

The donation of Hebrew and Judaica books by Joburg Jewish Mommies is more than a charitable act; it represents an investment in the future of Jewish life in Nigeria. By placing learning materials into the hands of children and educators, the move helps build a foundation for sustained Hebrew literacy, religious practice, and communal continuity. As these connections deepen, they point toward a future in which communities, irrespective of their location in Africa, stand not in isolation, but in active collaboration across the continent.