A Report on the Pan African Jewish Alliance

Nigeria Mission

By: Rabbi Capers C. Funnye

January 5, - 18, 2006

Sponsored by: The Institute for Jewish & Community Research

San Francisco, California

The Institute for Jewish and Community Research, and Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew Congregation, sponsored a trip to Nigeria. The purpose of this trip was to visit the various Ibo, Igbo, and Urhobo communities to ascertain their interest in joining The Pan African Jewish Alliance (PAJA). The group representing the Institute for Jewish Research and Beth Shalom were Dr. Dele Osawe Carey, Bruce Carey, Rabbinit Miriam Funnye and Rabbi Capers C. Funnye.

We arrived in the capital of Nigeria, Abuja on Thursday night January 5, 2006. We were met by Solomon Ishe, who leads Beth Shalom B’nai Zaken Nigerian Congregation, in Lagos. After we acquired three taxis we made our way to the Sheridan Hotel in downtown Abuja. I must note here that we had to register under the name of Dele Osawe, to get the hotel rate that Nigerians pay. If Mary and I had registered as Americans, the room rate would have been two and one half times the rate for Nigerians, a cost of over $400.00 a night. I believe that if Nigeria and other African countries want to attract middle class Americans to travel to their country, something must be done to establish a better rate for non-citizens.

On Friday morning we rented a large van to transport our delegation to the city of Owerri, located in Imo State in the southeastern part of Nigeria. The largest population of Ibos are located here. We traveled by road because, air travel in Nigeria on local airlines, has been deemed too dangerous. During the month of September there were three airline crashes. The Nigerians are not willing to fly local airlines. It took us seven hours to get to Imo State.

Dele contacted a cousin to escort our delegation. His name is Captain Collins C. Ofili, a member of the Nigerian Intelligence Service, which is equivalent to the C.I.A. in America. I can truly say that having the captain as our security was a blessing. It was a blessing because, corruption is so widespread in Nigeria, that even the police that guard the roads there are corrupt. That is to say that if they see you traveling with luggage, they will pull you over in an attempt of getting you to pay them a bribe. Captain Ofili, was masterful, we never paid one bribe to anyone during our entire trip.

A brief word about Captain Ofili, he is a tall thin man of about thirty-six years old, and he holds the rank of captain in Nigeria’s air force, army, and navy. Captain Ofili works as advance security for the president of Nigeria when he travels in the country and at times he accompanies the president of Nigeria on his travels outside the country. Captain as we called him throughout our trip is the first Ibo man from Delta State, who has achieved such a high rank in the Nigerian Intelligence community.

Once we arrived in Owerri, the capital of Imo State, Nigeria, we were met by leaders of seven congregations in southeastern Nigeria. These men expressed excitement and delight in meeting us. I was overwhelmed by their gracious manner. By this I mean that they showed me absolute respect and a genuine appreciation of our coming to Nigeria. The first night we spent in Owerri was paid for by a lovely young woman, Chizubere, an attorney at law in Nigeria and a member of Cohen I.E.Okoro’s congregation in Owerri. Chizubere accompanied our delegation from the time we met her until our departure from the airport in Abuja.

Chizubere, is not only a Lawyer, but she also hosts her own television show in Owerri. She knows everybody, politicians, business leaders, and leaders of other faith communities in Nigeria. Chizubere made the arrangements for our delegation to meet with two senators in Abuja. I must note that these senators are like the members of the United States Senate. The entire delegation found Chizubere, to be an exceptional resource and a great help with our efforts in Nigeria.

On our first Shabbat morning in Nigeria, we attended the services of Elder Elam Ben Moshe, of Shema Yisrael community in Okiqwe, Nigeria, which is in Imo State about two hours drive from Owerri. When our delegation arrived the congregation had been in service for about 90 minutes. We were greeted by Elder Elam and other leaders of the various Shema Yisrael congregations.

There were twenty-five leaders from different parts of Nigeria who made their way to Okiqwe, for Shabbat services and to meet our delegation from the United States. It was the first time that an ordained rabbi had attended their services. When we arrived two young men were leading prayer services. It was exciting to see these young men praying in the Hebrew language, the same prayers that are done in my own synagogue and in synagogues around the world.

Most of the people didn’t have prayer books, but they listened attentively to every word of prayer that was uttered. The men and women sat separately, the children were very well behaved, some of the men wore the tallit, many of the men wore black hats, which symbolized them as Orthodox Jews. The synagogue was modest, but well kept and the environment was welcoming. We all felt at home with our co-religionist in Nigeria. It is interesting to note that the Hebrew prayers were done in the Ashkenazi manner. Which indicates that their teacher Dr. Yisrael Ben Yehudah, leader of a congregation in Port Harcourt, Nigeria and former leader of the group of twenty-five congregations learned his Hebrew from his connection with Rabbi Howard Gorin, of Maryland. It is unfortunate, however that Yisrael Yehudah fell from the favor of even his co-religionist in Nigeria as well as his demise amongst Jews in the United States.

The content of my discussion with the folks in Okiqwe, Nigeria can be seen in the VHS video tape that I will be forwarding to the Institute for Jewish and Community Research in San Francisco, California.

On Sunday, our party went to another part of Imo State, to a Jewish home, where a young Jewish couple of Ibo descent were getting married. I was asked to officiate the Jewish part of the wedding. After asking my particular questions about the bride and groom, and determined that they were Jewish, I agreed to officiate at the wedding.

I stated that I officiated the Jewish part of the wedding, because the wedding also had Nigerian/Ibo elements in the wedding. It is the local custom in Nigeria that a the bride enters the room, the bride and her maids of honor dance, while the guest throw money at her, and after the wedding, money is thrown at the bride and groom together. I have been to a synagogue in the Chicago land area, where on the erev Shabbat after services everyone in the congregation throws candy at the couple that is be wedded. In Nigeria, everyone throws money, at the couple, in addition to giving the couple gifts. It was a very interesting and learning experience. My pay for my part in the ceremony was as follows: One large bottle of honey, several bottles of juice, wine, and an assortment of the various fruits of Nigeria.

I was also given the sum of N$200 Nira, which might come to the sum of $14.00 dollars in United States currency. This N$200.00 Nira was considered ample fee for my services. Its funny, but nobody asked what my fee was in U.S. currency. I think I would have said whatever the family can spare. I want to put the aspect of the finances in Nigeria into perspective. A Nigerian police officer makes approximately N$14,200 Nira a month, this comes to about $100.00 dollars monthly for an annual income of about $12,000 US dollars. If you rent a two bedroom apartment in a large city in Nigeria, it will cost N$950 to N$1,000 Nira a month. After you pay your rent there isn’t much left for the other necessities of life.

Life is hard for the average Nigerian, but these people find ways to survive. They do what they must. Sometimes this means that a few of the people turn to crime, as a way too help their families live from day-to-day. I am sad to say that our delegation was assaulted once, near the end of our trip. High jackers, tried to take the keys from the driver of our taxi, and succeed in getting the keys of the driver of the other car that was transporting our delegation.

Captain Collins had gone to check on our bus schedule for our return trip to Abuja. Thank Hashem when Captain realized what was going on, he immediately came to our assistance. One of the men told him they were with the secret police, the captain laughed as he put his arm around the man, took out his firearm and stated to the men that he was indeed the secret police, and he informed them that he would shoot all of them if they didn’t get right and return the keys to the driver of our second car!! Thank Hashem, the men complied and after that episode, they actually helped us. Nigeria, offers some strange ways of viewing life and understanding the things that drive people to crime. But I have jumped ahead of myself with this story, but I felt that it must be put in context, when one speaks of crime in Nigeria.

On Monday January 9, 2006, our delegation arrived at Imo State University, the site of our two day conference on the Pan African Jewish Alliance, (P.A.J.A.). We were welcomed by the dean of the university and several other dignitaries. It turns out that the dean is an Ibo man and very interested in bringing Judaism to Nigeria. The dean accommodated our delegation with the following resources; rooms for the conference, food and drinks for our guest. He was most gracious and I respect him greatly for his acceptance of our party. Both days of the P.A.J.A. conference were successful, we had great attendance from the various communities of Jews from around the country. In total we had the leadership from forty-five congregations to attend. Every leader that attended the P.A.J.A. Conference signed on as supporters of P.A.J.A.

Although the dean didn’t charge us for the rooms, I felt it only right that we make a donation to the university and we promised the head librarian to send books and computers for the university library. I was proud of Bruce Carey, who led a discussion group on the History of Judaism and Christianity in Africa. Dr. Dele Osawe Carey, who led a discussion group on Leadership, titled “What does it take to be a Leader”?

I led two discussions on P.A.J.A. and the “Role of Women In Judaism”. Everyone loved what I had to say about the Pan African Jewish Alliance. However, as I spoke on my views on the role of women in Judaism, when the questions came it was clear to me that I must help my African brothers grow in this area. They in fact hold the views about women that several of my Israelite colleagues in America hold to this very day.

The entire conference was video taped and I am making a copy for the Institute. I have a tape of day I. Dele Osawe Carey will bring the tape of day II of the conference with her upon her return from Nigeria on February 11, 2006.On Saturday January 14, 2006 our delegation attended Shabbat services in Owerri, Nigeria at the congregation of Cohen Dr. I.E. Okoro. It was interesting that when our delegation arrived the Cohen, immediately turned the services over to me. This differed greatly from our visit to Elder Elam Ben Moshe and the Shema Yisrael communities at Okiqwe, Nigeria. As I mentioned earlier some of the congregations affiliated with Cohen Okoro, have messianic teachings in their theology. But, I truly believe that Cohen Okoro, is a young man interested in change and taking his organization forward into Judaism. I led the entire service and after services I entertained their questions about Judaism. This congregation is also building a new synagogue, which when completed will seat about 400 members. Cohen Okoro, is the president of Shabbat Synagogue Worldwide an organization started in 1915, that has forty-five congregations affiliated throughout Nigeria and other African countries. The first leader of this group was Cohen Gadol Dee Ekeke Lolo, from Akwete Abia, (now Imo State). Cohen Dee Ekeke led the community until his death in 1956, when his son Cohen Gadol Emmanuel Okeke Lolo assumed the leadership of the community.

On Sunday January 15, 2006 our party traveled to the city of Warri, Delta State Nigeria. This trip was perhaps the most interesting visit that our party made to any community in Nigeria. Here we visited a two year old community of Urhobo Jews. The young man Shmuel Okuma, the leader of the group of about fifty people, didn’t call himself, Rabbi, Cohen, Elder, or give himself any title. Shmuel was simply the elected leader of this new congregation. It was the only congregation in Nigeria that I encountered that had women who served as officers in the congregation. I was delighted and so was our entire delegation, to learn this fact. This young man, Shmuel Okuma is college educated, holding a degree in Information and Electrical Systems Technologist. Shmuel works as an Electrical System Engineering Officer with PHCN-Power Holding Company of Nigeria since 1991. Shmuel is married to Shmuela a beautiful young woman, who also works in the civil service in Delta State, Nigeria. They have five children and I was most impressed with their organization and growth potential.

I must interject at this point about Captain Collins Ofili, after he traveled with us for two weeks and heard all of the speeches, that were given during the synagogue visits and the two-day conference. Captain came to my room on night and said; “ you know rabbi I am a Ibo man, but my family has been Christian for many years. But after being with you these past two weeks, I too want to return to my Judaic roots. When we return to Abuja, please come to my house and redeem my first born son and please rabbi bless my home. I promise that I will faithfully seek to learn all that I can about the faith of my forefathers, and lead my house hold in the way of the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I have now found my way home.”

When our delegation returned to Abuja, we went to Collins home for dinner and met his lovely wife and family. Captain’s son Yochannon, was redeemed and we affixed a mezuzah to his home and blessed his family. This was indeed an added blessing for us and all Israel.

This trip to Nigeria would not have been as successful as it was, if not for the Institute for Jewish and Community Research advancing the funds for Dele Osawe, to travel to Nigeria and lay the ground work for our January trip. For this assistance all of us are very grateful. Todah Rabah!!

Last but absolutely not least, I want to thank the Institute for Jewish & Community Research, Dr. Gary and Diane Tobin, for sponsoring our delegation on this historic trip to Nigeria. But, most of all I want to thank Gary and Diane for sending my NECK, with me Rabbinit Miriam Funnye, who gave me continuous insight and her heartfelt feelings about all of the people that we met and interacted with during the course of our trip.

Miriam has been my inspiration for thirty-five years and she remains the better half of my brain and my being.

Humbly submitted by:

Rabbi Capers C. Funnye