 |
The Virtual Jewish History TourRepublic of ZaireBy Ariel Scheib
Eastern European Jews from Romania and Poland first arrived in the Democratic Republic of Congo (now the Republic of Zaire) in 1907. Following these immigrants, several Jewish families arrived from South Africa and the Land of Israel. In 1911, Sephardic Jews from the island of Rhodes settled in the Congo. That same year, the Communauté du Congo Belge et du Ruanda-Urundi, the Jewish community center, was established. In 1930, the first synagogue was consecrated in Elisabethville. Most of the Eastern European Jews left in the 1930s because of a severe economic crisis. From 1937, Rabbi Moses Levy had led the Jewish communities of the Congo and Ruanda-Urandi. After World War I and II, however, many Jewish refugees from Eastern and Southern Europe came to the Congo. Prior to the establishment of the State of Israel, numerous Zionist organizations were organized in the Congo. All Zionist activities were headed by the Association Sioniste du Congo Belge. Prior to independence, approximately 2,500 Jews lived in the Congo; 50% resided in Elisabethville and about 70 Jewish families were based in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. In the public schools, Jewish children were provided classes in Hebrew and Judaism. In 1960, after Zaire gained its independence and the Belgians left the country, many Jews also left, with large numbers immigrating to South Africa and Israel. Today, Zaire has approximately 320 Jews living predominately Lubumbashi. Most of the Jews are of Sephardic descent and speak Ladino, a Spanish-Jewish dialect. There is a synagogue in Lubumbashi that is served by a rabbi. There is also a small Jewish community in Kinshasa called Congregation Israelite. The Jewish community in Zaire is represented by the Communaute Israelite du Shaba. There is a Jewish cemetery under the control of the Chief Rabbi of Zaire, Rabbi Levy. In 1960, the Republic of Congo established diplomatic relations with Israel. Zaire joined after Arab nations broke relations with Israel under pressure from the Arabs in 1973. A decade later, Zaire was one of the first to reestablish relations with Israel. Congregation Israelite Rabbi Moshe Levy, Embassy of Israel Sources: World Jewish Congress International Jewish Cemetery Project Southern Africa Jewish Genealogy "Zaire." The Jewish Travelers' Resource Guide. Feldheim Publishers. 2001. Maps: CIA. |
 |
