Doing Jewish: A Story from Ghana

Who would expect to find Jews in Ghana? Not Gabrielle Zilkha, for sure. But when she volunteered to work in Africa and found herself a lone Canadian Jew awash in a sea of Christians as the Jewish New Year approached, that’s exactly what happened. In remote Sefwi Wiawso, Ghana, she made a stunning connection with a group of people, dedicated and devout, who practiced special rites including circumcision and keeping Kosher dietary laws and had done so for centuries. Only recently had they discovered they were part of a worldwide religion with millions of followers – Judaism. Doing Jewish: A Story from Ghana is the story of the lives of the Sefwis’ and their efforts to forge ties with other Jews worldwide. We meet their leader, Alex Armah, who dreams of achieving official status for his tiny congregation. Zilkha explores the meaning of Judaism, consulting experts from New York, Montreal, Toronto and Miami and delves into the Sefwis’ history along the way. Made over the course of five years, Doing Jewish: A Story from Ghana is a tribute to the bond created since that first Jewish holiday. It’s a warm and fascinating study of Judaism and belonging.