Visit to Rhode Island an eye-opening experience for leaders of Nigeria’s Gihon Synagogue

PROVIDENCE – On multiple occasions during the recent Sukkot visit to our community by Elder Ovadiah Agbai and Elder Pinchas Ogbukaa, of Abuja’s Gihon Synagogue, the three of us ran into Rabbi Moshe Moskowitz, director of Meor (an innovative approach to Jewish learning) at Brown University. He kept asking if there was time for us to sit down together for coffee or tea so that he could hear about the elders’ Jewish experience in Rhode Island. There almost wasn’t time but, finally, on the day before Elder Ovadiah and Elder Pinchas returned to Nigeria, we managed to arrange a rendezvous with the rabbi at a coffee shop.

After buying a round of tea, Rabbi Moskowitz asked the elders what they had hoped to accomplish with their twelve-day visit to Rhode Island.

“The idea was to be able to interact with Jews in Rhode Island, get firsthand information of how the community runs and lay a foundation to break the isolation we are experiencing in Nigeria,” said Elder Pinchas.

There are some 3,000 to 5,000 members of the Igbo ethnic group practicing Judaism in Nigeria. Self-identifying as members of a lost tribe of Israel, but not having undergone a formal conversion, these Nigerians’ communal interaction with Jews outside of the country is very limited.

“Since we came on the eve of Sukkot, it has been a great experience,” Pinchas continued. “It’s our first time leaving our country, and our port of call has been Rhode Island because of the invitation we received from Brother Shai Afsai, (Congregation Beth Sholom) Rabbi (Barry) Dolinger, (Temple Emanu-El) Rabbi (Wayne) Franklin, and Professor (William) Miles. (Temple Emanu-El members) Nate and Karen (Beraha) opened their home for us.”

Pinchas put down his tea cup. “To see children walking in the streets with kippot and to see a large number of people practicing the tradition – it’s an eye-opener for us.”

Rabbi Moskowitz laughed. “It’s such a different perspective. I think it’s the first time I’ve heard someone describe the Jewish community in Rhode Island as having great numbers!”

The rabbi was curious to know if the elders had encountered anything in Rhode Island that was very different from what they had expected.

“We’re not at the level where we can each have our own family sukkah in Nigeria,” Elder Ovadiah replied. “We did not expect to see this. We only have one at the synagogue. I said to Pinchas that we should make an effort to all have our own sukkot in our homes, as we’ve seen here.”

Rabbi Moskowitz wondered if there were other changes the men planned to make following their visit to Rhode Island, or other lasting experiences they would take back with them to Abuja.

“We have seen schools where students are practicing and studying Hebrew and Judaism alongside their other academic studies. This early Jewish childhood education, which is available here, we must bring back to Abuja,” said Pinchas. “And also the enthusiasm, the passion with which people are pursuing Judaism here.”

Elder Ovadiah agreed, adding, “Another thing is the collaboration among the different synagogues. We went to different homes and saw members of different synagogues eating together. We saw members going to different synagogues.”

Rabbi Moskowitz asked if there was one moment of their visit that stood out.

“It was at Marvin and Miriam (Stark)’s, during their sukkah party. It was there we saw and experienced for the first time the presence of four rabbis sitting at one table and saw young boys and girls singing with great joy,” said Pinchas. “To see one rabbi is difficult for us. It can take four or five years. So to see four rabbis at one time, along with people from different synagogues behaving like brothers and sisters – singing, swaying, clapping – we will not forget this. Also seeing the oldest synagogue (Newport’s Touro Synagogue) in America.”

During the previous week, the elders and I, accompanied by Rabbi Dolinger and Boston-based photographer Ilene Perlman, had visited Touro Synagogue and been given a special tour by Touro’s Rabbi Marc Mandel.

One of the recurring themes expressed by Elder Ovadiah and Elder Pinchas during their stay in Rhode Island, including during their visit to Touro, is the acute need in Nigeria for rabbis to lead those practicing Judaism, as well as for schools where Judaism can be studied from a young age.

Rabbi Moskowitz paused his questioning to ask if the elders wanted more tea.

“This is also an opportunity we cannot forget – having a rabbi get us tea,” smiled Pinchas.

“You’ve reminded our community that there is not one picture of what a Jew looks like. You’ve also reminded us of how many resources we have here,” said Rabbi Moskowitz, returning with two steaming cups.

“The traditional blessing we give to boys is that they should be like Ephraim and Menashe,” the rabbi continued. “They were Joseph’s children, but somehow managed to become tribes, like the sons of Jacob. So the blessing we give our children is that they should exceed their limitations. Ephraim and Menashe were born in Egypt. Their lives gave them more challenges, but they were able to struggle and overcome.”

“We need this message and blessing so much,” said Pinchas. “Our people in Nigeria will be happy to hear it and to read it.”

Shai Afsai (ggbi@juno.com) lives in Providence. He traveled to Abuja in February.

For more information about Meor’s activities on the Brown campus visit meor.org or contact Rabbi Moshe Moskowitz at moshe_moskowitz@brown.edu.