Join us in unity as we connect with our African siblings and learn about their journey of retaining their roots to Torah and "Doing Jewish."
About this event
Join us for our second unity gathering of Black Jews and Hebrew Israelites in an online screening of “Doing Jewish: A Story of Ghana,” by Gabriel Zilkha about the Sefwi Jews of Ghana. This documentary follows the experiences of the Sefwi community learning that what they've been practicing in isolation for centuries is known to the world as "Judaism." Join us in unity as we connect with our African siblings and learn about their journey of retaining their roots to Torah and "Doing Jewish." After screening the highlights of the film, we'll get a chance to interact directly with Rabbi Alex Armah of the Sefwi community through Q and A. More about the film:
Gabrielle Zilkha had little interest in religion when she arrived in Ghana to volunteer for six months of community service, a lone Jew from Montreal awash in a sea of Christians. As the High Holidays approach, she longs to reconnect with a Jewish community and goes on a day-long trip to a remote western township in Sefwi Wiawso where, remarkably, Judaism has been practiced in isolation for centuries. Identifying as descendants of the Lost Tribes of Israel, a tiny but devout congregation and its charismatic leader practice kosher dietary laws, circumcision and other Jewish rites. Over five years, the filmmaker follows the ongoing struggle for acceptance and continuity by the Jews of Ghana, while consulting experts about Jewish lineage, and its ability to cross borders and thrive.
This event is co-sponsored by Prophetic Whirlwind; the Hebrew, Ivri, Ewe, The Black Man; Talmidei YHWH; Black Jewish Liberation Collective; and the Israelite Board of Rabbis.
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Though I strongly disagree with any notions of a) the black man is the jew b) Jewish prophets after Malachi of the Hebrew canon c) spelling or pronuncing the Four Letter Name of God --forbidden by traditional Jews of North Africa, Egypt, the Balkans, SW Russia, the Mizrahh, Yemen, and India (places with uninterrupted practice of Hokhmei Yisrael for more than 1,000 years--), I do support the canonical and Midrashic prophesied return and ingathering of the whole scattered House of Israel whether they know themselves or not.
No African Jews anywhere require acceptance. We are not beggars. We demand RECOGNITION. When will the day come for the variegated Jews of the West African Diaspora to see the need to produce and direct films of their own (as well as books, reports, articles, etc.?) without letting others define them to the world via outsiders' eyes? No autonomous peoples even allow such things.
Meanwhile white Jews are now getting their chance to play missionary to the natives, aping their own white European [former?] oppressors' acts during colonial times.
In the ancient world 'religion' mattered more than colour. In this 3rd millennium colour is the number one factor and so we aid each other regardless of spiritual/ideological differences.
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