Ghana
In the remote mountains of western Ghana, an extraordinary Jewish revival has been quietly flourishing for over two decades. The House of Israel community of Sefwi Wiawso represents one of Africa’s most remarkable stories of spiritual rediscovery, where ancient practices believed to be ancestral Jewish traditions have merged with modern Jewish observance. What began with a spiritual leader’s vision in the 1970s has grown into a vibrant community that bridges continents and centuries, supported by grassroots efforts and international partnerships that have helped transform a handful of believers into a thriving Jewish congregation.This community’s journey reflects the broader phenomenon of emerging Jewish communities worldwide—groups who discover or reclaim Jewish identity through a combination of ancestral memory, spiritual calling, and determined self-education.
Shabbat ritual items in a family home in Ghana, 2025
Community leader Aharon Armah with Kulanu Executive Director Molly Levine-2024
Location
Western Ghana’s
Denomination
Traditional Jewish practice
Community size
120-150
Languages
English, Twi, Sefwi
Kulanu Support Since
Early 2000s
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Ancestral Practices Rekindled
The Sefwi people’s connection to Judaism runs deeper than recent spiritual awakening. For centuries, they observed practices that remarkably parallel Jewish tradition: Saturday Sabbath observance, dietary restrictions, ritual purity laws, Jewish mourning customs, and circumcision of boys on the eighth day after birth. Community oral history speaks of ancestors who migrated south through Mali and the Ivory Coast, possibly from Timbuktu, carrying these ancient observances with them.
Community Life and Spiritual Practice
The heart of Ghana’s Jewish community beats in Sefwi Wiawso, a town of 1,500 people serving as capital of the sparsely populated district. Here, the Tifereth Israel Synagogue anchors a community compound of approximately 14 Jewish households, with additional families scattered throughout the region. The synagogue, complete with two Torah scrolls, serves nearly the entire community during Sabbath services, creating an intimate multigenerational worship experience.
Kulanu’s Transformative Partnership
Kulanu’s relationship with Ghana’s Jewish community exemplifies the organization’s most successful long-term partnerships. Beginning in the early 2000s, Kulanu has provided multifaceted support that has transformed the community’s capacity for Jewish practice and economic sustainability. The organization’s approach has emphasized both spiritual development and practical empowerment.