Nigerian Jews before the Advent of Rabbi Howard Gorin
Historical records attest to the flourishing Jewish communities that once existed in several parts of Africa. The Jews of Morocco have a rich history that dates back to ancient times, with Jewish communities thriving there for centuries. During the medieval period, the Jews of Timbuktum were a significant Jewish community in West Africa. Other groups consist of the Jewish communities in Zimbabwe, South Africa, Ethiopia’s Beta Israel, and the little-known Jews along the River Niger. These communities were all in Africa long before the introduction of Christianity and Islam, which eventually led to the conversion of many of them.
However, there is a common skepticism regarding the emergence of Nigerian Igbo Jews only after the 1990s. Yet, this perspective may raise doubts, particularly when taking into account the historical and cultural connections of the Igbo community. The Igbo people are one of the most populous and well-traveled tribes in Africa, boasting a rich history of engaging with other regions of the continent. The fact that they all lived in different towns and locales and nevertheless followed Jewish rituals and similar traditions indicates that these aspects could not have come from any other religion except Judaism. This suggests that the roots of Igbo Jews may have deeper historical ties to Judaism than previously thought, challenging the skepticism surrounding their emergence. Further research and exploration into the cultural practices and beliefs of the Igbo people could provide more insight into their unique connection to Judaism.
No synagogues or communities were built until the early 1990s. The Igbo tribe’s elders and traditionalists have stated that, according to oral and written histories, the Igbo tribe was closely connected to ancient Israel. This narrative highlights the journey of the Igbo tribe from Sudan to West Africa, settling in the confluence area of the Omambala River before eventually splitting into groups and migrating to different destinations. The Igbo people’s strong Jewish cultural identity may have led to their prolonged resistance against British missionaries before eventually adopting Christianity.
Nigerian Jews prior to this moment
over the past few decades, there have been no documented instances of thriving Jewish communities in Igbo land, yet many adults believed they had roots in Israel. In this modern era, vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles, shops, and offices in Igbo land are adorned with Israeli flags. Professor William Miles of North Eastern University Boston was taken aback by the sight of Israel flags on numerous tricycles when he visited the town of Aba in Abia State. Based on a straightforward observation, there are more Israeli flags than the national flag on vehicles in Igboland. Although most Igbo people practice Christianity, a significant number maintain a strong belief in their ancestral connection to the biblical Israelites. The display of Israeli flags in Igbo land reflects a strong sense of pride and heritage. The Israeli flags displayed on vehicles, motorcycles, tricycles, shops, and offices visually symbolize the strong bond felt by the Igbo people towards Israel. This unique blend of Igbo and Jewish influences has created a distinct identity for the Igbo people, highlighting their historical and cultural ties to Israel.
The first Jewish Synagogue of Note
The Gihon Hebrew Research Synagogue, now located in Jikwoyi Phase II, Abuja, originally held services at Nyanya Primary School in the early 1990s. They later moved to a private school before establishing their current location. During those early days of their stay in a private school, they were visited by couples of Israelis who lived and worked in various companies, such as Etco, Bois, and Setraco, to mention a few.
A particular man by name, Doron, played a significant role in supporting Gihon Hebrew Research Synagogue to become a pillar of the community. Other Israelis in Abuja and Lagos started visiting Gihon because of this one man. Doron’s wife made a special trip from Israel with her new-born baby. The Shabbat was truly memorable, not just because of the Israeli visitors, but also due to the timeless discussions sparked by the Parashah that remain vivid in my memory. Back then, the young man, now a successful chief hazan at the Gihon Hebrew Research Synagogue, showed exceptional intelligence in Torah even as a preschooler. That day, Doron quizzed the children about King Shlomo, likely to assess their knowledge. His answer attracted a big ovation as he boldly stated that “one specific thing he would always note King Shlomo for is his marriage with many women.” With the help of Doron, after being introduced to the place by Kish Onyia, more Israelites such as Shimon, Dan, and others would occasionally join Doron in visiting Gihon. Traveling from Madallah town in Niger State to the synagogue for Shabbat used to be quite a journey, taking us hours to reach our destination. We were not financially buoyant, and Doron has repeatedly supported us and encouraged us to continue attending synagogue.
Other synagogues began sprouting right there in Abuja. Although those up-coming ones were not like Gihon, which started as an Orthodox Jewish community, as they are transitioning from Messianism to Judaism. In 2001, Kish and I had to stop attending Gihon because of the high cost of transportation and distance challenges, so we had to find one of the new synagogues. One location is in Madallah, where we reside, while the other is in Biazhin-Kubwa. We wanted to investigate whether they follow the same tradition as the Gihon Hebrew Research Synagogue. Upon learning that Tikvat Yisrael expressed interest in converting to Judaism, Kish directed the man, Habakkuk, to me for teaching. At the time of this chance, Kish was on the verge of traveling for his industrial training out of the country, so began the journey that later transformed the community today. They received a visit from Davison, an employee of the World Bank, in 2003.
In 2003, following Dr. Davison’s visit to Tikvat Yisrael, news broke that a Rabbi from America would be arriving in Nigeria. He would be heading to Port Harcourt to meet with Dr. Essien Ben Yehudah, a respected academic at Rivers State University with a significant Jewish following in both Port Harcourt and his hometown, Ịkọrọ Oboroyong, in Akwa Ibom State. Dr. Yehudah connected with Rabbi Gorin during his time in the United States and has extended an invitation for the Rabbi to visit his hometown in Nigeria. While staying with Dr. Yehudah, the Rabbi had some books to deliver to Remy Ilona, Kulanu’s representative in Abuja.
The Rabbi departed from Rivers State in Akwa Ibom and was en route to Abuja to visit Remy Ilona. Upon learning that the Rabbi’s flight was scheduled to arrive at Abuja airport by 5:00 p.m., Yeremyahu Molokwu promptly arranged for a Mercedes-Benz car to pick up the Rabbi. Among the crowd was Sar Habakkuk, filled with enthusiasm to greet the Rabbi, who also made his way to the airport. After many hours had gone by, the Rabbi’s flight still hadn’t arrived as planned. Consequently, some individuals who had gathered at the airport decided to head back home, assuming that the Rabbi may have decided not to travel to Abuja after all. Yeremyahu was the only one at the airport until around 8:00 p.m. when the Rabbi arrived. Yeremyahu shared that he recognized the Rabbi by the kippa on his head and greeted him with “Shalom.” Following a friendly exchange, the Rabbi inquired about the whereabouts of others. Yeremyahu informed him that they had all departed as the flight was scheduled for 5:00 p.m. They eventually got into the vehicle and were driven directly to Tikvat, Israel, where he was accommodated. That evening, none of us managed to sleep because we were overjoyed about having a Rabbi. After catching a glimpse of us, he decided to call it a day because of the exhausting trip. The following day, our community buzzed with individuals who had caught wind of the news and gathered to meet with the Rabbi. He joined us for prayers and visited the Gihon Hebrew Research Synagogue and another Har Shalom Synagogue before calling it a day.
Impressed by our dedication to Torah, he vowed to return. He noticed the lack of resources for our spiritual development. There are no siddurim available, and the ones that can be found are often worn-out photocopies or handwritten in some instances. We can only study from the Bible, but we have removed the entire New Testament, leaving only Genesis to Malachi. After witnessing this, Rabbi Gorin assured us he would respond promptly.
Rabbi Gorin’s Second Visit
Since the Rabbi departed for the United States, his visit became a sensation. People began to be interested in Judaism more than before. Our communities flourished with the presence of people during Shabbats, weekly activities, Rosh Chodesh, and festivals. Rabbi Gorin’s second visit in 2006 was remarkably grand, as he had sent a container full of articles and Jewish education materials, such as siddurim, tanach, chumash, and more. There is a growing fascination among many individuals for the Rabbi, who holds the distinction of being the first to distribute such a large number of books and materials.
This visit was even more special because the Rabbi was joined by a CBS reporter, Jeff Lieberman who became intrigued after seeing footages from the Rabbi’s initial visit and asked to join him on his next journey. Jeff’s visit was well received by everyone, particularly young people who viewed him as one of their own, sparking numerous new friendships. Jeff’s professionalism shone during the Rabbi’s second visit, causing a global stir. During this period, new songs that had never been heard in any Jewish community, both in Nigeria and other places, began to echo. Jeff Lieberman was instrumental in sharing them across the internet and social media.
This trip allowed Rabbi Gorin to visit all the Jewish communities in Abuja before relocating to the Igbo heartland in the eastern region. He couldn’t fly to Igbo Land because of the large crowds that were with him. Our journey was a great success, and our first stop was at the Shema Yisrael Community in Amuro, Okigwe, led by Elder Elam Ben Moshe. We departed for Port Harcourt to visit the Meir Elohim Community, led by Elder Asher Ben Eliyahu, and many others who are influential in the area. During this visit, the Rabbi met with traditional rulers in Rivers and Anambra states. There was a memorable visit to the governor of Anambra State at that time. In Anambra state, Rabbi Gorin also donated Jewish books to the Nnamdi Azikiwe University library. The Rabbi introduced unique activities that attracted many new faces to Judaism, making Shabbats and festivals bustling with newcomers to the Jewish community.
Rabbi Howard Gordon’s third visit in 2008 was truly exciting, as he covered every state in the eastern region. Prior to this visit, he had previously dispatched another shipment of books and computers through Elder Asher Ben Eliyahu (now deceased). He had earlier made his intention to have libraries in every community he visited, even though his efforts were thwarted, making only about two or more Synagogues in the entire Jewish community he has visited to boast of libraries today. Rabbi Gorin visited Anambra, Imo, Enugu, Ebonyi, Rivers, Delta, and Akwa Ibom states, ensuring that the communities felt his presence. Upon his third visit, the synagogues he had previously encountered had grown in strength, more educated in Judaism, and populated in number, while the new ones eagerly awaited the arrival of the man whose reputation preceded him.
Many of those communities deeply valued Rabbi Gorin and honored him with chieftaincy regalia, referring to him as the Chief Rabbi of their community. This third visit, along with the second one, attracted many Rabbis to Nigerian soil as the buzz from his previous visits spread across social networks, the internet, and newspapers. Till today, the footprint of Rabbi Howard Gorin in Igbo land remains indelible in the annals of history. Many synagogues without prayer books, chumash, or other study materials could proudly attribute their possession to him. Some communities, like Dr. Yehudah and Meir Elohim, acquired even Sefer Torah through him. Following his visits, numerous other Rabbis, including Rabbi Moshe Oriel and Rabbi Nissin Kadosh, traveled to Igbo land. Since then, several Jewish communities have emerged and are making significant advancements, which is a testament to the individual who facilitated this development.
Despite the passage of more than 15 years since his last visit, Rabbi Gorin has left a lasting impact on numerous Synagogues across Nigeria, even those he never personally visited. In addition, even after retiring, he remains active by staying connected with many black African Jews through social media. He uses the online platform to share rabbinical teachings from a distance. Remarkably till date, some communities in Nigeria continue to receive festival supplies and support from him, along with book donations to Abayudaya Jews in Uganda, where he first learned about Jews living in Nigeria. Many Nigerian Jews who appreciate the rabbi’s selfless sacrifice, can relate with the historic impact of the big change- a missing connecting bridge of knowledge, which triggered mass awareness and returning- helping the Igbos to cross the chasm that eventually changed the trajectory of Judaism in Nigeria.
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