Chabad emissaries continue half century of Judaism in central Africa

Fifty-five years ago, the Lubavitcher Rebbe sent a shaliach to Zambia (formerly Northern Rhodesia), long before emissaries were sent to most other countries. At the time, in 1968, the once thriving community was dwindling, but the Rebbe still saw it as an important centre of Jewish life. Now, the Jewish presence in Zambia might be smaller, but it’s about to be boosted by a new Chabad House established by Chabad shluchim Rabbi Mendy and Rivky Hertzel.

Rabbi Mendy, as he prefers to be called, hails from the Golan Heights, and his wife comes from Alaska. Both were raised in Chabad families, establishing centres of Judaism in these places. Now, they plan to continue this legacy in Africa.

And although it’s a long way from the wilderness of Alaska and the majesty of the Golan Heights, they feel totally at home thanks to the warm welcome they have received from locals, travellers, and the nearby South African Jewish community. What’s more, they feel blessed to be close to one of the seven wonders of the world, Victoria Falls.

“Becoming representatives of the Rebbe has been a lifelong dream for both of us. As we looked to put down roots and establish our home, we searched for a place where we could use our skills and talents to contribute to those around us,” says Rabbi Mendy. “Staying in our own corners would be too boring, so we’ve spread our wings farther out. After visiting for a couple of months in Zambia and celebrating the holidays with the most incredibly warm and inviting community, we decided to make Lusaka our home, extending the warm embrace of the Rebbe’s love and care for all of humanity in yet another country. We’re thrilled to be joining the frontline of this unique “Jewish peace corps” to make this world a kinder, gentler, more moral place.”

According to the rabbi, the Rebbe sent Rabbi Shlomo Bentolila to the Democratic Republic of the Congo 30 years ago, who in turn has supported Jews in central Africa countries. Once those communities became more established, he often sent a couple to live there. And so, Chabad has a presence in Nigeria, Ghana, Ivory Coast, Uganda, Kenya, Tanzania, and many other central African states. In addition, tourists were pleading for a Chabad House in Zambia. When Rabbi Bentolila’s wife, Myriam, passed away in 2021 at the age of 52, he said that the new Chabad in Zambia would be established in her memory.

“So that’s how we came to do this,” says Rabbi Mendy. “We’re the eleventh branch of Chabad of Central Africa. We see this as a great beginning.”

Many Jews came to Zambia to seek prosperity. Some of the first Jews in Zambia were prominent in the cattle and copper mining industries. Livingstone already had a permanent Jewish congregation by 1905. Later on, many Zambian Jews achieved success in ranching and in the iron industry. One hundred and ten Jews lived in Zambia (with a majority of them living in Livingstone and Lusaka) in 1921, and this population increased over the next couple of decades.

Some Jewish refugees came to Zambia before and after the Holocaust, with the Jewish population of Zambia peaking at about 1 200 in the mid-1950s. Many Jews immigrated to other countries in the 1960s, with only 600 Jews remaining in Zambia in 1968. It was that year that the Rebbe sent an emissary to the country. Jews were active and prominent in Zambian politics, particularly Simon Zukas, who played a key role in Zambia’s struggle for independence from Britain in the 1950s and went on to be a government minister after independence.

Last year, the Hertzels spent three months living in Zambia and visited the South African Jewish community during that period, where they were amazed to be “welcomed so warmly”. They are in the process of moving to Lusaka.

On their visit to Zambia over the high holidays last year, they already got down to work, organising Shabbat services, high holiday services, minyanim, meals, and kids programmes. They are working to establish a library and provide reading material for Jews in the country. They will focus on tourists in particular, including many Israelis, providing everything from kosher food to Shabbat services to Jewish culture, to children’s programmes. In addition, they hope to open a restaurant for tourists. “We’ve had a very positive response so far,” Rabbi Mendy says.

“Our goal is to be a beacon of light not only for the Jewish community, but through Jewish community, Jewish tradition, and Torah, and spread light through the entire country,” he says. They envision humanitarian work supporting locals, and they hope the community will grow.”

They are delighted that they have everything they need, from electricity to WiFi to an abundance of kosher food, which comes from South Africa. “We feel blessed that this kosher food comes to us and many other Africa countries. We don’t feel a big difference living here [compared to our former homes].”

Rabbi Mendy sees the South African Jewish community as a strong base, not only for the supply of kosher food, but for other aspects of Jewish life. “We’ll visit a lot and hope to be part of the Jewish community in South Africa. There has always been a strong connection between the Jewish communities of the two countries, and we hope it will continue.”

He thanked the South African Jewish community for its “practical and emotional support”. “Our mission is important not only for Jewish people in Zambia, but the whole Jewish community of Africa,” he says.

Jews have an important and deep connection to Zambia, Rabbi Mendy says, and continue to have “a warm relationship with this place”, noting the vital role Jews played in the establishment of the country, its economy, and its independence. Looking back, “we can see how important this Jewish community was to the Rebbe. We’re excited to continue his mission in Africa,” he says.

Spiritual leader and chief executive of the African Jewish Congress, Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, says his organisation will continue to support the established Zambian Jewish community, while the new rabbinical couple will focus on the many Israelis flooding into Africa as well as tourists.

“We welcome another Chabad in Africa,” says Silberhaft. “The historic Zambian community goes back more than 120 years and continues to fall under the work of the African Jewish Congress. We look forward to a good working relationship with Chabad in the future.”