Madagascar’s Jews aim for converts!
One of the world's newest and smallest communities is looking to expand by helping people fin d their 'true roots'
Jenni Frazer is a freelance journalist
Madagascar is home to the world’s newest Jewish community.
The country was colonised by France, which introduced Christianity, now practised by more than 90 percent of its citizens. But, in recent years, a group of Malagasy people, led by Ashrey Dayves, believe Judaism was the original religion in Madagascar.
They have converted to Judaism and hope to get many others to join them and find their true roots.
Ashrey Dayves said: “First I was Catholic, I changed to Protestantism and I studied the Bible more and more.
I was thirsty for the truth and so I decided to change to another religion. I chose the form of Christianity that worships on Saturday, Shabbat. In the end, I decided it was not Judaism, true Judaism. It was like a cult because they used money on the Sabbath. So I left that group.”
The Malagasy Jews believe Judaism will bring change to their society. Dayves said: “There is corruption everywhere, problems everywhere. We believe Judaism will bring peace and prosperity to this country.”
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
