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The House of Israel is a Jewish community located in Sefwi Wiawso in southwestern Ghana. This group of people, of the Sefwi tribe, claims to be descended from one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Israel. They believe their ancestors came across the desert from North Africa centuries ago. Since the late 1970s, they have identified as Jews and gradually gotten connected to some Jewish communities. In 1998 they built a synagogue. Many of the men and children read English, but no one knows Hebrew.

History of Jews in Ghana

Some ethnic Africans in Ghana have begun to practice Judaism since a group of people from the Sefwi tribe established ties to worldwide Jewry in the late 20th century. They have received educational materials about modern Judaism and vital texts such as Tanakhs, Siddurim, etc. from western Jewish communities. The people of Sefwi Wiawso trace what they call their "return" to normative Judaism to Aaron Ahomtre Toakyirafa, a community leader.

In 1977, Toakyirafa had a vision that the Sefwi people, which he grew up in, were one of the Lost tribes of Israel. He believed that the Sefwi practiced rituals that were unlike those of the surrounding population. He concluded that these customs were of Hebraic origin. For example, they avoided the consumption of pork (as do Muslims), or pig-like animals, and observed a day of rest on Saturdays, which coincides with the Jewish Shabbat. Additionally, they circumcised male children; a custom that is practiced by Jews all over the world. (Other cultures also circumcise male children.) The custom of separation of man and woman during female menstruation was also observed among members of the Sefwi tribe. (Such practices have been followed by many peoples other than Jews.)

The community of about 800, largely based in Sefwi Wiawso and Sefwi Sui, has received Jewish visitors from the worldwide Jewish community since the late 20th century, including from a synagogue in Des Moines, Iowa, which sent them 200 prayer books. They have taught themselves prayers and songs, and ritual. Such visitors have brought Jewish ritual objects and educational materials to teach normative Judaism. They have also written about the community, bringing them to the attention of Jews the world over.

In 2012, Gabrielle Zilkha, a Toronto-based filmmaker, visited Sefwe Wiawso and met many of the people. It was her second visit after one in 2010. She is raising funds to make a documentary about the House of Israel. She noted one of the differences between this community and those of the west: "Jews are record-keepers, the People of the Book,... but Africans an oral tradition.”

Jewish facilities

The leader of the House of Israel since 1993, David Ahenkorah received his own vision in taking up the mantle. He has been granted a 40-acre plot of land to build a Jewish school for the community, but they have not yet been able to raise funds for construction. Children currently attend a local school, run by Christians. They built a synagogue in 1998 in New Adiembra, a Jewish neighborhood in Sefri Wiawso. Recently, they painted it blue and white, the colors of Israel. There are several family compounds nearby and about 200 people belong to the synagogue.

See also

• Kingdom of Israel
• Beta Israel
• History of Ancient Israel and Judah
• History of the Jews of Bilad el-Sudan

References

1. ^ "Ghana: Virtual Jewish History Tour". Jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Retrieved 2012-10-09.
2. Shlomo Kasputin, "Ghana's House of Israel, descendents of lost tribes?", Jewish Tribune, December 2012, accessed 22 May 2013
3. ^ "In West Africa, a Synagogue Where the Pavement Ends". Forward. Forward. 2005-10-28. Retrieved 2012-10-09.

External links

• "Jews of Ghana", first published at Kulanu website, reprinted at Haruth
• History of Jews in Ghana, Jewish Virtual Library
• Austin Merrill, "Letter from Ghana", Forward, 28 October 2005
• "Lessons for Israel from Ghana", Green Zionism
• "House of Israel, Ghana", at Jay P. Sand, Jews of Africa website

• Ghanaian Jews
• Ethnic groups in Ghana
• Groups claiming Jewish descent