Advancing the Jewish Faith in Ghana
A second, equal pillar of Lionheld’s unique mission is to strengthen Ghana’s small but vibrant Jewish community, particularly the native Ghanaian Jews at Tifereth Israel. In a country of almost 36 million people, Jews comprise less than 1,000 individuals concentrated in a handful of small communities. Tifereth Israel was established in Sefwi Wiawso in the late 1970s after a local spiritual leader had a vision that his ancestors were descendants of Jews who had migrated to Ghana. The community is known around the world for its colorful, hand embroidered challah covers.
Today, about 60 Tifereth families of about 150 to 200 people in total live in a village called Sefwi Wiawso. Their synagogue is an unmarked cinderblock building with no electricity, an open doorway and unglassed “windows”. Kosher food can be hard to come by and there is as yet no affiliated school for its children. Community members are heartened by the interest in and occasional conversion to Judaism by their Christian neighbors. Amid these sparse conditions, the Jews of Sefwi Wiawso strive to grow spiritually, strengthen their connections to global Judaism and find more effective ways to educate their own children to live full, productive lives.
How Lionheld Makes A Difference for Ghanaian Jews
Lionheld assists the small Jewish communities of Ghana with critical physical and economic support. We are working today to acquire a van for the Tifereth Israel community which would allow members better access to their synagogue for Shabbat services, which requires a difficult walk of upwards of 3 miles each way for many worshippers.
Lionheld also works with the Tifereth Israel Community to develop high-impact, income-generating projects that help stabilize the community’s overall financial health, fortify its worship infrastructure and strengthen its ability to educate native Ghanaian Jews. The initiative also seeks to better connect these isolated Jews to a larger, supportive Judaic community throughout the world. A great example supporting both goals is Lionheld’s support for the global marketing of Tifereth Israel’s colorful, hand-embroidered challah covers throughout the world, through which the community receives 100% of sale proceeds.
Take A Look Inside Our Community
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Lionheld aims to open a school for the children of Tifereth Israel and its surrounding communities similar to its successful, pioneering effort in Humjibre. In the interim, Lionheld assists this growing Shabbat community’s learning efforts by supporting:
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Classes held at the community's guesthouse to help children develop reading, writing, and arithmetic skills.
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Virtual Hebrew lessons in partnership with several United States based synagogues.
