Recording the history of the Zimbabwe and Zambian Jewish Communities
This web site aims to celebrate over 150 years of Jewish Communities and presence in Zimbabwe and Zambia and help record the history and details of a unique period for the benefit of both current and future generations. From a peak of some 8,500 Jews in the early 1970s – the total Zimbabwe and Zambian Jewish community in 2022 is less than 100 souls (from 200 in 2008). This is the story of once vibrant communities that settled for many different reasons in what was originally Rhodesia – later to become Southern Rhodesia and then Zimbabwe as well as Northern Rhodesia – later to become Zambia. Time however, is of the essence as the numbers of those that can “tell the story” and the remaining community dwindle.
There is a LOT of material on this website – remember to use the SEARCH bar at the top of each page or the specific search bar for e.g. cemetery records. For mobile phones and tablets you can find the SEARCH bar under the HOME menu above.
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April 22 2025 – new update to page on the history of the Livingstone Jewish Community.
Feb 15 2025 – a new page on the LEMBA in Zimbabwe and their Jewish connection.
Nov 12th 2024 – watch an online presentation entitled the Life and Times of the Zimbabwe and Zambian Jewish Communities.
Aug 2024 – new images of graves from the Bulawayo Cemetery from 2011-2024.
July 19th 2024 – read about the Mwendo projects in Zambia and the launch of a new water facility at Kalinda village, now called the John Eliasov Memorial Project.
July 11th 2004 – Pioneer St Jewish cemetery pages reformatted for easier viewing and location of headstones.
June 29th 2024 – new page with records of Northern Rhodesian (Zambian) community events.
June 17th 2024 – a new page of archive photos
To see full history of updates
The past is not the property of historians; it is a public possession. It belongs to anyone who is aware of it, and it grows by being shared.
— William J. Murtagh —
