chabad central africa app for iPhone and iPad

Motivated by his profound love for every Jew and spurred by his boundless optimism and self-sacrifice, the Lubavitcher Rebbe OBM set into motion a dazzling array of programs to support the welfare of the Jewish people worldwide. In 1991, as part of his efforts, the Lubavitcher Rebbe OBM sent Rabbi Shlomo and Mrs. Miriam Bentolila and their family to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo (formally Zaire) to establish a Chabad-Lubavitch of Central Africa to reach out to every Jew and support the many Jewish communities in all aspects of Jewish life.

Chabad–Lubavitch of Central Africa (CLCA) has transformed the landscape of Judaism in Africa. Under the Rabbinic leadership of Rabbi Shlomo Bentolila, CLCA is now working in 13 countries in Africa: Democratic Republic of Congo, Congo Republic , Nigeria, Ghana, Angola , Namibia, Gabon, Ivory Coast , Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia , Mali and Senegal. In many of these countries CLCA facilitates a variety of programs ranging from: relief and charitable assistance programs for refugees, Mikvah construction, childrens educational programs, holiday services, rabbinic visits and counseling.

Chabad–Lubavitch of Central Africa seeks to enhance all elements of Jewish community life and nurture the social, spiritual and communal growth and well being by:
• Implementing support systems that allow even the most remote Jewish communities in Africa to participate in an unifying and healthy Jewish association.
• Offering religious, moral and financial assistance to each community and individual.
• Creating a communication network that links all Jewish communities in the Sub-Saharan subcontinent (not including Southern Africa).

CLCA is proud of its successes which include:

Working with a prudent and respected public relations style, CLCA has effectively created a collective Jewish presence and voice for the region and for each of the respective communities.

Executing a marvelously successful annual "Chanukah" campaign. This campaign sends Rabbis and rabbinical students to communities in ten different African countries to lead this special holiday, in all its spirit and light.

Bolstering each Jewish holiday by sending pairs of rabbinical students to support and offer guidance to each Jewish community. The rabbinical students lead a wide variety of important and critical Jewish communal activities and gatherings ranging from: Passover Sadarim and Rosh Hashanah services, shofar blowing, Succah construction, Yom Kippur celebrations, High Holiday courses, Simchat Torah celebrations, etc. These emissaries positively impact these communities and our brethren living there by creating an exciting Jewish ambiance and a strong and visible Jewish presence.

Provision of essential religious support in remote locations allows individuals in such remote areas as Timbuktu, Mali and Naivasha, Kenya to participate in holiday celebrations. The most recent beneficiaries of CLCAs many programs is an Israeli family living in Ghana. Two rabbinic students flew to the Republic of Ghana with a Sefer Thora to offer assistance to this family celebrating their sons Bar Mitzvah, the first ever in Ghana. More solemnly, an 89 year old Jewish woman living in Abidjan, Ivory Coast died during Passover of last year. The rabbinical students, on mission there for the Passover Sadarim, assisted the family by facilitating a proper Jewish burial and ceremony.

For the past 21 years, Chabad-Lubavitch of Central Africa has been a dynamic, consistent and growing presence for the Jewish community in the region. Chabad of Central Africa continues its work to ensure that every Jew has the opportunity and privilege to connect to the Jewish people and its traditions and culture, irrespective of his/her spiritual or geographic location.