Judaism in Zimbabwe
Encyclopedia
The history of the Jews
in Zimbabwe reaches back over one century. Present-day Zimbabwe
was formerly known as Southern Rhodesia
and later as Rhodesia
.
settled in Rhodesia and became active in the trading industry. In 1894, the first synagogue
was established in a tent in Bulawayo
. The second community developed in Salisbury (later renamed Harare
) in 1895. A third congregation was established in Gwelo
in 1901. By 1900, approximately 400 Jews lived in Rhodesia.
The first Jews came by way of the southeast coast through Portuguese Beira, Mozambique
. In 1898, the Central African Zionist Organizations were established in Bulawayo. In the 1920s and 1930s, Sephardic Jews
moved there from the Greek island of Rhodes
. By 1921, census data reported 1,289 Jews in Rhodesia.
In the late 1930s, German Jews
fleeing Nazi persecution settled in Rhodesia. After World War II
, Jews arrived from South Africa
and England
. In 1943, the Rhodesian Zionist Council and the Rhodesian Jewish Board of Deputies were established. By 1961, the Jewish population peaked at 7,060.
By 1987, the Jewish community of Zimbabwe shrunk to approximately 1,200. Today, about 260 Jews live in Zimbabwe, chiefly in Harare and Bulawayo. A few Jews remain in Kwekwe
, Gweru
, and Kadoma
. Most of the Jews have immigrated to Israel
or South Africa.
Since the late 1990s, Zimbabwe has suffered from food shortages, unemployment and inflation. In 2002 the mayor of Ashkelon
invited Zimbabwe Jews to settle in Israel and several Jews immigrated there.
claim a common descent belonging to the Jewish people
.
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
in Zimbabwe reaches back over one century. Present-day Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe is a landlocked country located in the southern part of the African continent, between the Zambezi and Limpopo rivers. It is bordered by South Africa to the south, Botswana to the southwest, Zambia and a tip of Namibia to the northwest and Mozambique to the east. Zimbabwe has three...
was formerly known as Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia
Southern Rhodesia was the name of the British colony situated north of the Limpopo River and the Union of South Africa. From its independence in 1965 until its extinction in 1980, it was known as Rhodesia...
and later as Rhodesia
Rhodesia
Rhodesia , officially the Republic of Rhodesia from 1970, was an unrecognised state located in southern Africa that existed between 1965 and 1979 following its Unilateral Declaration of Independence from the United Kingdom on 11 November 1965...
.
History
Eastern European Jews from Russia and LithuaniaLithuanian Jews
Lithuanian Jews or Litvaks are Jews with roots in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania:...
settled in Rhodesia and became active in the trading industry. In 1894, the first synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
was established in a tent in Bulawayo
Bulawayo
Bulawayo is the second largest city in Zimbabwe after the capital Harare, with an estimated population in 2010 of 2,000,000. It is located in Matabeleland, 439 km southwest of Harare, and is now treated as a separate provincial area from Matabeleland...
. The second community developed in Salisbury (later renamed Harare
Harare
Harare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
) in 1895. A third congregation was established in Gwelo
Gweru
Gweru is a city near the centre of Zimbabwe at . It has a population of about 146,073 , making it the third largest city in the nation. Gweru is the capital of Midlands Province. Gweru was founded in 1894 by Dr. Leander Starr Jameson. The first bank opened in Gweru in 1896, and the stock exchange...
in 1901. By 1900, approximately 400 Jews lived in Rhodesia.
The first Jews came by way of the southeast coast through Portuguese Beira, Mozambique
Beira, Mozambique
Beira is the second largest city in Mozambique. It lies in the central region of the country in Sofala Province, where the Pungue River meets the Indian Ocean. Beira had a population of 412,588 in 1997, which grew to an estimated 546,000 in 2006...
. In 1898, the Central African Zionist Organizations were established in Bulawayo. In the 1920s and 1930s, Sephardic Jews
Sephardi Jews
Sephardi Jews is a general term referring to the descendants of the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula before their expulsion in the Spanish Inquisition. It can also refer to those who use a Sephardic style of liturgy or would otherwise define themselves in terms of the Jewish customs and...
moved there from the Greek island of Rhodes
Rhodes
Rhodes is an island in Greece, located in the eastern Aegean Sea. It is the largest of the Dodecanese islands in terms of both land area and population, with a population of 117,007, and also the island group's historical capital. Administratively the island forms a separate municipality within...
. By 1921, census data reported 1,289 Jews in Rhodesia.
In the late 1930s, German Jews
History of the Jews in Germany
The presence of Jews in Germany has been established since the early 4th century. The community prospered under Charlemagne, but suffered during the Crusades...
fleeing Nazi persecution settled in Rhodesia. After World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Jews arrived from South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. In 1943, the Rhodesian Zionist Council and the Rhodesian Jewish Board of Deputies were established. By 1961, the Jewish population peaked at 7,060.
By 1987, the Jewish community of Zimbabwe shrunk to approximately 1,200. Today, about 260 Jews live in Zimbabwe, chiefly in Harare and Bulawayo. A few Jews remain in Kwekwe
Kwekwe
Kwekwe or Kwe Kwe , formerly spelt Que Que, is a city in central Zimbabwe. It is located in the centre of the country —roughly equidistant from Harare to the northeast and Bulawayo to the southwest. Its population stood at 47,607 in 1982, 75,425 in 1992 and the preliminary result of the 2002...
, Gweru
Gweru
Gweru is a city near the centre of Zimbabwe at . It has a population of about 146,073 , making it the third largest city in the nation. Gweru is the capital of Midlands Province. Gweru was founded in 1894 by Dr. Leander Starr Jameson. The first bank opened in Gweru in 1896, and the stock exchange...
, and Kadoma
Kadoma, Zimbabwe
Kadoma is a city in Zimbabwe in the Mashonaland West province, 140 km south-west of Harare on the main road to Bulawayo. It was known as Gatooma until 1982....
. Most of the Jews have immigrated to Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
or South Africa.
Since the late 1990s, Zimbabwe has suffered from food shortages, unemployment and inflation. In 2002 the mayor of Ashkelon
Ashkelon
Ashkelon is a coastal city in the South District of Israel on the Mediterranean coast, south of Tel Aviv, and north of the border with the Gaza Strip. The ancient seaport of Ashkelon dates back to the Neolithic Age...
invited Zimbabwe Jews to settle in Israel and several Jews immigrated there.
Lemba tribe
The Lemba people, a Black-African tribe of about 70,000 people who live in central Zimbabwe in southern AfricaSouthern Africa
Southern Africa is the southernmost region of the African continent, variably defined by geography or geopolitics. Within the region are numerous territories, including the Republic of South Africa ; nowadays, the simpler term South Africa is generally reserved for the country in English.-UN...
claim a common descent belonging to the Jewish people
Jews
The Jews , also known as the Jewish people, are a nation and ethnoreligious group originating in the Israelites or Hebrews of the Ancient Near East. The Jewish ethnicity, nationality, and religion are strongly interrelated, as Judaism is the traditional faith of the Jewish nation...
.