House of Israel (Ghana)
| Subclass of | Israeli Jews  |
|---|---|
| Native language | Sehwi |
| Languages dem dey speak, wrep anaa sign | Sehwi, English |
| Religion anaa worldview | Judaism |
| Country | Ghana |
| Dem locate for de administrative territorial entity insyd | Western Region (Ghana) |
| Location | Sefwi, Western Region (Ghana) |
De House of Israel be Jewish community wey dey locate for southwestern Ghana insyd, de towns of Sefwi Wiawso den Sefwi Sui. Dis group of people, de Sefwi tribe, build synagogue for 1998 insyd. Chaw men den kiddies dey read English, but no body know Hebrew.[1][2]
History of Jews for Ghana insyd[edit | edit source]
De Sefwi Wiawso people dey trace call give "return" to normative Judaism by Aaron Ahomtre Toakyirafa, community leader wey, for 1976 insyd, dem claim say he get vision. For 2012 insyd, Gabrielle Zilkha, Toronto-based filmmaker, visit Sefwe Wiawso so say she go do research for sum documentary about de House of Israel she dey do. According to Zilkha, about 200 people--chaw kiddies-- dey live for de community insyd. She state say de lack of historical record make am hard to verify de group dema claims, but oral tradition wey dey date back to 200 years dey.[1]
For de 1990s insyd, de House of Israel begin to reach out to de wider Jewish world. De community job plus Jewish organizations lyk Kulanu den Be’chol Lashon.[3]
Jews dema smaller community from de House of Israel dey live for Sefwi Sui insyd, small farming community wey dey locate twenty miles from Sefwi Wiawso.[4]
Jewish dema facilities[edit | edit source]
De House of Israel dema leader since 1993, David Ahenkorah receive ein own vision for taking up de mantle. Dem grant am 40-acre plot so say he go build Jewish school give de community, but dem no raise funds give de construction. Kiddies now nu dey attend local school, wey Christians dey run am. Dem build synagogue for 1998 insyd for New Adiembra, Jewish neighborhood wey dey Sefwi Wiawso. Recently, dem paint am blue den white, Israel ein colors.[5] Chaw family compounds dey nearby wey about 200 people dey belong to de synagogue. E be single-room synagogue wey get miniature Sefer Torah. No mechitza dey.[6][7]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/ghana-virtual-jewish-history-tour |title=Ghana Virtual Jewish History Tour |publisher=Jewish Virtual Library |accessdate=2022-04-03
- ↑ cite web|url=https://thecjn.ca/perspectives/lost-jews-ghana/ |title=The lost Jews of Ghana |publisher=Canadian Jewish News|Canadian Jewish News |accessdate=2022-04-03
- ↑ cite web|url=https://www.timesofisrael.com/ghanas-deep-spirituality-points-some-joyfully-back-to-judaism/ |title=Ghana’s deep spirituality points some, joyfully, back to Judaism |publisher=The Times of Israel |accessdate=2022-04-03
- ↑ cite web|url=http://www.scatteredamongthenations.org/ghana |title=The House of Israel |publisher=Scattered Among the Nations |accessdate=2022-04-03
- ↑ cite news|url=http://www.forward.com/articles/2143/ |title=In West Africa, a Synagogue Where the Pavement Ends |work= Forward |publisher=The Forward |date=2005-10-28 |accessdate=2012-10-09
- ↑ cite web|url=https://www.jta.org/jewniverse/2016/bet-you-didnt-know-about-the-jews-of-sefwi-wiawso-ghana |title=Bet You Didn’t Know About the Jews of Sefwi Wiawso, Ghana |publisher=Jewish Telegraphic Agency |accessdate=2022-04-03
- ↑ cite web|url=https://kulanu.org/communities/ghana/visit-jewish-community-sefwi-wiawso-ghana/ |title=A VISIT TO THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF SEFWI WIAWSO, GHANA |publisher=Kulanu |accessdate=2022-04-03