In 2002, Swaziland's prime minister, Barnabas Dlamini, said the country appreciates the contribution of its Jewish community: "The Jewish community is small, numbering in the tens rather than hundreds, but over the years it has had quite an influence on the development of our country, the names Kirsh and Goldblatt will be remembered long after their time" referring to two well-known Jewish Swazi entrepreneurs. Kalman Goldblatt who later changed his name to Kal Grant came from Lithuania and built his wealth through several trading stores and by developing the first townships in the country.[1]
In 2019 there is an estimated Jewish community of about 50 to 60 people. Eswatini/Swazi Jews have played an important role in the business and legal sectors of the economy.[2] The community consists of Israelis, South African Jews, and descendants of World War II refugees. Some Holocaust survivors settled in Swaziland. Jews have experienced hardly any anti-Semitism. A notable Jew was Stanley Sapire, Chief Justice of the Swazi Court of Appeal.[3]
Ties with Israeledit
In 2017 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Swazi counterpart, Prime Minister Dr Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini (1942–2018) accompanied by his Agriculture Minister, Moses Vilakati met in Jerusalem. Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for Swazi King Mswati III's warm regards and ongoing admiration for Israel.[4]
Rabbi Natan Gamedze (born 1963, Swaziland, since 2018 renamed to Eswatini) is a Haredi rabbi and lecturer. Born to the royal lineage of the Gamedze clan of the Kingdom of Swaziland, he converted to Judaism, received rabbinic ordination, and now lectures to Jewish audiences all over the world with his personal story as to how an African prince became a Black Haredi Jewish rabbi.[5]
Nathan Kirsh (born 6 January 1932) is a South African/Swazi/Eswatini billionaire businessman. He heads the Kirsh Group, which holds a majority stake in New Yorkcash and carry operation Jetro Holdings, owner of Restaurant Depot and Jetro Cash & Carry. The Group also holds equity and investments in Australia, Swaziland (now Eswatini), the UK, the US, and Israel. Bloomberg estimated his wealth at $6.09 billion in March 2019, ranking him at #267 on its "Billionaires Index". He was also listed on the UK's Sunday Times Rich List 2018, and was named as the wealthiest person in Eswatini by Forbes.
^JTA. "Around the Jewish World Swaziland's Jews, Although Few, Have Boasted Eccentric Characters". jta.org. Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
^WJC. "Swaziland". worldjewishcongress.org. World Jewish Congress. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
^JVL. "Swaziland Virtual Jewish History Tour". jewishvirtuallibrary.org. Jewish Virtual Library. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
^Katz, Ant. "Swazi, Israeli PMs meet on expanding relations". sajr.co.za. South African Jewish Report. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
^Rutman, Yisrael. "The Royal Jew From Swaziland". aish.com. Aish HaTorah. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
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history, jews, eswatini, history, jews, eswatini, formerly, swaziland, location, eswatini, africa, contents, modern, times, ties, with, israel, notable, people, natan, gamedze, nathan, kirsh, also, referencesmodern, times, editin, 2002, swaziland, prime, minis. The history of the Jews of Eswatini formerly Swaziland The Location of Eswatini in Africa Contents 1 Modern times 2 Ties with Israel 3 Notable people 3 1 Natan Gamedze 3 2 Nathan Kirsh 4 See also 5 ReferencesModern times editIn 2002 Swaziland s prime minister Barnabas Dlamini said the country appreciates the contribution of its Jewish community The Jewish community is small numbering in the tens rather than hundreds but over the years it has had quite an influence on the development of our country the names Kirsh and Goldblatt will be remembered long after their time referring to two well known Jewish Swazi entrepreneurs Kalman Goldblatt who later changed his name to Kal Grant came from Lithuania and built his wealth through several trading stores and by developing the first townships in the country 1 In 2019 there is an estimated Jewish community of about 50 to 60 people Eswatini Swazi Jews have played an important role in the business and legal sectors of the economy 2 The community consists of Israelis South African Jews and descendants of World War II refugees Some Holocaust survivors settled in Swaziland Jews have experienced hardly any anti Semitism A notable Jew was Stanley Sapire Chief Justice of the Swazi Court of Appeal 3 Ties with Israel editIn 2017 Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his Swazi counterpart Prime Minister Dr Barnabas Sibusiso Dlamini 1942 2018 accompanied by his Agriculture Minister Moses Vilakati met in Jerusalem Netanyahu expressed his appreciation for Swazi King Mswati III s warm regards and ongoing admiration for Israel 4 Notable people editNatan Gamedze edit Main article Natan Gamedze Rabbi Natan Gamedze born 1963 Swaziland since 2018 renamed to Eswatini is a Haredi rabbi and lecturer Born to the royal lineage of the Gamedze clan of the Kingdom of Swaziland he converted to Judaism received rabbinic ordination and now lectures to Jewish audiences all over the world with his personal story as to how an African prince became a Black Haredi Jewish rabbi 5 Nathan Kirsh edit Main article Nathan Kirsh Nathan Kirsh born 6 January 1932 is a South African Swazi Eswatini billionaire businessman He heads the Kirsh Group which holds a majority stake in New York cash and carry operation Jetro Holdings owner of Restaurant Depot and Jetro Cash amp Carry The Group also holds equity and investments in Australia Swaziland now Eswatini the UK the US and Israel Bloomberg estimated his wealth at 6 09 billion in March 2019 ranking him at 267 on its Billionaires Index He was also listed on the UK s Sunday Times Rich List 2018 and was named as the wealthiest person in Eswatini by Forbes See also editReligion in EswatiniHistory of Eswatini History of the Jews in Mozambique History of the Jews in South Africa History of the Jews in Southern AfricaReferences edit JTA Around the Jewish World Swaziland s Jews Although Few Have Boasted Eccentric Characters jta org Jewish Telegraphic Agency Retrieved 17 July 2019 WJC Swaziland worldjewishcongress org World Jewish Congress Retrieved 17 July 2019 JVL Swaziland Virtual Jewish History Tour jewishvirtuallibrary org Jewish Virtual Library Retrieved 17 July 2019 Katz Ant Swazi Israeli PMs meet on expanding relations sajr co za South African Jewish Report Retrieved 17 July 2019 Rutman Yisrael The Royal Jew From Swaziland aish com Aish HaTorah Retrieved 17 July 2019 nbsp This Eswatini related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte nbsp This article related to Jewish history is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title History of the Jews in Eswatini amp oldid 1174435844, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
