south african jewish museum tours

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South Africa

Jewish tours to south africa kruger national park and the kapama private reserve.

South Africa is an entire world in one country. Our tour offers breathtaking scenery, insight into diverse cultures, and the option to experience a life-changing “Big 5” Safari. Throughout, the unique impact of Jewish history, culture, and lifestyle on South Africa will also come alive.

Tour Information

Jewish tour to south africa cape town – hermanus – oudtshoorn – knysna – tsitsikamma – port elizabeth – pretoria – johannesburg – kruger – kapama private reserve, duration: 9 or 14 days, 2020 dates: august 10 – august 21 not including kruger & safari, august 10 – august 26 including kruger & safari, price per person: $ 3,790 land only not including kruger & safari $ 710 single supplement, $ 5,690 land only including kruger & safari $ 1,190 single supplement, accommodations: cape town , 3 nights radisson blu waterfront hotel hermanus , 1 night misty waves boutique hotel oudtshoorn , 1 night surval olive estate hotel tsitsikamma , 1 night the fernery lodge & chalets port elizabeth , 1 night radisson blu hotel johannesburg , 1 night radisson blu hotel sandton, extension : johannesburg , 1 night radisson blu hotel sandton kruger , 2 nights sanbonani resort hotel & spa kampama , 2 nights kapama river lodge, meals : 8 breakfasts (+5 on extension) 3 lunches (+5 on extension). 6 dinners (+2 on extension)., included highlights : transfers, sightseeing & touring in private air-conditioned luxury coaches domestic flight from port elizabeth to johannesburg luggage handling at all hotels mineral water during touring deluxe & first class hotels buffet breakfast daily at the hotels complete program throughout meeting with local communities shabbat dinner in cape town professional licensed national south african tour director tips and gratuities, pre/post tours : we can accommodate pre/post tour arrangements in conjunction with this departure, passport & visa : no visa is required for travel to south africa. always make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after the tour ends, not included : flights to and from south africa optional pre, post or other private tour arrangements services not mentioned meals not mentioned. expenses of personal nature travel insurance, day 1 thursday arrival in south africa.

Welcome to South Africa! Upon arrival at Cape Town, meet your local Jewish guide and transfer to the hotel to rest and refresh. Next, enjoy a first taste of Cape Town with a stop at gorgeous Signal Hill, which offers a spectacular view of Table Mountain, the ocean, and the city in between. Then, visit the bustling Victoria & Alfred (V&A) Waterfront; this famous harbor is uniquely seen by over 23 million tourists annually. With its abundance of shops, restaurants, and cultural attractions, the Waterfront provides a true feel of Cape Town’s prime social hub. Dinner at the Waterfront. Radisson Blu Waterfront. (D)

Day 2 Friday Cape Town

Start the day with a cable car ride to the top of Table Mountain, not only one of the New Wonders of the World in 2011, but a UNESCO World Heritage site. Next, a Jewish tour of Cape Town. The Hebrew Congregation, established in 1841, is the oldest in this part of the world. Visit the South African Jewish Museum, tour the Great Synagogue, and as well as the equally significant Holocaust Centre. Now, enjoy a walking tour, starting at the Company’s Gardens of the Dutch East India Company. Here was the hub of life in the 17th century, and it is certainly still vibrant. Stop at Greenmarket Square, where African traders thrive. Continue along Church and Long Streets, then board the coach to see other highlights, including the Bo-Kaap, or Cape Malay Quarter. In the evening, enjoy a Shabbat Dinner. Radisson Blu Waterfront. (B/D)

Day 3 Saturday Cape Town

Explore the marvellous Cape Peninsula and Cape Town’s surroundings– all the way to the Cape of Good Hope. The first stop will be Camps Bay, certainly the “Riviera” of Cape Town, to view the “12 Apostles” and Atlantic coastline. Continue to Hout Bay and take a boat trip to Seal Island, habitat for hundreds of Cape seals. Next, travel towards Cape Point. This southeast corner of the peninsula is where ships notably met their demise while sailing from Europe to the Far East. Next, ride the “Flying Dutchman” funicular to see the Old Lighthouse while enjoying spectacular views. Continue to Simon’s Town, a formerly British naval town that is now SA’s own base. Then, visit the penguins at Boulders Beach, stopping for a seafront Lunch. Lastly, on to Muizenberg, a former Jewish hub. See the Shul, built in 1925, before returning to the hotel. Radisson Blu Waterfront. (B/L)

Day 4 Sunday Cape Town – Wine Route – Hermanus

Today, travel westward to the Cape Winelands, heading for Franschhoek and Stellenbosch. These, notably, are the two most acclaimed wine routes in the region (owing to, perhaps, Huguenot French plantings in the 17 th century). En route, visit the Mandela statue, located in the Drakenstein Correctional Centre. Here is where Nelson Mandela was released from prison in 1990 (after 27 hard years) and consequently commemorated. Next, see Franschhoek, exploring the quaint French-heritage town and visiting its Huguenot monument. Later, enjoy a Wine-tasting and picnic Lunch at a uniquely beautiful vineyard estate. Continue to the uniquely picturesque town of Stellenbosch, second oldest city in South Africa. Here, experience a historic city tour, including a stop at the charming Old Shul. Next, drive along the ocean to Hermanus (“the Whale Town”), and enjoy the evening at leisure. Misty Waves Boutique Hotel. (B/L)

Day 5 Monday Hermanus – Barrydale – Oudtshoorn

Hermanus is justifiably considered to be the whale capital of the world. Every year, these mammals mate here, bringing an influx of visitors as well as an annual “whale festival.” Weather permitting, enjoy a whale-watching cruise and see these magnificent creatures up close. Next, tour Hermanus, stopping at the iconic Old Shul. Then, head toward the small town, or “Dorpie,” of Barrydale via scenic Tradouw Pass. Drive along famous Route 62, stopping at the Barrydale Waterfront. Now, continue past the Lithuanian-style Ladismith Shul and towards Oudtshoorn, previously called the “Jerusalem of South Africa.” Oudtshoorn is equally known as the ostrich capital of the world. In the 19th century, the rising popularity of ostrich feathers brought an influx of Jews from Eastern Europe. Visit the five-generation Jewish-owned Safari Ostrich farm to learn more. In the evening, enjoy dinner and a historical lecture about the Jewish community. Surval Olive Estate. (B/D)

Day 6 Tuesday Oudtshoorn – Knysna – Tsitsikamma

Start the morning with a visit to the CP Nel museum — uniquely one of the few secular museums in the world to house a Shul (which is occasionally still used for services). Next, stop at the Queen Street Synagogue, built from sandstone. Then, departing Oudtshoorn, continue towards Knysna via the Outeniqua Pass — part of the world-famous Garden Route. This route, stretching between the mountains and the Indian Ocean, brings in tourists from all over the world. Stop at two equally panoramic viewpoints overlooking the Indian Ocean. Next, continue the journey to Tsitsikamma, which means “clear water” in Khoi. On the way, visit the beautiful Shul in Plettenberg Bay, a popular resort town among the South African Jewish community. Dinner in the Tsitsikamma National Park region. The Fernery Lodge & Chalets. (B/D)

Day 7 Wednesday Tsitsikamma – Port Elizabeth

In the early morning, enter Tsitsikamma National Park and head towards the Storms River Mouth. Storms River is a key attraction for tourists from all over the world, epitomizing the true beauty of the Garden Route. There will be an optional walk along the mountains through indigenous forest vegetation towards the suspension bridge, thereby crossing the river mouth. Weather permitting, there will be a boat ride into the gorge. Continue to Port Elizabeth, where English settlers arrived in the 1820s. During the drive, the guide will initiate a discussion regarding the stance of the Jewish community during Apartheid. See the stone pyramid built in memory of Elizabeth Donkin, after whom the city of Port Elizabeth was named. Next, visit the Jewish Pioneers Memorial Museum, originally a synagogue, and now a museum that commemorates the Jewish history of Port Elizabeth. Beachfront Dinner at Port Elizabeth. Radisson Blu Hotel, Port Elizabeth. (B/D)

Day 8 Thursday Port Elizabeth – Johannesburg & Pretoria

This morning, catch a flight to Johannesburg, the economic hub of South Africa and its largest city. Drive to Pretoria, the administrative capital of SA (one of three capitals) and visit the Union Buildings. These form the official seat of the South African government and house the offices of the President. Enjoy a historic tour of Pretoria and visit Paul Kruger house – home of the South African Republic’s President from 1883 to 1900. Next, visit the Sammy Marks Museum, dedicated to the entrepreneurial son of Jewish immigrants who gained a truly close friendship with President Kruger. You will also see the impressive Voortrekker Monument, commemorating Afrikaaner pioneer history. En route back to Johannesburg, enjoy a lecture on Jewish life in Gauteng and Mpumalanaga. In the evening, Dinner will take place at Mandela Square, Johannesburg’s shopping hub. Radisson Blu Hotel, Sandton. (B/D)

Day 9 Friday Johannesburg – Departure

This morning, visit the Apartheid Museum, illustrating the rise and fall of South Africa’s era of oppressive segregation. Next, embark on a half-day “township tour” of Soweto (South Western Townships) – now considered part of Johannesburg. Visit Vilakazi Street, which boasts the house of Nobel Laureate Nelson Mandela. Vilakazi Street has become notably vibrant and popular, a stark contrast to its grim Apartheid days. Then, see the Hector Pieterson Memorial in Soweto. Enjoy a lecture on the infamous days of Apartheid and those who fought against it, such as Hector Pieterson (during the 1976 Soweto Uprising). Lunch, followed by time at leisure. Lastly, on to the airport for the journey back to the US. (Or if you continue on the Safari package, overnight at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Sandton). (B/L)

Optional Extension to Kruger National Park and the Kapama Private Reserve

Day 10 saturday johannesburg – kruger (hazyview).

Today, journey to Mpumalanga, one of South Africa’s nine provinces, and home to both the justifiably famous Kruger National Park and Blyde River Canyon. “Mpumalanga,” in several languages (including Swazi, Zulu, isiXhosa, and Ndebele), means “Place of the Rising Sun.” En route, stop at a Ndebele village, and view the uniquely colorful arts of the local tribe. Next, travel to Middelburg and visit the Old Synagogue, now defunct, and gain insight into the town’s past. En route, stop at Dullstroom (one of the coldest villages in South Africa), and continue to Hazyview, near Kruger. After Lunch, continue to the remarkably wonderful Jane Goodall Institute for Chimpanzees – the first and only chimpanzee sanctuary in South Africa. Afterwards, continue to the resort in Hazyview. Sanbonani Resort Hotel & Spa. (B/L)

Day 11 Sunday Kruger National Park

Kruger National Park is one of Africa’s largest game reserves – roughly the size of the whole of Israel or the state of New Jersey. It boasts an extremely high density of animals, including the “BIG FIVE” — Lions, Leopards, Elephants, Rhinos, and Buffaloes — as well as species such as zebras, giraffes, and antelopes. In fact, the Kruger has 147 game species in all, more than any other African reserve. Today, a Ranger will take the group in an open-top safari vehicle for game viewing and park exploration, stopping for Lunch and shopping in one of the main rest camps in the park. Return to the hotel in the evening to savor your impressions of this natural paradise. Sanbonani Resort Hotel & Spa. (B/L)

Day 12 Monday Kruger National Park – Private Safari

This morning, embark towards Hoedspruit, in the Limpopo province, with a stop at Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre. The Centre focuses on the conservation of rare, vulnerable, and endangered animals, and is notably involved in their rehabilitation. Continue to a private luxury Game Reserve for a warm welcome and Lunch. Next, revel in an afternoon Safari Game Drive — and try to locate all the animals that were not spotted in the Kruger National Park. Lastly, enjoy a buffet Dinner, followed by leisure time to enjoy the facilities. Kapama River Lodge. (B/L/D)

Day 13 Tuesday Private Safari

This entire day will be spent on private Safari, soaking in the ambience of Africa. Enjoy two Game Drives, as well as the optional spa and facilities. Lunch and Supper will be served. Kapama River Lodge. (B/L/D)

Day 14 Wednesday Kapama – Johannesburg – Home Flights

Today, rise early for a thrilling morning Safari Game Drive, followed by Breakfast at the reserve. Then, journey back to Johannesburg, with a few stops along the Panorama Route as well as Blyde River Canyon. Blyde (meaning “happiness” in Afrikaans) is the third largest canyon in the world. Unlike the others, this canyon has lush vegetation and wildlife. The Panorama Route appropriately leads through the gorgeous Northern Drakensberg Mountain range. It is part of the greater escapement: the inland plateau declines steeply and opens to fantastic views of the Lowveld. Stop at the Three Rondawels, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, and the perfectly named God’s Window for spectacular views, also enjoying the sight and sound of waterfalls. Then, head to the airport, with a stop for Lunch en route and another to view the Old Synagogue in Witbank. In the evening, check-in for the home flights. (B/L)

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Take a journey back to the early roots of the South African Jewish community with interactive displays, audio-visual presentations and rare and fascinating artefacts. Marvel at the modern architecture of the museum itself, the contents of which mirror the fusion between the past and present. Take note of the museum’s notable drawbridge feature, connecting the Old Synagogue to the new museum building, which symbolises a ship’s gangway along which immigrants would have been expected to walk. Don’t miss an opportunity to view the world’s finest collections of Netsuke – carved, miniature Japanese sculptures originating from the 17th Century. After an informative afternoon, enjoy a break at the museum’s Café Riteve restaurant.

88 Hatfield Street, Gardens

10h00 - 17h00 (14h00 on Fridays)

Sunday - Friday. - this ticket is valid for single entry for 14 days after the chosen date Closed Friday after 14h00 and Saturdays Closed on Jewish Holidays

Please bring photo ID with you Discover the early roots of the vibrant South African Jewish community in this historical building, visit the Cape Town Holocaust Centre on the first floor and watch the emotional documentary “Nelson Mandela: A Righteous Man”.

Visit the SA Jewish Museum and Holocaust center

• Historical building of Cape Town
• Hosts different exhibitions
• Cape Town Holocaust Centre emotional experience
• Includes Nelson Mandela: A Righteous Man documentary viewing

Founded by Mendel Kaplan, the South African Jewish Museum was officially opened by former president Nelson Mandela in 2000. Though still relatively new, the museum has deep historic roots including the distinction of being housed in South Africa’s first synagogue, built in 1863. The museum is intended to be a dutiful record of the history of South Africa’s Jewish community. This includes the community’s historical roots in Lithuania and elsewhere, its instrumental role in the evolution of South African democracy and noteworthy contributions to contemporary society.

Practical information

• Photo ID required for all visitors

+27 21 511 6000 [email protected]

36 Auckland Street, Paarden Eiland, Cape Town, 7420

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• Western Cape

South African Jewish Museum

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Table of Contents

Introduction

Cape Town, the mother city of South Africa, is home to a diverse range of cultures and religions. Amongst them, the Jewish community has played an integral part in the city’s history, contributing to its social, economic, and cultural fabric. The South African Jewish Museum , located in the heart of Cape Town, is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in learning about the rich history and heritage of the Jewish community in South Africa.

About the Museum

The South African Jewish Museum is located in the historic precinct of the Company’s Garden, adjacent to the Great Synagogue, the oldest surviving synagogue in South Africa. The museum occupies the former synagogue complex, which was built in 1905 and has been beautifully restored to its original grandeur.

The museum’s permanent exhibition, “The Jewish Experience in South Africa,” tells the story of the Jewish community in South Africa, from its early beginnings to the present day, through a series of interactive displays, audio-visual presentations, and artefacts.

Interesting Facts

• The museum’s collection includes a Torah scroll that survived the Holocaust, donated to the museum by a survivor who settled in South Africa.
• The synagogue complex that houses the museum is a national monument and has been declared a Provincial Heritage Site.
• The museum has a beautiful rooftop garden with panoramic views of Table Mountain, Lion’s Head, and the city skyline. It’s the perfect spot to relax and reflect after exploring the museum’s exhibitions.
• Tickets for the museum can be purchased online:  Buy Tickets Online

Physical Location

The South African Jewish Museum is a must-visit destination for anyone interested in the history and culture of Cape Town’s Jewish community. The museum offers visitors a fascinating glimpse into the community’s unique history, from its arrival in South Africa to its contributions to the country’s social, economic, and cultural development. With its beautiful architecture and interactive displays the museum is a truly unforgettable experience that will leave a lasting impression on visitors.

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Visit South African Jewish Museum

Learn about the history of South Africa’s Jewish community as you browse the historical artifacts, interactive displays and presentations at the South African Jewish Museum.

Cape Town has the oldest Jewish community in sub-Saharan Africa. Learn about the country’s first Jewish settlers who arrived in the early 19th century. These settlers were English and German Jews who came here to trade.

The city's first synagogue, erected in 1862, serves as the entrance to the museum. Once inside, view the collection of Jewish ceremonial artifacts. Then cross the drawbridge to the main museum building. The walkway is meant to represent ship gangplanks that immigrants would have walked down on arriving in the country.

Read information panels and watch touch-screen presentations that cover such topics as anti-Semitism and how Jewish immigrants established themselves in the country. One of the touch-screen kiosks provides details on prominent Jewish people who have contributed to South African society, including the actress Janet Suzman.

Walk through the life-size re-creation of a shtetl. A shtetl is a typical Eastern European village from where many of South Africa's first Jewish settlers would have come. See the replica of a smous cart that would have been used by peddlers to transport their wares.

The museum is also home to a Japanese miniature art collection. Peruse miniature ceremonial carvings in ivory and wood that were worn by rich merchants. The items date from the 17th to the 19th centuries, and more than 200 are on display. View another touch-screen presentation to see photographs of each piece and learn about its history.

The museum is located in the center of Cape Town in an area known as Museum Mile for the concentration of museums. Catch public transportation to the area or drive and use the parking, available for a fee, about a block from the museum.

The South African Jewish Museum is open every day except Saturdays and Jewish holidays. Admission charges apply with discounts for seniors. Children under the age of 12 can enter for free. Bring photo ID with you.

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South African Jewish Museum

88 Hatfield Street, Gardens, Cape Town, South Africa

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The museum is closed Saturdays and Jewish Holidays.

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A moving tribute and detailed account of one of the great Jewish communities of the diaspora, the South African Jewish Museum is one of Cape Town’s not-to-be missed heritage experiences.

Situated in the midst of arguably the most interesting and historic urban square miles in the country, and on a campus that includes SA’s first, oldest and surely grandest synagogue, the South African Jewish Museum is nevertheless a marvel of modern architecture, and one whose contents mirror this fusion of the old world and the new.

Its sleek, gleaming interiors house a range of interactive displays, audio-visual presentations and rare and fascinating artefacts, taking visitors on a journey back to South African Jewry’s early roots, and painting a portrait of a community who were extraordinarily influential in the building of South Africa as we know it, and who continue to thrive and impact society at every level.

The museum also looks back fondly at the origins of SA Jewry hailing from Eastern Europe and elsewhere (and featuring a wonderful recreation of shtetl life) and traces the cultural history of Jews, Jewish life and Judaism in general.

As an added attraction, the museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Netsuke (Japanese miniature art).

A thrilling combination of the old and new, the historic and the contemporary, the religious and the worldly, the South African Jewish Museum is a fitting tribute to a community who have been and continue to be at the epicentre of South Africa’s economic, political and cultural narrative.

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Education outreach programme.

The SAJM Education Outreach Programme is designed to support the Grades 5- 6 Life Skills, and Grades 7 Life Orientation Curricula and provide learners with an opportunity to develop life skills and...

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THE SOUTH AFRICAN JEWISH MUSEUM

Discovering the story of one of the great communities of the Jewish diaspora is one of Cape Town’s not-to-be missed heritage experiences.

Situated on perhaps the most historic urban square mile in the country and built as an extension of South Africa’s oldest synagogue, the South African Jewish Museum is a marvel of modern architecture whose contents mirror this fusion of the old world and the new.

Its gleaming interiors house a range of interactive displays, audio-visual presentations and fascinating artefacts, taking visitors on a journey back to South African Jewry’s early roots in Eastern Europe and elsewhere. Featuring a life-sized recreation of a shtetl, the museum traces es the cultural history of Jews, Jewish life and Judaism in general.

As an added attraction, the museum is home to one of the world’s finest collections of Netsuke (Japanese miniature art).

A thrilling combination of the historic and the contemporary, the South African Jewish Museum pays tribute to a community that was extraordinarily influential in developing South Africa as we know it, and that continues to impact South Africa’s economic, political and cultural narrative.

Railway museum in Zambia offers a clue to the…

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Railway museum in zambia offers a clue to the african country’s rich jewish history.

There’s no doubt railways were key to the development of landlocked Zambia. But Jews?

“A tiny population influential beyond its numbers,” is how Oxford historian Hugh Macmillan described this community, which at its postwar peak numbered no more than 1,200.

“Jews have played an important part in Zambian history, especially in commercial business but also in the country’s political and intellectual life,” said Macmillan, co-author of the 1999 book “Zion in Africa: The Jews of Zambia.”

Today, there are almost no Jews living in Zambia, a nation of about 20 million in central Africa. But the influence of their historic presence is continuing to shape the developing nation, particularly as it builds up its medical infrastructure.

European Jews first came to the country in the late 19th century, when it was still known as Northern Rhodesia. Most were from Eastern Europe’s “Pale of Settlement” — poor Yiddish-speaking emigrants seeking a better life. They started off as peddlers, traders and shopkeepers. Over the next few decades, they diversified into farming, cattle ranching, timber and mining.

In the 1920s, about 100 Jews lived in the country, nearly half of them in Livingstone, then the capital city. The second wave of Jewish immigration occurred in the late 1930s, when some 300 Jews from Germany and Austria — along with others from Latvia, Lithuania and the Greek island of Rhodes — received visas from the British colonial regime. Many more, fleeing Nazi persecution, were denied entry.

As Zambia developed its copper mines in the north, the Jewish population swelled; communities began popping up in the “Copperbelt” towns of Kitwe, Ndola, Mufulira and the new capital, Lusaka. Each of these towns had its own synagogue, celebrated religious holidays and had a Jewish cemetery.

“We were a small but very cohesive community,” said Aviva Ron, 81, who grew up in Ndola. Her father, Hanania Elkaim, came to Northern Rhodesia from pre-state Palestine and was in the construction business.

“We had services every Friday night. Bar mitzvahs were prepared by a ba’al tefilah and the mohel was the local dentist,” added Ron, who moved to Israel in 1960, where she studied public health before becoming a senior official in the World Health Organization.

In the early 1960s, when Zambia remained a British colony, there were about 300 Jews living in the Copperbelt region. After independence in 1964, the country’s new leader declared that only native Zambians could acquire work permits, forbidding foreigners to work in positions that Zambians could fill. Many Jews left.

By 2001, after decades of disease and war that plunged the region into poverty and disorder, the Jewish population in the region had dropped precipitously. Among those who remained were Dennis and Maureen Figov, shopkeepers who operated an auction house and general store that Dennis Figov’s father opened in 1936.

“Zambia is my home. I have been here since I was two weeks old, and I love it here,” Dennis Figov, who served a stint as mayor of Luanshya in the 1960s, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency at the time. He died in 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa, where the couple moved in retirement.

Among the most prominent Zambian Jews were brothers Elie and Harry Susman, who started out as cattle traders and later became major figures in transportation, retail and mining industries; economist Stanley Fischer, who became chairman of the Bank of Israel; and Ron’s brother Michael A. Elkaim, a supreme court justice in Australia.

Unlike the other white Zambians (mainly British colonials) or in neighboring South Africa, the Jews of Zambia had open and equitable relations with Africans, Ron said. “We weren’t like the South African Jews who had nannies and houseboys,” she added. “We weren’t raised like that. When my father’s Indian and Black workers came to the house, they waited in the living room, not the back steps. Their children were my friends.”

There was antisemitism but mostly of a social kind, she explained. “Jews were not admitted to the tennis or golf clubs, so my father built his own tennis court, where he played with an Indian friend.”

According to historian Macmillan, “Jews and Africans were both the objects of differing degrees of racism. It was endemic among white settlers in southern Africa … They were seen as occupying an intermediate space between ‘whites’ and ‘Africans,’” he writes in “Zion in Africa.” “There was fear that Jews in the frontier might become too familiar with Africans and undermine the deference toward whites, which was seen as essential to their security.”

Indeed, many Jewish traders did connect directly with the tribal leaders in trade and commerce, bypassing the British colonial administrators.

One notable Jew, Simon Zukas, played a key role in Zambia’s struggle for independence in the 1950s. For that, he was exiled by the colonial government. After independence, Zukas went on to become a government minister. On his death, in October 2021, age 96, the government declared a day of national mourning.

Today, Zambia is home to only about 11 Jews, not counting those staying temporarily.

The Council of Zambian Jewry accumulated $2 million — proceeds from the sale of community properties and investments. In 2014 it donated half to establish a medical school at the Copperbelt University in Ndola. The remainder went to Tel Aviv University School of Medicine, earmarked for collaboration with the Ndola university, including visits by health experts and student exchanges. The first building of the Zambian medical school is named after the Hebrew community.

“It was payback time,” said Ron, whose career in public health drew her back yearly to Zambia, along with visiting her family. Together with the late community leader Michael Cecil Galaun, they were driving forces in establishing the medical collaboration.

The Livingstone museum was established with donations from David Susman, a descendant of the Jewish pioneers, and others from the community. Its panels and glass cases highlight the 130-year history of Zambian Jews, with text, photos, letters and Jewish ritual objects. Zambia’s Ministry of Education includes Jewish heritage in its curriculum, with schools bringing students to the museum. Located on the grounds of the Railway Museum, it is administered by the city.

Walking tours of “Jewish Livingstone” also can be arranged with a local historian and volunteer, Peter Jones.

Overseeing the heritage and needs of Zambia’s Jews — as well as those in eight other southern African countries — is Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft of the African Jewish Congress. Known as the “traveling rabbi,” the Johannesburg-based Silberhaft visits Zambia, bringing kosher products and matzah during Passover, officiating at lifecycle events like bar mitzvahs, weddings and funerals, and, crucially, making sure Jewish gravestones and cemeteries are maintained.

“Our mission is to respect and record the contributions of once-proud, vibrant Jewish communities in southern Africa,” he said, noting that Jews lived in nearly 1,500 towns over a 130-year period. “Many have streets with Jewish names of people who made positive contributions. We are here to support the few Jews that are left, and preserve the memory of those who once lived here.”

To read more content visit www.jta.org

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Celebrate Juneteenth at these Maine events

The holiday is Wednesday, but events start this weekend and run through the end of the month.

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Westbrook Middle School students Bella Zollarcoffer, Priscila Nzolameso and Sarikong Oak held tables educating and informing the community on Black hair history at Westbrook’s Juneteenth celebration last year. Cullen McIntyre/Staff Photographer

Juneteenth, which became both a federal and state holiday in 2021 , celebrates the anniversary of federal troops’ arrival in Galveston, Texas, on June 19, 1865, to ensure all enslaved people had been freed. This year, the holiday falls on Wednesday, but celebrations are happening over the next two weeks.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. –  Indigo Arts Alliance presents The Welcome Table, an intergenerational symposium celebrating global cultural and culinary histories. Activities include art, movement and meditation workshops led by activists and cultural workers. 60 Cove St., Portland.  indigoartsalliance.me

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. –  Victoria Mansion is hosting a community day with free admission and a recitation of the Emancipation Proclamation by local actors. 109 Danforth St. Portland.  victoriamansion.org

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. –  Space and the Tate House Museum are putting on a Juneteenth community day with free admission and tours of Ashley Page’s “Imagining Freedom” exhibit at the museum. The historical art piece puts viewers into the shoes of an enslaved woman named Bet. 1267 Westbrook St., Portland.  space538.org Advertisement

1-6:30 p.m. –  The first event of “The City that Carries Us: Pain, Streets, and Heartbeats” will take place at the Public Theatre in Lewiston. The celebration will have a parade and a block party with performances, as well as scheduled activities and rituals throughout the day. It is hosted by the organization Maine Inside Out. 31 Maple St., Lewiston, maineinsideout.org

2-3 p.m. –  Through “Poems of Reckoning and Resilience,” the Portland Museum of Art and Maine Writers and Publishers Alliance seek to honor the legacy of Black Americans. Featured poet Nathan McClain will join local poets in the Great Hall at the museum to celebrate Black liberation and creativity. The museum is also offering free admission Saturday through Monday, in celebration of both Juneteenth and Pride Month. 7 Congress Square, Portland.  mainewriters.org

11:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. –  The fifth annual Juneteenth Celebration on House Island in Casco Bay will focus on Black joy, as well as nature, health and economic opportunity. Guests can stay for one or two days, and partake in activities like camping, hiking, yoga and games, all led by BIPOC leaders. Fortland, House Island, Portland.  eventbrite.com

4:30-7 p.m. –  The Community Organizing Alliance is putting on an event with speakers, live performances, poetry readings, a voter registration drive and catering by Bab’s Table. There will also be opportunities to get involved in the racial justice movement. The Atrium at Bates Mill, 36 Chestnut St., Lewiston.  eventbrite.com

1-3 p.m. –  Riverbank Park in Westbrook will host a community event with art, poetry, music and guest speakers. There will also be a barbecue picnic, a student fashion show, hair braiding, pick-up soccer and more activities sponsored by the city. 667 Main St., Westbrook.  On Facebook.

7-8 p.m. –  The Portland Yoga Project is putting on a class called “Liberated Breath: A Juneteenth Yoga Experience” that seeks to reflect on the holiday through yoga. The class is free for BIPOC community members and is sponsored by the Portland Public Library. 7 Bedford St., Portland, allevents.in

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