Communities of Afro-Judaism

Oneness of G-d – We believe in the One G-d of Israel, the Eternal, who was, is, and will be, the Creator and Sovereign of all the world. As the Shema declares:(שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְיָ אֶחָד (דברים ו׳:ד׳Shema Yisra’el, Adonai (YHWH) Eloheinu, Adonai (YHWH) Echad (Devarim 6:4).Torah and Mitzvot – We affirm the Torah as G-d’s eternal covenant with Israel, revealed at Sinai and interpreted through the generations. We seek to observe the mitzvot with joy, in the spirit of:(נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע (שמות כ״ד:ז׳Na’aseh v’nishma (Shemot 24:7).Afro-Jewish Heritage – We affirm the continuity of Jewish communities in Africa — among the Akan-Sefwi, Igbo, Lemba, Beta Israel, and others — and in the Caribbean and the Americas. These are living testimonies that Israel was scattered, yet not lost, in fulfillment of prophecy, as in the Talmud:(כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא… (סנהדרין קי ע״בKol Yisra’el yesh lahem ḥelek la-‘olam ha-ba… (Sanhedrin 110b).Return and Redemption – We believe in the prophetic vision that the scattered of Israel will be gathered, as it is written:(וְאָסַף נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנְפוּצוֹת יְהוּדָה יְקַבֵּץ מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ (ישעיהו י״א:י״בVe-asaf nidḥei Yisra’el, u-nefutzot Yehudah yeqabetz me’arba kanfot ha-aretz (Yeshayahu 11:12).Halakhic Understanding – We recognize the principles of בְּנֵי אֲנוּסִים (Bnei Anusim, descendants of those forced from Judaism) and תִּינוֹק שֶׁנִּשְׁבָּה (Tinok Shenishba, one raised without Torah knowledge) as halakhic categories that honor the place of Afro-Jewish communities seeking return (cf. Shulḥan Arukh Yoreh De’ah 268; Rambam, Hilchot Mamrim 3:3).Prayer and Spiritual Life – We commit to daily prayer, especially the Shema and Amidah, with kavvanah (כַּוָּנָה, deep intention) and reverence. We uplift our unique Afro-Jewish melodies and languages as holy vessels of prayer.Unity of Israel – We hold that every Jew, regardless of color, origin, or custom, is part of כְּלַל יִשְׂרָאֵל (Klal Yisra’el, the whole of the Jewish people). We affirm the dignity and authenticity of Afro-Jewish communities as inseparable from the body of Israel.Sacred Mission – Our calling is to restore, preserve, and transmit Afro-Jewish traditions to future generations, to be a light of Torah among our people, and to bear witness to the G-d of Israel among the nations.
הַכְּרָזַת הָאֱמוּנָה שֶׁל הַקְּהִלָּה הָאַפְרוֹ־יְהוּדִית
(The Declaration of Faith of the Afro-Jewish Community)1. אַחְדוּת הַשֵּׁם – Oneness of G-d
Hebrew:
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְיָ אֶחָד.
Transliteration:
Shema Yisra’el, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
English:
Hear, O Israel: YHWH (Adonai) is our G-d, YHWH (Adonai) is One. (Deut. 6:4)2. תּוֹרָה וּמִצְוֹת – Torah and Mitzvot
Hebrew:
נַאֲמִין בְּתוֹרָה וּבְמִצְוֹת כְּבְרִית נִצְחִית לְעַם יִשְׂרָאֵל. אָמַרְנוּ: נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע.
Transliteration:
Na’amin ba-Torah u-va-Mitzvot ke-brit nitzḥit le-‘Am Yisra’el. Amarnu: Na’aseh ve-nishma.
English:
We believe in the Torah and the commandments as the eternal covenant of the people of Israel. We have said: “We will do and we will hear.” (Ex. 24:7)3. מוֹרֶשֶׁת אַפְרוֹ־יְהוּדִית – Afro-Jewish Heritage
Hebrew:
נַאֲמִין בְּחַיּוּתָן שֶׁל קְהִלּוֹת אַפְרוֹ־יְהוּדִיּוֹת בַּאֲפְרִיקָה, בַּקָּרִיבִּים וּבַאֲמֵרִיקוֹת, כְּעֵדוּת לִפְזוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא אָבְדוּ.
Transliteration:
Na’amin be-ḥayyutan shel kehillot Afro-Yehudiyot ba-Afrikah, ba-Karibim u-va-Amerikot, ke-‘edut li-fzurei Yisra’el she-lo avdu.
English:
We believe in the living presence of Afro-Jewish communities in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas, as testimony that Israel was scattered but never lost.4. תִּקְוַת הַגְּאֻלָּה – Hope of Redemption
Hebrew:
וְנֶאֱמִין בְּקִבּוּץ נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבְבִיאַת הַמָּשִׁיחַ, כִּדְבַר הַנָּבִיא:
וְאָסַף נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנְפוּצוֹת יְהוּדָה יְקַבֵּץ מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ.
Transliteration:
Ve-ne’emin be-kibbutz nidḥei Yisra’el u-ve-vi’at ha-Mashiaḥ, kidvar ha-navi:
Ve-asaf nidḥei Yisra’el, u-nefutzot Yehudah yeqabetz me-arba kanfot ha-aretz.
English:
And we believe in the ingathering of the exiles of Israel and in the coming of the Messiah, as the prophet declared:
“He will gather the dispersed of Israel and assemble the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isa. 11:12)5. אַחְדוּת כְּלַל יִשְׂרָאֵל – Unity of the Jewish People
Hebrew:
כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. נַאֲמִין שֶׁכָּל יְהוּדִי, מִכָּל עָם וְגוֹן, הוּא חֵלֶק מִכְּלַל יִשְׂרָאֵל.
Transliteration:
Kol Yisra’el yesh lahem ḥelek la-‘olam ha-ba. Na’amin she-kol Yehudi, mi-kol ‘am ve-gon, hu ḥelek mi-Klal Yisra’el.
English:
All Israel has a share in the World to Come. We believe that every Jew, from every people and shade, is an inseparable part of the whole of Israel. (Sanhedrin 110b)This is a communal creed: Hebrew for sanctity, transliteration for accessibility, and English for clarity. It could be read responsively (leader + congregation), or together in unison.English
Transliteration
Hebrew
1. Oneness of G-d Hear, O Israel: YHWH (Adonai) is our G-d, YHWH (Adonai) is One. (Deut. 6:4)
Shema Yisra’el, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.
שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ יְיָ אֶחָד
2. Torah and Mitzvot We believe in the Torah and the commandments as the eternal covenant of the people of Israel. We have said: “We will do and we will hear.” (Ex. 24:7)
Na’amin ba-Torah u-va-Mitzvot ke-brit nitzḥit le-‘Am Yisra’el. Amarnu: Na’aseh ve-nishma.
נַאֲמִין בְּתוֹרָה וּבְמִצְוֹת כְּבְרִית נִצְחִית לְעַם יִשְׂרָאֵל. אָמַרְנוּ: נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע
3. Afro-Jewish Heritage We believe in the living presence of Afro-Jewish communities in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Americas, as testimony that Israel was scattered but never lost.
Na’amin be-ḥayyutan shel kehillot Afro-Yehudiyot ba-Afrikah, ba-Karibim u-va-Amerikot, ke-‘edut li-fzurei Yisra’el she-lo avdu.
נַאֲמִין בְּחַיּוּתָן שֶׁל קְהִלּוֹת אַפְרוֹ־יְהוּדִיּוֹת בַּאֲפְרִיקָה, בַּקָּרִיבִּים וּבַאֲמֵרִיקוֹת, כְּעֵדוּת לִפְזוּרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁלֹּא אָבְדוּ
4. Hope of Redemption And we believe in the ingathering of the exiles of Israel and in the coming of the Messiah, as the prophet declared: “He will gather the dispersed of Israel and assemble the scattered of Judah from the four corners of the earth.” (Isa. 11:12)
Ve-ne’emin be-kibbutz nidḥei Yisra’el u-ve-vi’at ha-Mashiaḥ, kidvar ha-navi: Ve-asaf nidḥei Yisra’el, u-nefutzot Yehudah yeqabetz me-arba kanfot ha-aretz.
וְנֶאֱמִין בְּקִבּוּץ נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּבְבִיאַת הַמָּשִׁיחַ, כִּדְבַר הַנָּבִיא: וְאָסַף נִדְחֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וְנְפוּצוֹת יְהוּדָה יְקַבֵּץ מֵאַרְבַּע כַּנְפוֹת הָאָרֶץ
5. Unity of the Jewish People All Israel has a share in the World to Come. We believe that every Jew, from every people and shade, is an inseparable part of the whole of Israel. (Sanhedrin 110b)
Kol Yisra’el yesh lahem ḥelek la-‘olam ha-ba. Na’amin she-kol Yehudi, mi-kol ‘am ve-gon, hu ḥelek mi-Klal Yisra’el.
כָּל יִשְׂרָאֵל יֵשׁ לָהֶם חֵלֶק לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא. נַאֲמִין שֶׁכָּל יְהוּדִי, מִכָּל עָם וְגוֹן, הוּא חֵלֶק מִכְּלַל יִשְׂרָאֵ