94-2019 19 Volume 26 Number 2 C Fall 2019 s e r le a b Ye rating 25 Supporting Isolated, Emerging, and Returning Jewish Communities around the Globe KULANU“All of Us” Contents Map: Where in the World is Kulanu? ....2 Kulanu Across the Globe ......................3 Indian Communities ..............................6 Kulanu Notes ...................................... 11 Remembering Elaine Berg .................14 Zimbabwe Irrigation Project ................15 Kulanu Global Teaching Fellows ........18 Spotlight: Rabbi Barbara Aiello ...........21 Sukkot in Calabria, Italy ......................22 ROUGH DRAFT Thank You for Your Support ................24 Sar Habakkuk Nwafor, the spiritual leader of the Tikvat Israel Community of Abuja, Nigeria, reading a Chumash. See story about his community on page 20. Photo by Shadrach Mugoya Levi. Where in the World is Kulanu in this Issue? Kulanu is in touch with dozens of communities around the world. When we are contacted, we learn what their needs are and do our best to find ways in which to help them further their study and practice of Judaism and build their communities. You can see on this map where the communities featured in this issue of Kulanu are located. Italy India The Philippines Nigeria Brazil Gabon Zimbabwe MALAWI Nigeria, p18 Italy, p22 Zimbabwe, p15 Philippines, p24 MALI LIECH. VADZ BER SWIZERLAD ASRIA HGARY ZAMBIA NIGER Rome, capital GORIZIA LJBLJAA ZAGREB Manila, capital RIESE CROAIA RACE RILI EEZIA GILIA Community in the Harare BOSIA AD HERZEGOIA BENIN SARAJEO MOZAMBIE CROAIA Jewish community LIGRIA Abuja SEA MOEEGRO Calabria region ZIMBABWE ADRIAIC CROAIA PODGORICA SEA CORSICA meets in (R.) ROME Harare, capital Tablas, Rambon SRAI O Gulf of Guinea ORAO BOSWAA CAMEROON RRHEIA GOLLO DI SEA TARAO and home to SARDIIA CAGLIARI and Mindanao IGERIA IOIA SOH SEA REGGIO DI CALABRIA the Jewish MEDIERRAEA SEA ARICA IAL communitySOH Abuja, capital IS SICILY ABEL VALLEA ALGERIA ISIA MALA SDA CERAL RKM. ZB. TAJIKISA India, p6 ARICA AGHAISA Chinese Kabul Line of Indian claim Control line of Srinagar control JAMM AD Gabon, p18 REPBLIC Brazil, p18 New Delhi, capital Islamabad KASHMIR CHIA Bitam PAKISA ARACHAL PRADESH EPAL SIKKIM EEZELA Kathmandu BHA Itanagar Gangtok CAMEROO GAA orth Jaipur himphu SRIAME RECH GIAA Atlantic GADA COLOMBIA Oyem Ocean BAGLADESH Agartala Dhaka RIPRA Aiawl REP. O MIZORAM Libreville, HE BRMA capital State of Andhra COGO Rangoon PER Pradesh, where many GABO Bay Brasíliak, BOLIIA RWADA DEMOCRAIC of the communities are Arabian of Sea Bengal capital PARAGAY BRDI REPBLIC located Port Blair South Cuddalore Kavaratti Atlantic ADAMA AD CHILE ARGEIA ICOBAR ISLADS O HE COGO Ocean LAKSHADWEEP RAGAY SRI LAKA (ZAIRE) Colombo Goiânia IDOESIA Indian Ocean Copyright Bruce Jones Design Inc. 200 2 Kulanu Fall 2019 MALAWI AGOLA ZAMBIA Harare -2019 94 9 1 Celebrating Kulanu’s 25th Anniversary s r a Kulanu Across the Globe, e C Y el 5 a unique international ebr g 2 atin initiative celebrating Kulanu’s 25th anniversary, united more than 1,000 people from over 50 Jewish commu- nities on five continents. Over the weekend of November 15th-17th, 2019, synagogues and organizations shared a variety of films, music, readings, and photographs to showcase Kulanu’s work and Jewish diversity worldwide. Ohr Torah Synagogue, Nigeria We wrote a d’var Torah for people to use We read the second poem, the story about the which spoke about welcoming communities crypto-Jews, the children of the Inquisition in around the globe into the Jewish tent. But Spain, Portugal, and Latin America. We have then I started to think about whose tent is just learned about them from the Kulanu this? Is it “our” tent that we’re inviting “them” Across the Globe event. This story really into? In my experience, I have been warmly resonated with us. It’s the same story of our welcomed into the tents of the communities African Jewish ancestors. Truly, it’s as if the that I have gotten to know and they’ve taught poem was written about us. me so much about being Jewish. Avraham Ben Avraham, Nigeria Harriet Bograd, Kulanu’s president, during her We heard stories of Jewish life from Africa d’var Torah at West End Synagogue, NYC, USA and Asia to the Americas. The depth of their devotion and joy, and the challenges they face, are an inspiration and a reminder that we are all Kulanu. Marty Stein, Oregon, USA Kulanu President Harriet Bograd speaking at West End Synagogue, New Kulanu has played the role of my mother. York City, USA. Photo by Viviane Topp. Naume Sabano, Uganda Tiferet Israel Synagogue, Sefwi Wiawso Jewish Community in Harare Lemba Synagogue, Zimbabwe Ghana continued on next page Kulanu Fall 2019 3 Kulanu Across the Globe: continued from previous page Kulanu Across the Globe was not only a Kulanu has helped the Abayudaya community celebration of Kulanu’s 25 years of dedicated to escape isolation. work throughout the globe to build Jewish Jacob Mwosuko in Uganda community. It was, in and of itself, a labor of love and community-building! I got to meet so many wonderful people in Jewish commu- nities around the world through our online meetings, and sharing videos and information. I also was thrilled to connect people from different Jewish congregations in New York City. The event was joyous and uplifting for all. I even got to try some new recipes! Chaya Weinstein, New York City, USA Hadassah Primary School celebrating in Uganda The anniversary was great. The event created a sense of belonging and an atmosphere full Friends of Kulanu at of unity and oneness among Jews. Most Jews West End in this part of the world think and believe they Synagogue, are alone and are not recognized, which to an NYC, USA extent seems true. This event went as far as reminding and reassuring us that Jews in this part of the world are part of Jewish commu- nities around the globe. We have high hopes that there will be stronger relationships and communication to keep the flame burning. Mazal Tov, Kulanu. Yosef Zurishaddi Shmuel, Nigeria Holding Kulanu booklets, Har Shalom Knesset, Nigeria Ohr Torah Synagogue, Nigeria Tzion Kids Academy, Aba Abia State, Nigeria continued on next page 4 Kulanu Fall 2019 Kulanu Across the Globe: continued from previous page The Kulanu presentation was wonderfully I’ve always been so impressed by the work that informative and allowed me to understand the Kulanu does around the world in supporting important work Kulanu is doing throughout isolated, but thriving, Jewish communities. the globe. I was especially impressed with These communities are so earnest in their ongoing projects and community support efforts to lead a Jewish life in spite of many in central Africa, and in Nigeria specifically, difficulties. since I have friends in the States who are of Susan Aronson, Oregon, USA Igbo descent and have spoken often about the widespread belief in Nigeria that the Igbo are believed to have ancestral Jewish claims. Perhaps someday in the near future, I’ll be able to visit these growing, vibrant communities. Neil Davison, Oregon, USA Kulanu has made me what I am. KATG Shabbat Services at Ohr Torah Synagogue, Nigeria Rachel Namudosi, Uganda Tzion Kids Academy, Aba Abia State, Nigeria Tzion Kids Academy, Aba Abia State, Nigeria Lunch at West End Synagogue, NYC, Tikvat Shofar women and children Tikvat Shofar women making challah USA included delicious recipes from the celebrating, Nigeria to celebrate Kulanu’s 25th anniversary, countries of our partner communities. Nigeria c Kulanu Fall 2019 5 Spirit Floats on the Water Indian Communities Search for Jewish Connections Written by and photos courtesy of Dr. Eyal Be’eri About the author: Dr. Eyal Be’eri of Israel worked for many of the Torah) tribes, and even follow a series years as an educational consultant in high schools, and of customs that conform to Jewish, rabbinic, for the past 15 years, Eyal has been spending time with and Karaite customs. The table of evidence Jewish communities in India. For the past 12 years, he has stands firmly on four feet: their Jewish customs, been researching the Pathan communities in India and different from anything known in Islamic formulating evidence of their Jewish origin. Eyal, studying at practice, their books of lineage dating back for Ariel University’s Israel Heritage Department, wrote a thesis centuries proving their ethnic roots, ancient in 2012 and his Ph.D. dissertation in 2019 about the Pathan history books dating from the 10th century on family books and their customs similar to Jewish customs. testifying to their Israelite origins, and their own Apart from his academic research, Eyal devotes his time to self-definition as descendants of the nation of finding ways to build a bridge between the Pathans and the Israel. Israelis and is an active partner in the founding of the Israeli- Pathan Research Institute. He is married and the father Offering our Prayers in Andhra Pradesh of six children. Here, below, is an edited excerpt of Eyal’s The city of Vijayawada in the state of Andhra dissertation. To read the full dissertation, please contact Pradesh, India, had not yet borne the brunt of contact Eyal through kulanu.org/contact. the winter of 2019, but the disrepair of the roads told us that the summer monsoons had indeed left their mark here on the east coast of India. The weather was pleasant. The sky was blue and a breeze blew through the coconut palms. Cone-like mountains arose in the backdrop, accentuating the valley at their feet. Hindu morning prayers echoed loudly from the temples, mixing with the sound of Christian church bells and the voice of the local Imam reciting the Koran melodically. We offered our prayers as well in this eclectic city, a city that has steadfastly welcomed the different The author, left, with Yehoshua Yacobi of the Bene Ephraim religions of the people who have made this their home, accepting all of them without any unnec- Note About the Pathans essary panic.