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.
Sept 3rd 2023 – a page of ZCJ community cookbooks added.
July 6th 2023 – a new page on Zvishavane (Shabani) including 7 Jewish graves
May 2nd 2023 – images from ZJC congresses in the 1980s and 1990s.
Feb 15th 2023 – list of Jewish businesses in Harare from FB thread.
Jan 31st 2023 – list of Jewish businesses in Bulawayo from FB thread.
Jan 26th 2023 – Commemoration of Rhodes/COS community
Jan 18th 2023- update to page on Livingstone with article on Jewish Wedding
Jan 10th 2023 – Page showing video clip of opening Samuel Leon Sephardi Hebrew School.
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 —
