Igbo Jews to host leading American Jew

The Igbo Jewish community in Abuja will be playing host to a renowned American Jew, teacher and writer, Mr. Shai Afsai, billed to arrive Abuja today as part of efforts to connect the group with their counterparts in the United States and Israel.

The spokesman of Gihon Hebrew Synagogue, Abuja, Prince Azuka Ogbukaa (Pinchas) said in statement yesterday from the Israeli Embassy stated that for about 5,000 Igbos in Abuja practicing Judaism, their main concern is how to be part of the wider Jewish world, hence the invitation of Mr. Afsai from the Rhode Island in the United States.

According to him, the main purpose of Mr. Afsai’s visit is to put together an exhibition about the Jews of Abuja which will enable him tell their story to the other Jews in America and other parts of the world through “word and images”.

He further added that during the five-day visit, Mr. Afsai will lay the ground work for the visit in August of Rabbi Dolinger and his wife to Abuja as part of efforts at solidifying the connection between the two Jewish communities.

The four main Jewish communities in Abuja include Gihon Jewish Synagogue (Elder Ovadiah Agbai); Plant for the Growth of Israel Synagogue, (Barrister Remy Ilona); ObgI (Igbo Israel Foundation Synagogue (Dr. Michael Ikechukwu Caliban) and Tikvat Israel Synagogue, (Habakkuk Nwafor). In September last year, in order to foster synergy between the two communities, two of the Igbo Jewish leaders, Azuka Ogbukaa (Pinchas) and Elder Ovadiah Agbai visited Providence in the United at the invitation of Mr. Afsai.