:History of the Jews in Botswana

In 1938, with the rise of Nazism in Europe, the colonial authorities in Botswana, South Africa, and Great Britain attempted to resettle some Jewish refugees in Botswana to leverage their capital and agricultural skills to help improve the territory’s struggling economy. However, the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 abruptly ended these efforts.{{cite web |last1=Makgala |first1=Christian John |title=Bid to Settle Jewish Refugees from Nazi-Germany in Botswana, 1938-1939 |url=https://journals.co.za/doi/pdf/10.10520/AJA052550590_201 |website=journals.co.za |publisher=African Journals |access-date=30 October 2024}}

In 1994, the Botswana Jewish community drafted a constitution and created its first committee. Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft, spiritual leader to the African Jewish Congress, made a special visit to Gaborone to participate in the meeting where it was decided to call the community the Jewish Community of Botswana.{{cite web |last1=African Jewish Congress |title=Botswana: A Safe Haven for Jews |url=https://www.africanjewishcongress.com/botswana3.htm |access-date=30 October 2024 |website=africanjewishcongress.com |publisher=African Jewish Congress}}

In 2003, the Jewish community in Botswana appealed to local authorities to remain vigilant against terrorism, in line with President Festus Mogae's "zero tolerance" stance on crime. This initiative is supported by the African Jewish Congress, which assists Botswana's Jewish population in maintaining protective measures amid global concerns about anti-Semitic and terror-related threats.{{Cite news |date=11 December 2003 |title=Around the Jewish World in Botswana, African Jews Ask Leader to Be Vigilant Against Terror |url=https://www.jta.org/archive/around-the-jewish-world-in-botswana-african-jews-ask-leader-to-be-vigilant-against-terror |work=Jewish Telegraphic Agency}}{{Cite web |title=Botswana |url=https://www.africanjewishcongress.com/botswana2.htm |publisher=African Jewish Congress}}

As of 2020, an estimated 21-100 Jews lived in Botswana, with almost all living in Gaborone. The community is predominantly Israeli Jews working in agriculture, business, and industry.{{cite web |title=Community in Botswana |url=https://www.worldjewishcongress.org/en/about/communities/BW |accessdate=2021-12-16 |publisher=World Jewish Congress}}

No synagogues exist in Botswana. During major religious holidays and times of prayer, the African Jewish Congress and the South African Jewish Board of Deputies assist visiting Jews.{{cite web |last=Waronker |first=Jay |title=LOCATING THE BUILDINGS AND JEWISH COMMUNITIES |url=https://www.africansynagogues.org/html/locations.html |accessdate=2024-10-17 |publisher=AfricanSynagogues.org}} Religious services for Shabbat and the Jewish holidays are held in private homes with Kosher meals provided.{{cite web |last1=Doctrow |first1=Jamie |title=Doctrow Finds Religious Connection in the Last Likely Place |url=https://jewishlouisville.org/teen-topics-february-21-2014/ |access-date=30 October 2024 |website=jewishlouisville.org |publisher=Jewish Louisville Community}} Jews in Botswana are buried in non-Jewish cemeteries, as there is no Jewish cemetery in the country.{{Citation needed|date=October 2024}} Kosher food is delivered through the South African Jewish Board of Deputies.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

{{main|Botswana–Israel relations}}

Botswana and Israel established diplomatic relations in 1972.{{Cite book |last1=Jacqueline |first1=Kalley |title=Southern African Political History: A Chronology of Key Political Events |last2=Schoeman |first2=Elna |year=1999 |pages=124}} Botswana renewed diplomatic recognition of Israel in 1993.{{Cite web |title=Countries that Recognize Israel 2024 |url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/country-rankings/countries-that-recognize-israel |access-date=26 October 2024 |website=World Population Review}}

In 2012, six Israeli companies employed over 1,000 Batswana citizens to cut and polish diamonds.{{Cite news |last=Motsamai |first=Mmoniemang |date=24 February 2012 |title=Israel, North Korea present credentials |url=http://www.ibotswana.co.bw/news/local/item/11871-israel-north-korea-present-credentials.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130512011750/http://www.ibotswana.co.bw/news/local/item/11871-israel-north-korea-present-credentials.html |archive-date=12 May 2013 |work=Botswana Daily News}}

In 2012, Ben Gurion University (BGU) agreed to facilitate a new institution called the Botswana International University of Science and Technology. BGU will be in charge of teaching and building the university's research capacity. Students from Botswana will also be invited to Israel to complete their studies before returning to build the staff of the university. According to Israeli ambassador Dan Shaham: "Some 250 students will be selected to begin their studies in the coming months. More and more students and more and more subjects will be added gradually, until it becomes a real university."[http://www.israeliconsulatela.org/index.php/en/latest-news/item/ben-gurion-university-botswana-branch Ben Gurion University, Botswana Branch] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130310040614/http://www.israeliconsulatela.org/index.php/en/latest-news/item/ben-gurion-university-botswana-branch |date=March 10, 2013 }} Official Website of the Israeli Consulate in Los Angeles, December 24, 2012

In May 2021, the Baruch Padeh Medical Center sent a delegation of Israeli doctors to assist Botswana during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Israeli delegation partnered with the Sir Ketumile Masire Teaching Hospital in Gaborone.{{cite web |last1=Jaffe-Hoffman |first1=Maayan |title=Israel’s Baruch Padeh sends medical delegation to Botswana, Africa |url=https://www.jpost.com/health-science/israels-baruch-padeh-sends-medical-delegation-to-botswana-africa-667249 |website=jpost.com |publisher=The Jerusalem Post |access-date=30 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/botswana-virtual-jewish-history-tour |title=Botswana Virtual Jewish History Tour |publisher=Jewish Virtual Library |accessdate=2021-12-16}}

As of June 2021, Ofra Farhi serves as the non-resident Israeli ambassador to Botswana, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.{{cite news |last1=Harkov |first1=Lahav |title=Meet the 36 new ambassadors approved to new posts around the world |url=https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/cabinet-approves-36-new-ambassadors-to-posts-around-the-world-671527 |access-date=26 February 2023 |publisher=Jerusalem Post |date=June 20, 2021}}

• Benjamin Steinberg, a Botswanan cattle rancher and politician who was the first Treasurer of the Botswana Democratic Party and the first white Botswanan Member of Parliament in 1965

{{Portal|Judaism|Botswana}}

• Freedom of religion in Botswana
• History of the Jews in Angola
• History of the Jews in Namibia
• History of the Jews in South Africa
• History of the Jews in Zambia
• History of the Jews in Zimbabwe

{{Reflist}}

• [https://www.africanjewishcongress.com/botswana3.htm Botswana], African Jewish Congress
• [http://jewswerehere.com/africa/southafrica/botswana/ Botswana], Jews Were Here

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