Pesach Celebrated Across Africa

Chabad-Lubavitch of Central Africa, under the leadership of Rabbi Shlomo Bentolila, in cooperation with Chabad- Lubavitch World Headquarters, dispatched more than a dozen groups of Rabbinical students to the Sub-Saharan African Region to help organize the traditional Passover Seder programs and enhance the spirit of the ‘Exodus’ amongst the Jewish residents, expatriates, dignitaries, and visiting businessmen throughout the region.

Community Seders were held in Kinshasa, Lubumbashi, DRC, Brazzaville, Pointe Noire in the Congo Republic, Lagos, Abuja, Nigeria, Windhoek, Namibia, Accra, Ghana, Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, Luanda, Angola, Freetown, Sierra Leone, Nairobi, Kenya and Dakar Senegal.

Jewish residents in Benin, Botswana, Burkino Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cote D’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Guinea, Liberia, Mali, Malawi, Rwanda, Sao Tome & Principe Islands, Somalia, South Sudan, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe in need of Matzah or looking to join and participate in one of the local programs were able to do so by contacting Chabad of Africa as well.

Jewish children across Central Africa participated in “hands-on” Model Matza Bakeries where they baked their very own hand made matzot and were introduced as well to many other Arts & Crafts and other educational programs surrounding the theme of Passover.

On a Moment’s Notice in Tanzania

For the past several years, Chabad of Central Africa has sent a group of Rabbinical students to the Zanzibar Island to conduct the Passover Seder. This year, on a last minute’s notice, they were notified that a group of 200 Israeli tourists are headed for the West of the Island. No Matzah, wine or kosher food was planned for them.

They were meant to be on a vacation to what people affectionately call “Paradise on earth.” After lots of preparation, it was arranged for two additional student Rabbis to fly Zanzi, loaded with Shmura Matzah, wine, and all necessary foods pertaining to make this Seder a memorable one. After a 12 hour flight via Cairo, because of the recent events in Yemen, the students reached Karafu Resort.

“When we got there, there still remained the daunting task of preparing the hotel’s kitchen and rendering it kosher for Passover,” one of the bochurim said. “To our great surprise, we were greeted with open hands and hearts by the management of the Tanzanian Hotel. They offered to buy all new pots and pans, glasses, dishes and cutlery for this special event…The Israelis were surprised but so very proud,” he said.

“As the sun set on the island, we saw tables set for the Seder, filled with men, women and children singing the ‘Ma Nishtana,’ drinking the wine, eating the Matza and enjoying the Exodus like never before,” another bochur said.

A comment heard from more than one of the guests that night expressed their appreciation. “Never did I dream that it would have been possible to organize so quickly such an event in the Karfu resort of West Tanzania!” one said.

A single mother who participated at the Seder confessed to the bochurim that she was moving to France and had enrolled her child in a Christian
School, as she held that it is extremely dangerous today to be recognized as being Jewish.

“We noticed that her daughter was very active in the Seder, and were glad that this Jewish experience will help this child remember her origins, and will surely eventually lead her to live a complete and proud Jewish life one day,” the bochurim said.

Lasting Effects from Namibia

An American girl who is living up north of Namibia and working in a small city with around 300 residents, flew in for the Seder held in Namibia.

She said it was the first time she has seen a Rabbi in 3 years, and asked a lot of questions regarding her life so far away, the Bochurim who flew in to organize it said.

During the Seder, she mentioned that while in Namibia, she had taken a new name, but after learning at the Seder that the Jews were freed on the account of keeping their Jewish names, so resolved to keep her Jewish name.

Seder in Nigeria

One single family in Nigeria sat with our bochur Shliach, who taught them how to lead a proper Seder.

Many tens of singles scattered throughout the country called up the Rabbi to thank him for the Shmura Matzah that was delivered to them for Pesach.

As well, the Israeli ambassador who flew back to Abuja from Israel on the eve of Passover was glad to be able to find a Kosher Seder all ready and waiting for him.

Rabbi Bentolila thanked his fellow Shluchim for all their efforts: Rabbi and Mrs. Israel Uzan, who work day and night for the good of Nigerian Jewry, and Rabbi and Mrs. Levi Chekly – new Shluchim to Luanda, Angola.

He also thanked Rabbi Lazer Avtzon, director of the US office and is dedicated to the Shlichus and Hatomim Mickael Mayer, Shliach in our Yeshiva who assisted in the coordination of the Merkos Shlichus.