ACROSS SUB-SAHARAN AFRICA, Jewish communities are increasingly asking one same question: how does a synagogue become part of the Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance (SAJA)? The question has become more urgent as the organization continues to grow beyond its original founding members and expands into new countries and communities.

As Secretary of SAJA, I believe it is important to provide a clear answer.

Upon its formation, SAJA had nine founding countries: Nigeria, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Cameroon, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Ghana, and host Cote d’lvoire. Since then, the alliance has continued to expand, with members now also in Kenya, Gabon, Congo DR, and South Africa. More recently, there has been outreach from Angola and Somaliland, both of which have made enquiries about how to join the growing alliance.

SAJA was created to connect Jewish communities across Sub-Saharan Africa through cooperation, representation, cultural exchange, sharing of resources, and mutual support. As regards the reason for its formation, it was never intended to function as a gatekeeper controlled by a small circle of individuals. Instead, it was designed as a continental network where communities could participate through transparent structures and recognised national leadership.

That distinction matters

SAJA IS NOT A POLITICAL ORGANIZATION.

It is worth stating plainly: SAJA is not a political body, and it was never built to serve political ambition. The alliance exists for religious life, promoting unity, and community development—not for the pursuit of office, influence, or personal standing. No individual holds authority in SAJA because of who they know or what title they claim; authority rests in recognized structures, agreed upon by its pioneering member communities, and open to review.

This matters because networks that are built around shared faith and shared history are only as strong as their resistance to eventually being repurposed for other ends. When politics enters a religious alliance, communities stop being partners and start being constituencies. SAJA’s founders understood the importance of this principle, which is why the alliance was built around national representation and continental cooperation rather than around any single office or personality. The moment the alliance is treated as a stepping stone for personal or political advantage is the moment it stops serving the ultimate purpose it was created for.

A DECENTRALIZED MODEL, BY DESIGN

Recently, a worrying trend has begun to emerge in some quarters, where communities are encouraged to view SAJA membership primarily as a pathway to grants or financial assistance. This misunderstanding risks creating expectations that no organization can responsibly guarantee.

In reality, joining SAJA does not automatically qualify a synagogue or community for grants, funding, salaries, or financial support. Donor decisions remain independent and are based on their priorities, project evaluations, number of members in the beneficiary community, and approval processes. Communities should therefore join the alliance because they believe in its mission of African-Jewish cooperation, and not because they have been promised money.

The strength of SAJA lies in its decentralized model. For example, the current SAJA president serves from Zimbabwe, while the vice president serves from Uganda. In Nigeria, the secretary and treasurer also hold continental responsibilities. These officers, together with other national representatives and heads of working committees, have the authority to help expand the network within their respective countries through established procedures rather than personal control. No single figure sits at the center of the alliance, but instead, responsibility is spread deliberately across countries and communities so that no one voice can speak for all of SAJA, and no one gatekeeper can decide who belongs.

This approach has already produced tangible results. During my visit to Uganda in November 2025, both the Kwania Jewish Community in the north and the Nalubembe Jewish Community in Eastern Uganda said they had heard about the organization and wanted to become part of the SAJA network. The vice president, the top-ranking principal in the country, fully informed, confirmed their appeal and interest, and their application was approved.

In Kenya, following my visit during Passover, two mountain communities joined the Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance in a historic celebration. Thus, the Kehilat Yisrael Synagogue and the Elburgon Jewish Community become the first ones to join the alliance in Kenya more than two and a half years after the creation of SAJA. In the Molo Jewish community, another location in the Kenyan Rift Valley, community members hinted at their willingness to join the growing alliance during one of my speaking tours at Hanukkah of 2025.

Nigeria provides another example. Although nine communities attended the inaugural SAJA 2022 conference that helped launch the organization, additional Nigerian synagogues have since started joining through the recognized continental leadership structure. This demonstrates that the organization continues to grow beyond its founding membership and remains open to eligible Jewish communities across the continent.

TRANSPARENCY AS PRACTICE, NOT SLOGAN

The organization’s website reflects this same philosophy of transparency. Because instead of concentrating information in a single office, SAJA provides dedicated web pages for each member country, documents ongoing food security projects and activities, and allows members and intending communities to access information about the alliance, its working committees, and even a WhatsApp link to request to join some of these departments. The goal is to make participation more accessible, not less.

For communities interested in joining, the process is straightforward. Synagogue leaders and Jewish organizations should contact the appropriate SAJA representative in their country or the continental principal leaders. Membership is based on participation in the alliance and commitment to its goals, not on financial promises or personal relationships with any leader.

To date, there has been no recorded instance of a synagogue leader reaching out to an authorized SAJA representative and being refused. Every community that has approached the alliance in sincere faith, through the recognized structure, has been welcomed.

IN CONCLUSION: A GATEWAY, NOT A GATEKEEPER

A gatekeeper decides who is deemed worthy to enter, right? However, a gateway simply opens the way through. SAJA was never intended to become the former. It was designed to become the latter—a passage, not a checkpoint.

The future of African Jewish unity will not be determined by who controls access to opportunities, nor will it be shaped by political manoeuvring dressed up as leadership. It will be determined by whether SAJA remains faithful to the principles upon which it was founded: transparency over secrecy, cooperation over competition, decentralization over centralization, democracy as opposed to dictatorship; and shared purpose over personal ambition.

Haven travelled to Jewish communities in Uganda, Kenya, and across Nigeria while helping expand the alliance, I remain convinced that Africa’s Jewish future depends on building networks of trust rather than a system that encourages manipulative politics. I think that members deserve accurate information, open participation, and a fair, transparent membership process—from the first expression of interest to final approval.

Just as it was envisioned at its founding in Abidjan, SAJA belongs to every Jewish community in Sub-Saharan Africa. Its mission is not to concentrate authority in one office, but to unite communities around a shared vision of cooperation, mutual respect, and collective progress

The post Understanding SAJA: What It Is, How to Join, and the Principles That Unite Us. first appeared on African Jewish Voices.

IN DECEMBER 2022, a major initiative was launched in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, to advance Jewish unity across Africa. Jewish leaders and representatives from across the continent converge at a conference organized by Kulanu, a New York-based organization supporting isolated, emerging, and returning Jewish communities around the world. Delegates from Nigeria, Cameroon, Ghana, Ethiopia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, and three other African countries, including Côte d’Ivoire, the host, met with one objective: to build a strong coalition that would unite and support Jewish communities in Sub-Saharan Africa.

The meeting led to the formation of the Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance (SAJA), an organization meant to foster development, collaboration, and support between Jewish communities in Africa. Beyond the establishment of yet another organization, the founding of SAJA signified the beginning of a new era of continental cooperation among African Jewish communities.

Before the conference ended, leaders were selected to manage the running of the organization, one of whom is Sarah Nakintu, SAJA’s vice president. Sarah, who is from Uganda, doubles as a dedicated woman leader in Beit Tzion Hamitzvot in Mukono and founder of the Shalom Woman Development Network (SWODN). During the conference that brought together communities with different backgrounds, languages, cultures, and experiences, she helped create an atmosphere of mutual respect, unity, and understanding with a religious undertone. When asked at the conference how she felt about the creation of SAJA, she responded:

“From my observation and interactions, all the attendees are returning with a renewed sense of purpose and optimism about the future of Jewish life in Africa.”

Since its inception, SAJA has grown steadily and remarkably. Initially, it consisted of ten member countries but has grown into a larger network of some thirteen. The alliance has added new members such as the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Gabon, and South Africa, as well as some additional synagogues and communities from across Africa, boosting its reach and potential influence.

Such growth is a sign of the success of SAJA in its mission to unite the African Jewish communities. By welcoming new member countries, SAJA has opened opportunities for greater cultural exchange, sharing of educational and leadership development, and united advocacy for African Jewish communities on the international scene. Each new member comes with a unique experience that helps strengthen the alliance and build a stronger continental Jewish presence in Africa.

One of SAJA’s most significant achievements has been the creation of a network of synagogues and Jewish communities across member nations in Africa. Before the establishment of this alliance, many African Jewish communities operated in isolation, often separated by national boundaries and geographical distance, with limited resources. Communication between communities was sporadic, and opportunities for collaboration were limited. In fact, many countries were for the first time meeting Jews from different countries, thanks to the conference in Abidjan.

The alliance has connected these communities and facilitated collaboration in previously unimaginable ways. Synagogue leaders and representatives now communicate regularly, share ideas, and discuss minhagim as they relate to culture and identity. For example, in an interview with Emmanuel Yerimyahu of Beth Ha’arachman in Nigeria about minhagim that suit their culture, Emmanuel said, “I believe that through SAJA, our state will have indigenous rabbis who will interpret Halacha in a way that aligns with the Torah and our culture.” 

The alliance has opened doors for communities to celebrate their successes, learn from each other, and support one another in challenging times. And since its formation, it has shown capacity by tackling practical problems facing some Jewish communities in Africa. One such example has been the food security support made possible by the generosity of American donors, notably Mark Gelfand. SAJA has provided grants to assist vulnerable communities with their food security, and to help families struggling with economic hardship.

These grants have made a huge difference in many lives. It has assisted communities to kick-start food security activities and to build local agricultural initiatives. The success of these programs is a testament to the importance of coordinated action by SAJA and the fact that international partnerships can truly make a difference in African Jewish communities.

These are commendable accomplishments but there remain still formidable obstacles to surmount. Many Jewish communities in sub-Saharan Africa continue to suffer from economic hardship, lack of access to resources and inadequate infrastructure. SAJA is growing, with more African communities joining the alliance, making the need for more funding even more pressing. Sustainable financial support will be needed to expand educational programs, strengthen community institutions and develop initiatives that can create long-term economic opportunities.

There is an urgent need, especially, for job creation and economic empowerment projects. Many communities need vocational training, Jewish libraries, Jewish schools that teach Hebrew, entrepreneurship, agricultural development programs, and other programs that can help families become more financially and religiously stable. SAJA will help Jewish communities across the continent not just survive but thrive for generations to come by investing in the economic and religious development of Africa.

Looking to the Future

The kind of leadership Sarah brings to SAJA is perhaps best illustrated by what she does every Pesach. For the past four years, in partnership with Kulanu, she has organised and supervised a national matzah-baking and kosher wine-making operation in Mukono, central Uganda—transforming a logistical problem that once left communities across the country without essential festival supplies into a remarkable annual gathering. This year, 5786/2026, 29 communities came together in Mukono, baking 3,780 matzot over two days under the halakhic supervision of a rabbi. That event produced enough locally made kosher wine to supply seder tables from the north to Kampala and Mbale. Communities sent representatives on overnight journeys spanning hundreds of kilometres from Kwania to Mukono for Matzah and wine. What began as a small test run in 2023 has become, in Sarah’s hands, an institution.

“Sarah’s Pesach programme through Kulanu is in miniature: practical, unifying, rooted in halakha, and built on the conviction that African Jewish communities deserve the same access to Jewish life as any community anywhere in the world.”

That same conviction now carries her to the United States, where she has been since for two months on an intensive agricultural training covering different crop cultivation, goat rearing, and poultry farming. As part of her dreams of going global with SWODN, her trip began with joining a conversation with key leaders in New York. The skills she is acquiring are intended not for herself, but for her community in Uganda—to be transferred directly into the food security work on the ground when she returns in September. It is characteristic of how she operates: learning with purpose, building capacity that flows back to the people she serves.

Her time in the United States also provides a broader opportunity for SAJA. While there, Sarah has the opportunity to attend conferences and represent the alliance to an international Jewish audience by speaking about what SAJA has built, what its communities need, and what genuine partnership with African Jewish life could look like. It is the same advocacy work she has long been doing at home, on radio, and at conferences across Uganda, where she has been a consistent public voice for the rights of women, children, and her Jewish community. The stage is simply larger.

The potential of such connections is significant. New partnerships forged through engagements like these could open pathways to increased funding, educational exchanges, leadership training, humanitarian assistance, and economic development programs for communities across Sub-Saharan Africa. They could also bring the kind of recognition that emerging Jewish groups, still seeking acknowledgment from the wider Jewish world, deserve and need.

SAJA is a story of vision and unity. From its founding in Abidjan to its expansion across the continent, the alliance has demonstrated that when communities come together, they can achieve what none could accomplish alone. Sustaining and growing that achievement requires the continued support of the global Jewish community: through financial contributions, professional expertise, the donation of religious materials, and the willingness to stand with communities that are building Jewish life in some of the most demanding circumstances on earth.

The post One Alliance, Many Communities: How SAJA is Strengthening Jewish Life in Africa. first appeared on African Jewish Voices.

Maccabi FC Nigeria delivered an impressive performance last week as they secured a 2–1 victory over Success Football Academy in a spirited friendly match held at the Sports Complex Stadium, Phase 5, Army Housing Estate, Kurudu, Abuja. The match, played during the Passover period, offered both entertainment and a moment of unity for players and supporters in the spirit of the festive season.

From the opening whistle, Maccabi FCN, flying in its home blue colors, showed clear intent and attacking confidence. The visiting team was forced into a defensive mood in the first few minutes of the game. Nonetheless, the Maccabi dominance paid off in the first half, when a brilliant team effort saw one of their forwards skillfully dribble past a defender before calmly slotting the ball into the net. The goal set the tone for what would be a strong first-half performance. Shortly after, the home team doubled their lead through a well-taken free kick, demonstrating both technical precision and composure under pressure.

Success Football Academy responded in the second half with renewed energy and managed to pull one goal back, increasing the intensity of the match. The visitors continued to apply increasing pressure throughout the remainder of the game. However, Maccabi FC remained disciplined and organized, holding their shape and resisting further pressure to preserve their lead. The final whistle confirmed a hard-earned 2–1 victory for the home side.

Beyond the action on the pitch, the match carried added significance as it took place during the period of Passover. For many involved, it served as a festive football encounter—blending sport with celebration. Supporters, including members of Tikvat Yisrael Synagogue and Gihon Hebrew Synagogue, and the club’s management, were present in strong numbers, cheering passionately and contributing to a lively and uplifting atmosphere.

The victory not only reflects Maccabi FC Nigeria’s growing strength and cohesion as a team but also sets a positive tone as they look ahead to future competitions. Of particular importance are the upcoming SAJA Sukkot Games, scheduled to take place later this year. With the current unstable situation in the Middle East and predictions of another Maccabiah postponement, the debut edition of a Maccabi Pan-African Tournament (MPAT) likely will be adjusted too, giving way to an alternative tournament where athletes can entertain and feature in a football competition during the proposed SAJA conference this Sukkot. The tournament is expected to bring together teams and athletes from across the host country, promoting unity, progress, and sportsmanship.

Nevertheless, as the SAJA Sukkot Games approach, Maccabi FCN is not alone in its aspirations. A few other youth football teams in the country are also getting ready to show off their skills. Harachaman FC, known for its explosive energy, is poised to make a strong impression in its home state, while Mehamizrach FC, with its youthful squad, hopes to climb the ranks. Additionally, the national youth team, representing a broad range of emerging talent, is gearing up to make its mark. Together, these teams will grace the SAJA event, forming a vibrant mosaic of Nigerian football, rich in skill and shared ambition.

Maccabi FC of Nigeria is preparing for the future Maccabiah Games in Israel, positioning themselves as Nigeria’s official representatives on that global stage. This potential is made possible by a dedicated network of supporters—Kulanu in the United States. IPJD in Abuja, ABA Foundation, and African Jewish Voices—whose commitment fuels their dreams. With such invaluable backing, Maccabi FCN is not just playing a game; they are building a legacy—one that inspires a nation and carries their hopes onto a world stage, making history in Jewish Football and inspiring other African athletes to follow suit.

In bringing together these teams, the SAJA Sukkot Games become more than just a football tournament—they are a central part of a larger, historic event. As the biggest Sukkot village in Africa lights up in Akwa Ibom, we will not only celebrate the joy of Sukkot but also host the SAJA conference—a pivotal gathering of African SAJA leaders. Within this vibrant context, the SAJA Games serve as the celebratory heartbeat, bringing together athletes and fans as a beacon of progress, unity, and faith.

The post Maccabi FC Nigeria Triumphs in Passover Friendly, Eyes SAJA Sukkot Games. first appeared on African Jewish Voices.

An Interview with Sarah Nakintu

Sarah Nakintu is a highly respected Jewish woman leader in Uganda who has a lot of interest in entrepreneurship and politics. In my numerous visits to Uganda, a country described as the pearl of Africa, I have been to the Jewish community in Mukono, where she is a member. Back in Cote d’Ivoire, during the first ever Pan-African Jewish conference, which gave birth to an alliance known as SAJA (Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance) with Jews from 10 African countries in attendance, Sarah emerged as one of the selected top officers of the alliance board of directors. She also became a member of the economic development working committee. Recently, her community received a grant to help tackle the rising food security challenges.

Could you start by introducing yourself and sharing your role within your Jewish community and other affiliated organizations?

I am Sarah Nakintu, acting vice president of the Sub-Saharan Jewish Alliance and member of Tsyon Beit HaMitzvot Jewish Community in Mukono District in Uganda. I would also like to mention that I was previously a candidate for the Women Member of Parliament position in Mukono District. Currently, I am the President of Shalom Women’s Development Network (SWODN). I was the first chairperson of the interparty women’s platform organization that brought together 10 political parties’ women’s leagues in Uganda, and in the area of education, I am a member of the executive board of over 10 schools in Mukono.

As the acting vice president of the Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance and now acting as the leader of the economic and development working committee of the alliance, what are some of the main challenges for most communities, and what opportunities do you see as well?

I can tell you that both the challenges and opportunities are very much alike. After the alliance’s formation, we’ve talked to various communities and found that we face similar challenges. Limited access to funding to produce some Jewish-related products, which the community usually rely on to earn revenues. Items like kippot and challah covers are in high demand, especially during Chagim, but most times shipping costs become the main challenge. Even for some other small businesses, most Jewish communities lack the collateral needed to access local credit.        

Another challenge is the rise in antisemitism, which has taken a new form since October 7th. Items with Jewish symbols crafted on them have become a red flag for most non-Jewish customers. Just the fact that you are a Jewish seller is enough to turn off most buyers. Recently, I fell victim to this situation after investing a significant amount of money into my art and craft project. The buyer, a white woman, flew into Uganda from the United States, and upon discovering that I was Jewish, she fiercely attacked me in a bloody fight. It was a truly harrowing experience, a true test of the depths of hatred towards Jews. That’s how I lost the business and all the money I invested. Right now, whenever we engage in online sales, we exercise caution due to the uncertainty of the buyer’s identity. In addition, climate change poses a significant threat to agriculture and food security in many African countries, particularly for those farmers without irrigation systems. Persistent poverty plagues many communities, the free flow of profitable and practical ideas is hindered most times, and a lack of unity and cooperation further impedes equality in growth.

In your final question, you brought up the topic of opportunities. Opportunities abound due to the presence of brilliant and hardworking Jews in various Jewish communities. If people can learn new skills and apply technology to tackle some of the challenges we face, we can achieve more.

We have the opportunity to network through Pan-African conferences such as SAJA, participate in important seminars, and collaborate with long-standing partners like Kulanu, Olam Network, and now the Mark Gelfand Food Security Foundation. Many of our youths are willing to receive mentorship in various vocational aspects; we can learn how to communicate our ideas practically through a successful business plan writeup to appeal to donors and investors, and we can travel across borders to meet each other, strengthen our friendship, and learn from each other firsthand.

Speaking about economic opportunities, your community in Mukono recently received a financial grant from the Mark Gelfand Foundation. Can you share more about how this grant will help address food insecurity and the role agriculture plays in this initiative?

We are grateful for the grant, which will support our bakery project and farmland cultivation. Kulanu initially sponsored our oven, which we used to bake matzot for all the Jewish communities in Uganda. So, we’re capitalizing and building upon this to establish a complete mini bakery that would operate as a commercial bakery. At the moment, we have successfully executed the first phase of the general grant business plan, which involves purchasing a mixer and a proofer, as well as acquiring two hectares of land for the agricultural part of the project. The next phase, which involves the construction of the bakery work area to house the bakery equipment, is yet to begin until the heavy rainy season subsides, and we have plans to register the bakery with the authorities to enable us to have an operational license to be able to sell portions of the products to the public.

On the newly acquired farmland, we intend to cultivate cassava, matokeh (plantains), pineapple, and other green vegetables. This will not only support our community’s Shabbat feeding needs, which are our biggest challenge, but it will also benefit the most elderly and poorer families. If we can install an irrigation system, we will be able to maintain continuous production throughout the year. By cultivating the farmland year-round, we should be able to realize a bountiful harvest, sufficient to feed the community not only during the weekly Shabbat but also during other Jewish gatherings such as festivals and other ceremonies. The grant will boost our productivity and eliminate the need to buy all our food from the market, where high inflation has devalued the Ugandan currency. By farming our own land, we can eventually save any money that we have and direct it into other important areas.

Your photos of challah baking have gone viral several times, whether it is for the weekly Shabbat or even baking of matzah, which obviously is now a good thing to see a new bakery being set up in your community. How do you envision the new bakery project impacting not only the Jewish community in Mukono but also the broader local economy?

Once we fully launch the project, we will create jobs for both youth and women who are currently unemployed. We plan to develop a strategy for saving funds from sales to sustain the project in the future, after the payment of a stipend to the workers. There will be an opportunity to train people interested in learning how to bake different kinds of products. We plan to extend this vocational training to other Jewish communities in Uganda and beyond in the future, utilizing online workshops and video training to accomplish this. This is possible because, for the past two years, We have been able to organize, through my community, the mass baking of matzah for Uganda. Jews from various communities come together to carry out this exercise cheerfully, strengthening the bond we share as Abayudaya.

You mentioned earlier your position in the Shalom Women’s Network, so as the president, what are some of the key initiatives you’ve led to empower women, and how do you see the role of women evolving within Jewish and Ugandan society?

As the founder of the Shalom Woman Network, we participate in a variety of activities, one of which is dedicated to eradicating gender-based violence. I have organized a 3- day training for women and youth leaders from different communities in Uganda to highlight the causes of violence and its effects, as well as how to support our communities. Since then, these leaders have achieved significant progress compared to their previous lack of knowledge and skills. Occasionally, we organized workshops aimed at empowering young people with various skills necessary for employment.

We have successfully amplified the voices of women and marginalized groups, such as those with special needs. The network endeavors to support pregnant mothers in acquiring baby kits and preparing for childbirth. We also provide sanitary pads to young girls to ensure their continued stay in school. Last December, we organized a Jewish camp for the young children and the youth for a week. It was indeed a wonderful beginning, and the children had lots of things to learn during that short period of gathering.

I’ve seen you participate in a couple of radio talk shows for various purposes, including political and religious topics. What role does interfaith dialogue play in your work, particularly in promoting understanding and cooperation between different religious groups in Uganda? Secondly, how important is media representation in shaping the public’s perception of Jewish communities in sub-Saharan Africa?

Christianity, Islam, and Judaism are the 3 main religions in Uganda, of which the Jewish people are the minority, but yet we have found a way to relate with others to balance things up. My frequent participation in radio to promote interfaith was how members of the interfaith council of Uganda brought me fully onboard into religious group discussions, and I have shared meaningful ideas in this space. These interfaith dialogues on radio are essential in promoting tolerance, understanding, and cooperation in the multicultural society we find ourselves in.

Let’s look at the significance of media in spreading awareness about Judaism. Historically, in Uganda, I am the first Jewish woman to engage in numerous TV and radio talk shows, and have played critical roles in amplifying our voices that have often been underrepresented in public discourse. I have challenged patriarchal norms and encouraged other women, particularly from marginalized or underrepresented groups or faiths, to engage in public discussions and leadership roles. As an advocate for social justice causes, such as combating gender-based violence and supporting interfaith dialogue, I have shared Jewish values deeply rooted in concepts of justice, charity, and repairing the world, which is “Tikkun Olam”. Addressing issues such as gender inequality, racial justice, and environmental sustainability has allowed me to incorporate Jewish ethical teachings into contemporary social debates.

I have greatly motivated the younger generation to pursue careers in journalism, broadcasting, and other fields that require their voices. While on the radio talk show, I advocate for cultural heritage, discussing topics such as Jewish holidays, rituals, cuisine, and music. This not only educates the broader audience but also helps preserve Jewish traditions for future generations. B’ezrat Hashem, I have been able to foster a sense of community and pride in our heritage while making Jewish traditions accessible to a wider audience. To summarize everything, I’d like to stress that radio talk shows offer a forum for me to connect with broader communities, both Jewish and non-Jewish, therefore strengthening communal bonds and promoting collaboration on issues of shared concern. This also helped me to maintain and enhance my leadership roles within my communities by serving as voices for unity, education, and empowerment.

Finally- Let’s go back to SAJA’s economic and development working committee, now headed by you. What are your plans and agendas for the committee, which has members from various African countries? What has been achieved so far? What are you currently discussing? What projects do you appear to be prioritizing in each country?

Economic development is crucial for our survival as Jews, which is why we established this working committee in Abidjan. With our members scattered across sub-Saharan Africa, we strive to communicate with each other and others across borders through the internet, sharing ideas and making suggestions on how communities can embark on micro-projects to earn revenue to sustain some of their operations. We are also assisting some Jewish entrepreneurs in promoting their products online to attract potential customers. Currently, we’re discussing how to teach making kosher wine locally, which is something my community here in Uganda has been doing for several years, therefore saving a substantial amount of money in the long run that would have been spent importing expensive kosher wine. We’re discussing how it would be cost-effective for communities to produce certain items on their own. This is precisely what Mark Gelfand Food Security is working to establish throughout sub-Saharan Africa. He is assisting more communities to become producers, enabling them to feed themselves and sell some of their produce to generate income, rather than struggling and relying solely on their limited financial resources.

Any final words to the grant donor?  

Of course, yes, we the entire members of our Jewish community in Mukono, are really grateful for this generous grant, which has given us hope of survival going forward. Where there was once no hope, now we see directions and possibilities. A million thanks to the Mark Gelfand foundation, and to Rabbi Bonita and Molly at Kulanu, as well as to the management of SAJA for giving us this opportunity. I am confident that once we fully set up the two projects, every one of us can gaze into the future, knowing indeed that there is light at the end of the tunnel.

The post FOOD SECURITY GRANT: Enhancing the Economic Capabilities of Jewish Community in Mukono, Central Uganda. first appeared on African Jewish Voices.

How agricultural reforms are set to boost micro economic activities across sub-Saharan African Communities.

The Gelfand food projects began in Uganda and Zimbabwe, and have since expanded to six more African countries and a total of 20+ communities in Africa south of the Sahara. Jewish communities in countries like Ghana, Ivory Coast, Madagascar, Nigeria, Tanzania, etc. have been recipients of the life-changing Gelfand food security grants. This will be the very first time we’re experiencing unprecedented agricultural support spreading from the eastern region of the continent and spreading across to the western parts. It is proof of a change, an indication of our slow but steady journey from where we were in the past to where we desire to be in the near future.

Mr. Mark Gelfand, a Jewish philanthropist from the USA, funds the Gelfand food security grants. They are designed to give food self-sufficiency to the African Jewish communities affiliated with the Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance, an organization formed in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, in December 2022. The effects of climate change induced droughts and water shortages have caused widespread food shortages and famine across the African continent. As a result, many communities suffer from perennial food shortages and have since become chronic donor aid candidates.

The African Jewish communities that are recipients of the Gelfand grants are all affiliated with Kulanu, a US-based organization that supports the development of Judaism in emerging, isolated, and returning Jewish communities across the world. Although Kulanu’s main mandate is the development of Judaism in Jewish communities, Mr. Gelfand‘s approach is slightly different. Before hanging the Mezuzah on the door, we must first achieve economic empowerment; otherwise, we won’t have a community to talk about. This has been one of his favorite expressions, and it has inspired him to work for the economic growth of Jewish communities who are considered to be vulnerable. He wants to make sure that Jewish communities have a way to meet their basic requirements as a people.

To that end, the economic empowerment of the African Jewish communities and the development of Judaism in the African Jewish communities are not mutually exclusive. On the contrary, these programs serve to complement each other. The projects range from poultry production, animal rearing, fish farming, and irrigated crop production. Each community comes up with proposals that support agricultural activities that are suitable to its climate, skills base, as well as traditional food source preferences. All of this greatly boosts the project’s chances of success.

The Gelfand food projects are helping create united, focused, and highly organized Jewish communities, held together both by their religion and economic development projects. Where there was despondency and hopelessness, we now have Jews who are very positive about both the present and the future. We have been empowered by the projects to hope and dream again. The execution of these projects is intended to yield outcomes within a specified timeframe, and by progressing through each phase, the roadmap of the venture is maintained. The primary objective is to execute the plan to attain the expected outcome ultimately. Should successes be achieved, the micro economies of beneficiary Jewish communities would be significantly boosted over time, transforming them from dependent consumers into self-sufficient producers.

We experience our share of setbacks, but that’s the tuition we pay for experience and hands-on learning. That is the very definition of living to work, sometimes failing and sometimes succeeding, learning from our mistakes and trying again differently until we succeed. That is life. In a way, the Gelfand food projects have taught us to live again. They have given us the dignity that comes from working to earn a living. Because whether it’s hectares of farmland, a crop plantation, a poultry facility, a fish pond, or an animal ranch, what counts is control and ownership of the means of production. Knowing that this is the community’s property and that every contribution is intended to generate products through these community owned means of production cultivates a positive sense of duty in everyone. By concentrating on how the anticipated outcomes would address the challenges and limitations, project managers would be inspired to take all necessary actions to ensure the system operates at its best throughout the year.

What does the future hold? We are positive that through the Gelfand projects, we can keep on working to spread hope and positivity in the SAJA communities. We are becoming a coherent community of African Jews, bound together through common hopes, aspirations, and dreams. Through the Gelfand projects, we are learning new skills, and we are sharing and exchanging the different skills we are learning from our diverse projects. The sky is the limit; we are hoping to see more and more Jewish communities receiving the lifechanging food security grants. We can now see the light at the end of the tunnel where we had lost hope.

Photo Gallery:

The post Light at the End of the Tunnel? first appeared on African Jewish Voices.

By: Modreck Maeresera

In December 2022, the capital city of Ivory Coast, Abidjan, was the setting of a historic event for black African Jewry. Black African Jews converged in Abidjan for the first-ever conference of Sub-Saharan African Jews. Before this conference, these communities only connection to each other was through Kulanu, an organization based in New York, USA. Kulanu helps emerging, isolated, and returning Jewish communities across the world. Representatives from Cameroon, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, Ghana, Madagascar, Zimbabwe, and Kenya attended the inaugural conference for Sub-Saharan African Jews. Kulanu organized the conference.

The main objective of this conference was to connect these different African communities so that they could share challenges, experiences, successes, and resources. We were all connected to Kulanu, yes! But there was hardly any interaction between these communities, and that was a sad scenario that needed prompt rectification. If there was a need to develop our Judaism, shape our future, and create a lasting identity for ourselves as African Jews, there was a need to create a direct connection to each other, not through Kulanu as a conduit. The conference aimed to foster direct connections between the various African Jewish communities, allowing for more meaningful interactions and collaborations. By establishing these connections, the communities could work together to develop their Judaism, shape their future, and create a lasting identity as African Jews.

The representatives from the 10 African countries sat down and formed the Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance, or SAJA, after a week of interaction, idea sharing, and prayer. We formed a board of directors and established working committees for critical areas to drive the growth and development of African Judaism. Some of the work committees created included the religious development working committee, responsible for overseeing the growth and development of Judaism in SAJA communities; the economic working committee, responsible for developing projects and connections that would bring economic independence, sustainability, and self-reliance to SAJA communities; and the education working committee, responsible for developing and promoting Jewish education in SAJA, among other work committees.

With SAJA in place, it was evident that history was unfolding before our very eyes. We, as individual communities, lacked the strength to make our voices heard. Our efforts to develop observant Jewish communities in Africa didn’t carry weight. However, together with a collective voice, collective effort, and collective dreams and aspirations, we became a force that would be difficult to ignore. For the black African Jews, things were never going to be the same again. 

Substantial portions of the Jewish people have become secular. Large numbers of Jews have lost interest, and many are marrying out of the faith and many of the young are disinterested in Israel. One of the best hopes for the future of  Judaism and the Jewish people is to be found in Africa. Sub-Saharan African Jews bring a new and fresh enthusiasm to Judaism. They serve as an inspiration to us and at some point, will become future leaders in world Jewry. Jews around the world will come to them to study Torah and look to them on ways to create vibrant communities.

Bonita Sussman, President of Kulanu

After the Sub-Saharan African Jewish Alliance is born, the newly set-up SAJA board and its different communities immediately got to work. Work committees overseen and supervised by SAJA vice president Sarah Nakintu from Uganda set out to develop thematic programs. We received acceptance as affiliates after the president of SAJA sent advocacy letters to Jewish organizations like Olam. Economic organizations like Innovation Africa have agreed to work with us. The collaboration with these organizations opened up new opportunities for us to expand our reach and impact. With their support, we were able to bring our vision of promoting Jewish cultural identity in Africa to life.

However, our biggest success was attracting the keen interest of Mr. Mark Gelfand, a Jewish philanthropist from the USA. Before the formation of SAJA, Mr. Gelfand was sponsoring economic development projects in Uganda, Ethiopia, and Zimbabwe through his NGO STEMPower, in which he has established and set up STEMCENTRES in more than 30 countries in Africa. He holds the belief that merely establishing Jewish communities is insufficient; these communities require empowerment to achieve economic self-sufficiency. The biggest challenge that SAJA and Mr. Gelfand are trying to combat is hunger. Most African countries are in a state of perennial food shortages, and under these circumstances, it is important that the Jewish communities we work with have food sovereignty. 

In Mark’s words, economic empowerment must come first ahead of religious development. The Mezzuza can follow economic empowerment. In collaboration with Mr. Gelfand, we have established irrigation projects in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Ethiopia, and Cameroon. Tanzania and Ivory Coast established fisheries, while Nigeria initiated poultry projects. Many more SAJA countries are poised to reap the benefits of the Gelfand grants. The ultimate goal is to ensure that these communities are self-sufficient and no longer reliant on outside aid for their food supply. By focusing on economic empowerment first, we are laying the foundation for sustainable development and long-term success in these regions. This approach not only addresses immediate food insecurity issues but also creates opportunities for long-term growth and stability. The Gelfand grants have already made a significant impact, and we are excited to see the continued progress in the SAJA countries.

We cannot undervalue the impact of these projects. Lack of access to clean water exacerbates Zimbabwe’s serious cholera outbreak. Through the Gelfand grant, five communities got irrigation infrastructure and access to clean borehole water, which has helped alleviate the cholera problem. Southern Africa is experiencing its worst drought in living memory, and having functional irrigation projects creates fail-safe facilities for food production. The Gelfand grants are constructing a clinic and stem center in the Buhera district of rural Zimbabwe. Through these projects, Kulanu and the Gelfand food security grants complement each other. Kulanus mezuzas will find well-established, economically self-reliant Jewish communities, and the mezuzas have a greater chance of remaining stuck on the doors. 

The future for African Jewish communities has never looked brighter. Through SAJA, we are unified, we can speak with one voice, we can decide which course to chart, and we can determine our future. Kulanu and other Jewish organizations there that have and will accept to work with us will give us the helping hand that we need, and the Gelfand Agricultural Projects are helping to create strong, self-reliant Jewish communities. It is indeed the Renaissance—the dawn of African Judaism.

The post A New Dawn for Black African Jews  first appeared on African Jewish Voices.