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The Nigerians who want Israel to accept them as Jews


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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-58917825

The Nigerians who want Israel to accept them as Jews

By Nduka Orjinmo
BBC News, Abuja

Published
9 hours ago
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A Nigerian Jewish manIMAGE SOURCE,IRUMS
Image caption,Shlomo Ben Yaakov wants to become Nigeria's first rabbi

Rocking back and forth, Shlomo Ben Yaakov reads from a Torah scroll at a synagogue on the outskirts of Nigeria's capital, Abuja.

Intermittently his soft mellow voice rises in Hebrew and he is joined by the dozens who recite after him.

Most do not fully understand the language, but this small Nigerian community claims Jewish ancestry dating back hundreds of years - and they are left frustrated by a lack of recognition by Israel.

"I consider myself a Jew," says Mr Yaakov.

Outside the Gihon Hebrew Synagogue in the suburb of Jikwoyi a table is laid inside a tent built from palm leaves to celebrate Sukkot, a festival that commemorates the years Jews spent in the desert on their way to the Promised Land.

"Just as we are doing this now, they are doing same in Israel," says Mr Yaakov, as people share traditional cholla bread (baked at the synagogue) and wine from small cups being passed around.

He is an Igbo - one of Nigeria's three dominant ethnic groups which originates in the south-east of the country. His given Igbo name is Nnaemezuo Maduako.

Jewish womenIMAGE SOURCE,IRUMS
Image caption,Unlike their parents, most of Nigeria's young Jews have known no other religion

Many Igbos believe they have Jewish heritage as one of the so-called 10 lost tribes of Israel, though most are not practising Jews like Mr Yaakov. They comprise less than 0.1% of the estimated 35 million Igbos.

These tribes were said to have disappeared after being taken into captivity when the northern Israelite kingdom was conquered in the 8th Century BC - and the Ethiopian Jewish community, for example, is recognised as one of them.

Igbo customs such as male circumcision, mourning the dead for seven days, celebrating the new moon and conducting wedding ceremonies under a canopy have reinforced this belief about their Jewish heritage.

'No proof'

But Chidi Ugwu, an Igbo who is an anthropologist at the University of Nigeria in Enugu, says this identification with Judaism emerged only after the Biafran civil war.

The Igbos had been fighting for secession from Nigeria, but lost what was a brutal conflict between 1967-1970.

Group of armed Biafran soldiers seen during the Biafran conflict - 11 June 1968IMAGE SOURCE,GETTY IMAGES
Image caption,Some say the belief that Igbos have Jewish heritage emerged after their defeat in the civil war in which more than one million died

Some people "were looking for some psychological boost to hang on to" so began to make the Jewish connection, he says.

They saw themselves as persecuted people, much as Jewish people have been through history, especially during the Holocaust.

"It is insulting to call the Igbos the lost tribe of anybody, there is no historical or archaeological evidence to back that up," he told the BBC.

He argues that as evidence suggests the Igbos were among those who migrated out of Egypt several thousand years ago, it may be that Jews picked up Igbo customs when they went there.

Several years ago controversial efforts were made to prove a genetic lineage, but a DNA test found no Jewish connection.

Rabbi Eliezer Simcha Weisz, chairman of the foreign affairs department of the Rabbinate Council of Israel - the body that determines claims of Jewish ancestry, is also in no doubt.

"They claim to be one of the descendants of Gad, one of the sons of our forefather Jacob - but they can't prove their grandparents were Jewish," he told the BBC.

"And the customs they speak of, you can find people all over the world who have Jewish practices."

He said unless the Nigerian Jews converted to Judaism - a process that entails various rituals and appearing before a Jewish court (which is unavailable in Nigeria) - they would not be recognised.

Mr Yaakov regards the idea of having to go through a conversion as an insult.

"As a convert we would be seen as second-class citizens," he says.

Secessionist surge

The congregants at Gihon take their beliefs seriously - and they and Nigeria's estimated 12,000-strong community of practising Jews - are supported by some other Orthodox Jewish groups around the world, which donate to them, make solidarity visits and campaign for their recognition.

One prominent supporter is Dani Limor, a former Mossad agent who once ran an operation to secretly take Ethiopian Jews to Israel via Sudan. He has been visiting the Jewish communities in Nigeria since the 1980s and argues that Jewish practice in the West African nation predates the civil war.

Men wearing Jewish-style clothesIMAGE SOURCE,IRUMS
Image caption,An estimated 12,000 Nigerians consider themselves to be Jewish

He believes in a school of thought that says they came from Morocco 500 years ago, first settling in Timbuktu before travelling further south - and he hopes they will eventually get the recognition they deserve.

"Judaism goes beyond the colour of the skin, it is in the heart," he told the BBC.

Gihon synagogue, said to be the oldest in Nigeria, was founded in the 1980s by Ovadai Avichai and two others who had been raised as Christians.

The friends decided to turn to Judaism when they realised the Bible's Old Testament was the foundation of the Jewish religion.

He said it was like the Jew in him had been rekindled - and given the similarities between Jewish customs and Igbo traditions he was convinced that Judaism was the true path.

Nnamdi KanuIMAGE SOURCE,AFP
Image caption,Many Nigerian Jews see Nnamdi Kanu's Judaism as politically calculated to win sympathy abroad for his separatist cause

Abuja's Gihon synagogue now has a mixture of different ethnic groups among the more than 40 families who attend.

In the last few years the number of those worshipping as Jews in southern Nigeria has increased sharply, says the BBC's Chiagozie Nwonwu, an expert on the region.

This is largely thanks to the Indigenous People of Biafra (Ipob), a group which restarted the Igbo campaign for secession in 2014.

It is led by Nnamdi Kanu, who has reminded his followers of their alleged Jewish heritage and encouraged them to embrace the faith. The charismatic leader was once purportedly pictured praying at the Western Wall in Jerusalem.

Ovadai Avichai
Irums
The first time Ipob emerged, I cried at the synagogue"
Ovadai Avichai
Gihon Hebrew Synagogue founder
1px transparent line

But his followers are not regarded as authentic Jews by Nigeria's more established communities as some combine elements of Judaism and Christianity in their worship most associated with Messianic Judaism.

Mr Kanu is now in detention facing trial for treason and Ipob, which has recently taken up arms, has been banned as a terrorist group.

"The first time Ipob emerged, I cried at the synagogue. I said: 'This young boy has come to cause problems for us because what he's doing is unnecessary,'" says Mr Avichai, a Biafra war veteran.

He fears the activities of Ipob threaten the peaceful worship of the 70 or so apolitical Jewish communities.

Map of Nigeria

This happened earlier this year when a Jewish community leader in the south-east was jailed for a month after her congregation received three visitors from Israel.

They had come to film the donation of a Torah scroll - often too expensive for local groups to purchase - but were suspected of having connections to Ipob and deported.

One worshipper at Gihon told me Mr Kanu had influenced his decision to join the synagogue - but the recent evolution of Ipob's campaign into an armed struggle went against the tenets of Judaism.

Mr Yaakov is not interested in the politics around being Jewish - for him it is the spiritual aspect that is important.

Official recognition by Israel of the fraction of Igbos like him as Jews would help the religious community become more organised in Nigeria. For example, at the moment there is no chief rabbi and finding kosher products can be a challenge. They are usually only sold in a few shops owned by Jewish expats - the community generally eats what is produced locally so they can follow Kosher rules.

Mr Yaakov would love to train to become the first Nigerian rabbi, something that can only be done by studying at a rabbinical school or under an experienced rabbi.

"For those of us who know our roots, we are confident of our identity," he says.

"If the Christians and Muslims can accept their own and support them, then I think the Jews should also show some encouragement."

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https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/50842424

Beitar Jerusalem: How do you change 'the most racist' club in Israel?

By Alex CapstickBBC Sport in Jerusalem

Last updated on20 December 201920 December 2019.From the sectionEuropean Football

Moshe Hogeg is a man on a mission. He's made millions as an entrepreneur in the technology sector, and in August last year he splashed out on a football club.

It wasn't any old club, it was Beitar Jerusalem, one of Israel's top sides but one which was best known for its anti-Arab, anti-Muslim bias and for its violent, racist supporters. The challenge he set himself was to turn it around, to change the club's narrative. The results have been startling.

Short presentational grey line

It's a Wednesday night at the Teddy Stadium, the ground sandwiched between a busy road and a shopping mall. This is home to Beitar Jerusalem, arguably the biggest club in Israel with historic political ties to the right-wing Likud Party, and one that has never signed an Israeli Arab player.

Its fans come from all corners of the country. They're traditionally working class and tonight, dressed in the team's yellow and black colours, they arrive for a midweek fixture against Hapoel Hadera.

Many of them have the words "La Familia" sewn on to their shirts. It shows they're members of the hardcore ultras. As at every home match, they fill the East stand. Nobody is sitting down. Before kick-off they join in with a passionate rendition of the Israeli national anthem. The chanting and the drumming are relentless. These supporters are famous for being fiercely loyal and raucous, but they also have a reputation for being menacing and racist.

Sections of the crowd would regularly scream 'Death to Arabs'; their banners read 'Forever Pure'. It was a huge problem which previous owners tried to address, but none has been as successful as Moshe Hogeg. His strategy from the outset was to confront the issue head on.

"I have zero tolerance for racism," he says. "Absolutely zero. And my reaction towards racism is not proportional. You shout one racist comment and I will sue you for a million dollars."

We met following a regulation 2-0 victory. Beitar are currently third in the league. Performances this season have improved, so too the once so toxic atmosphere inside the club's ground.

Hogeg, who nobody in Israeli football had heard of before he acquired Beitar, explains how he wants to make a difference and that doing it at a high-profile place like Beitar is good, not only for the club, but also for the state of Israel. And he's absolutely resolute.

A policeman examines the scene after a fire at Beitar in February 2013. Police said arsonists torched the club offices over the signing of two Muslim footballers from Chechnya A policeman examines the scene after a fire at Beitar in February 2013. Police said arsonists torched the club offices over the signing of two Muslim footballers from Chechnya.

It seems the vast majority of fans are right behind Hogeg's efforts to change the culture of the club, but there are those who are not. That is where the threat of court action comes in.

Individuals whose behaviour was viewed as discriminatory received letters accusing them of damaging the reputation of the club. Faced with potentially enormous pay-outs and the high legal costs needed to defend themselves, they backed down.

"I'm not trying to ruin anyone's life, I'm not trying to be their father and their mother, I'm not trying to educate them - it's not my job," Hogeg says. "But when you bring it to the stadium and you act in that way it reflects badly on all of the crowd and on our nation, so I can't take this."

His uncompromising approach appears to be working. There were two racism incidents last season, with none so far during the current campaign. Families and sponsors who were put off by the club's ugly image have returned. He believes suing personally is a tactic that clubs and governing bodies like Fifa and Uefa should adopt.

The dramatic shift at Beitar was illustrated in November when recent signing Ali Mohammed struck the ball into the back of the net, his first goal for the club. He's a Christian from Niger but a pre-season open day at the training ground was disrupted by fans who objected to his Muslim name. The joyous reaction when he scored was therefore not entirely expected and it's the high point of Hogeg's time at Beitar so far.

"It was the biggest moment for me when all of the crowd called his name," Hogeg says. "This is a huge moment for Beitar Jerusalem that a player by the name of Ali Mohammed scores a goal wearing the Mohammed name on his shirt, and all of the crowd cheer his name, it's a big win."

There is an abundance of optimism around Beitar Jerusalem, although not everyone is convinced it will last. The idea that La Familia's influence and control over the club has suddenly vanished is for some simply unrealistic. Yair Galily, a sociologist who founded the Sport, Media and Society Research Lab at the Sammy Ofer School of Communications, is cautious.

Two Chechen players are signed by Beitar Jerusalem Beitar's Chechen signings Gabriel Kadiev (left) and Zaur Sadayev (right) are presented to the media in 2013. Some fans responded violently to the arrival of two Muslim players.

"There's no doubt Moshe Hogeg has made a difference," Galily says. "But the fans at Beitar are unpredictable. It's like a ceasefire which is helped because the team are doing well."

But that could change. For many, the real test will come if or when an Israeli Arab joins the club. They are represented in the junior sides at Beitar but none has advanced to the first team. Moshe Hogeg offers no guarantees. In fact he makes the case that it would be a racist act to go out and buy an Arab simply to make a point, but he's certainly not afraid to take that leap, as long as the player is signed on merit.

"I don't care about a player's religion, I don't care about his colour. I care if he can help the team, if he's a good footballer. Whether it's going to happen or not, there's a lot of good Arab Israeli players and it could be that we will make an offer for one of them."

Hogeg claims he did approach an Israeli Arab in the summer but says the player turned them down because he was earning too much in Europe. The issue, though, is one that clearly has the potential to upset, even destroy the current harmony.

The memory of two Chechen Muslims who were brought to Beitar in 2013 remains fresh. It wasn't a success. Supporters made clear their displeasure, even walking out of a game after one of the Chechens scored.

Short presentational grey line

I meet Gal Karpel at an all-weather pitch attached to a school not far from the stadium. As dusk falls in one corner of the cage, a group of around 20 youngsters are playing a game of football. They are a mix of Arab and Jewish children from East and West Jerusalem. The project, which Gal helped organise, is called Team of Equals. There was initial resistance he tells me, mainly from the parents, but it's been going for five years now and is doing its bit to bridge the divide in this complicated city.

Gal also runs Kick It Out, part of the New Israel Fund, which promotes equality in all sectors of society. It's his job to monitor discrimination in Israeli football. He applauds the transformation which has taken place at Beitar but worries that introducing an Arab to the squad could be a step too far.

"I hope it will happen soon but it's one thing to convince them to stop chanting racist songs and I'm sure that some of them will not like it. When an Israeli Arab player comes to Beitar it will be the ultimate test and I'm afraid to say there is a good chance that Hogeg will lose that battle at the end.

"If he makes it, it will be huge. No-one believed it could be possible, now we believe that maybe we have a chance."

Gal Karpel's outlook is defined by the club's troubled history. Whenever members of La Familiar have made the decision to oppose Beitar's leadership things have quickly turned unpleasant. The abusive late-night texts and phone calls, the insults from hundreds of fans camped outside the owner's house, threatening to burn it down. All this has proved too much for previous occupants of Moshe Hogeg's position. His supporters hope that he has built up enough goodwill to help quell any dissent.

I had been warned that finding ultras from La Familia willing to talk to us would be tricky because they generally hate the press, whom they accuse of making the situation worse. I wanted to know whether they were now prepared to accept an Arab player.

Many congregating outside the stadium politely refused to answer. Of those that spoke, the replies were mixed. Some were enthusiastic about the prospect, saying it would show that Beitar had finally broken away from its dark past. Others were much less confident, predicting an angry reaction and even suggesting a Muslim would be too fearful to join.

Moshe Hogeg though is steadfast. He doesn't seem anywhere near ready to take a backward step. It's not his style.

"I've won before, I'm sure I'm going to win again and it will never stop me from doing something that I believe in," he says.

"I said what I think about racism and I think a lot of them understand. Some of them don't, but even the guys who don't understand, they know they need to leave it at home. If they come here they represent Beitar and if they are going to be racist I'm going to fight them as hard as I can."

Hogeg appears to be revelling in the challenge and his tough game plan has so far paid dividends. Beitar's image is evolving and while some might not like it, in Moshe Hogeg they face a tenacious single-minded opponent.

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