The Conference brought together a circle of emerging African leaders and researchers who will analyze a broad spectrum of issues pertaining to the history and contemporary situation of Jewish Africa, including the role of Jews and the need for Jewish voices in African civil society, the development of Jewish space, and perspectives on old and new African Jewish identities.
1st Edition Overview
The Context
Since Biblical times, from Abrahams journey to Egypt and the later Israelite captivity under the Pharaohs, the Jewish People have had close ties with Africa. Some Jewish communities in Africa are amongst the oldest in the world, dating back more than 2,700 years (Morocco, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, and Algeria). Today, Jews and Judaism in Africa show an ethnic and religious diversity and richness almost unparalleled on any other continent.
The Speakers
The summit is honored by the presence of several diplomats including the Consul General of Morocco, UN Representatives, but also representatives and ambassadors from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Israel, and especially Mr Adama Dieng, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide
The Guests
The summit is honored by the presence of several diplomats including the Consul General of Morocco, UN Representatives, but also representatives and ambassadors from South Sudan, Ethiopia, Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Israel, and especially Mr Adama Dieng, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for the Prevention of Genocide
The Shows
Enjoy a wide program including wonderful shows, cultural debates and workshops, entertaining musical performance, including the Ethiopian “Shoulder Dance,” which can alleviate back pain, and the Innov Gnawa performance of Moroccan favorites. Also, discover an exhibition by the Jono David/ HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library.
The Venue
The Center for Jewish History is a consortium of five Partner organizations: the American Jewish Historical Society, American Sephardi Federation, Leo Baeck Institute, YIVO Institute for Jewish Research, and Yeshiva University Museum. The Center is the world’s preeminent library, archive, and educational institution dedicated to exploring the richness of Jewish life and letters, and showcasing the contributions the Jewish people have made to modern civilization as the home of 100 million archival documents, more than 500,000 books, tens of thousands of artifacts, textiles, photographs, and memorabilia, as well as thousands of hours of audio records and film footage.
The Speakers
From all around the world
- Mostafa Terrab, CEO, OCP Group
- Malcolm Hoenlein, Chief Executive Officer Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations
- Avigayil Benstein, President, World Union of Jewish Students
- Chaya Singer is the Parliamentary and Diplomatic Liaison for the South African Jewish Board of Deputies (SAJBD)
- Dr. Shalva Weil, senior Researcher at RIFE (Research Institute for Innovation in Education), and Research Fellow in the Department of Biblical and Ancient Studies at UNISA (University of South Africa)
- Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom, founding director of the new International Center for the Study of Ethiopian Jewry at Ono Academic College
- Dr. Yoram Meital, Ellie and Herbert D. Katz Distinguished Fellowship at the Katz Center for Advanced Judaic Studies, University of Pennsylvania
- Peter Geffen, Founder and President of Kivunim
- Andrea Barry, non-executive director at Pupkewitz Holdings
- Rabbi Levi Banon, Chabad Rabbi of Morocco
- Rabbi Capers Funnye, Chief Rabbi of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis
- Sami Ibrahim, Director of Drop of Milk in Egypt
- Bizu Riki Mullu, Founder/Executive Director, Chassida Shmella Ethiopian Jewish Community
- Magda Haroun, Head of Egypt’s Jewish Community at Cairo
- Abere Endeshaw Kerehu, founder of Young Ethiopian Jews leadership team in Ethiopia
- Dr. Remy Ilona, Secretary-General of the Hebrew-Igbo people
- Maguy Kakon– First Jewish woman to run for seat in Moroccan parliamentary elections
- David Dangoor, President, American Sephardi Federation
- Mehdi El Bayad, Mimouna program director
- Reda Ayadi, Mimouna program director
The Program
Explore the 3 days conference program.
Steinberg Great Hall, Blavatnik Gallery, and Batkin Mezzanine Exhibitions
Opening Remarks @ Forchheimer Auditorium
- Dr. Ephraim Isaac Director, Institute of Semitic Studies
- Eliseo Neuman Director, AJC's Africa Institute
- Avigayil Benstein President, World Union of Jewish Students
Historical Survey of Sub–Saharan African Jewish Life @ Forchheimer Auditorium
- Dr. Shalva Weil: The Beta Israel of Ethiopia until 1991: Identity, History, and Unique Customs
- Dr. Aomar Boum Saharan Judaism: Voices from Africa’s Margins”
- Dave Bloom: The Life and Times of the Zimbabwe and Zambian Jewish Communities
- Carol Castiel: The Jews of Cape Verde
Ethiopian Lunch @ Steinberg Great Hall
The central idea is to approach these topics from the point of view of Jewish African leaders.
Exhibit Tour/Talk @ Steinberg Great Hall and Batkin Mezzanine
- Dr. Jay A. Waronker "www.africansynagogues.org"
- Magda Haroun: Egyptian Jewish Sites and People Today
- Dr. Yoram Meital: Mr. Cohen does not pray here anymore: Synagogues and Jewish Heritage in Egypt
- Rabbi Levi Banon: Contemporary Jewish Life in Casablanca
- Peter A. Geffen: The American Jewish Student in Africa: Building World Consciousness in Morocco 2006–2019
Contemporary Life of Sub–Saharan African Jewish People & Sites @ (Forchheimer Auditorium)
- Abere Endeshaw Kerehu: The Face of Ethiopian Jewry
- Rabbi Dr. Sharon Shalom: Preserving Ethiopian Jewish Culture and Traditions
- Chaya Singe: The South African Jewish Community from a Political Perspective
- Ilona Remy: The Place of the Igbo in the Israelite World
- Rabbi Shlomo Bentolila: Jewish Life in Central Africa
- Maguy KakonL Experiences as the first Jewish woman to run for a seat in Moroccan parliamentary elections
Jewish Africa Film Festival "In Honor of Kulanu’s 25th Anniversary" @ (Forchheimer Auditorium)
Gabrielle Zilkha "Doing Jewish A Story from Ghana (2016)"
David Vinik and Debra Gonshor Vinik "Yearning to Belong (2007)"
Registration and refreshments (Steinberg Great Hall)
Encounters between Jews and non–Jews in Contemporary Africa @ Forchheimer Auditorium
- Samy Ibrahim: An Egyptian Perspective
- Houda Ougaddoum: Re–acquainting Moroccan youth with its Jewish component
- Dr. Tudor Parfitt: The Jews of sub–Saharan Africa: Myth and Reality
- Dr. Marla Brettschneider: Recent Trends in Group Conversions
- Dr. Andre Levy: Some thoughts on the Jewish–Muslim relationship in contemporary Morocco
An Introduction to the Atlas of Jewish History and Diarna Geo-Museum of North African & Middle Eastern Jewish Life @Forchheimer Auditorium
- Eddie Ashkenazie
- Jason Guberman-P.
Jono David/HaChayim HaYehudim Jewish Photo Library Presentation @ Forchheimer Auditorium
Yosef Abramowitz - The Future of Jews in Africa
Strategic Planning Lunch: Focus Groups Developing Plans & Projects for the Future of Jewish Africa @ Steinberg Great Hall
- Mehdi El Bayad
- Reda Eyed
Presentations of Focus Groups for the Future of Jewish Africa @ Steinberg Great Hall
- Mehdi El Bayad
- Reda Ayadi
Closing Remarks @ Forchheimer Auditorium
Jewish Africa Film Festival "In Honor of Kulanu’s 25th Anniversary" @ Forchheimer Auditorium
- Joshua Kristal’s "Lost/Found: The Jews of Madagascar (2016)"
- Jeff Lieberman’s "Re–Emerging: The Jews of Nigeria (2012)"
Event Organizers
Discover the summit organizers.
September 8, 2020
November 23, 2019
December 12, 2002