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The history of the Jews in Somalia refers to the historical presence of Jewish communities in the Horn of Africa country of Somalia.
Judaism in theSomali peninsula has received little attention in the historical record. However, there is evidence of a Jewish presence in the area for centuries, with some members of the community openly practicing their faith and others practicing in secret. Many of the Jews in the area were Adenite and Yemenite Jews, who came to the region as merchants and religious service providers. However, a report in 1949 states that there were "no Jews left in Italian and British Somaliland".[1] While the traditional Jewry in Somalia is known, little is known about the crypto-Jews who practice their faith discreetly.
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The presence of Jewish communities in Somalia has been the subject of much speculation and debate throughout history.[citation needed] Historical records[by whom?] suggest that a small number of Jews, estimated to be around 100-200 individuals, migrated to Somalia in the early 1900s as traders and settled in coastal towns such asBerbera,Zeila and Brava. However, a report by theJewish Telegraphic Agency (JTA) published in 1949 stated that there were "no Jews left in Italian and British Somaliland".[2]
It is believed that a wave ofYemenite Jews arrived in the Somali territories in the 1880s, and other Ottoman friendly territories around the same time when Yemenites immigrated to the Ottoman Jerusalem. From 1881 to 1882, a few hundred Jews left but more arrived until 1914. Yemenite-Somali Jews served as prominent leaders in successive Somali governments of the 1960s and 1970s. However, in the 1970s when Somalia joined the Arab League, many Yemenite-Somali Jews sold their businesses and emigrated. Today, present-day Yemenite-Somali Jews are estimated to be no more than 5 to 10 merchant families widely distributed along the coast in Benadir coast, and northern Somali cities. The ruins of historic Eastern Synagogues can still be found in Obbia town in Somalia, but many smaller local synagogues in towns such as Hafun, Alula and Bender-Qasim were destroyed by the Italian fascists in the 1930s.[citation needed]
While the history of traditional Jewish communities in Somalia is relatively well-known, little is understood about the crypto-Jews who practiced their faith discreetly. The true extent of Jewish presence and influence in Somalia remains a topic of ongoing research and debate.[3]
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Israel was among the first nations to recognize Somalia andSomaliland's independence prior to their unification.
In 1974,Somalia joined the Arab League and complied with theArab League boycott of Israel.[4][better source needed]
In 2017, Somali PresidentMohamed Abdullahi "Farmajo" Mohamed refused to meet Israeli Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu during a visit to Kenya. During the African Heads of State meeting in Nairobi, Farmajo refused to engage in a meeting with Netanyahu. This move was praised byHamas, with senior memberMousa Abu Marzook stating that "attitudes have value and meaning, and their country has respect and appreciation, and their people have dignity". Izzat Al-Rishq, another member of Hamas, thanked the Somali president's position, which he said "reflects the authenticity of the brotherly Republic of Somalia in standing with Palestine and rejecting any normalization with an entity which occupies land and holy places." This stance is indicative of the ongoing tensions between Somalia and Israel, with many in Somalia standing in solidarity with Palestine and opposing any normalization of relations with Israel.[5]
In 2022, the President of Somalia announced that his government would establish diplomatic relations with Israel in the near future. This move was met with mixed reactions, with some praising it as a step towards modernization and development, while others criticized it as a betrayal of the Palestinian cause.[6][better source needed]
Judaism has a rich history in the Somali peninsula, with both Ethiopian and southern Arabian strains present in the region. While there is limited evidence of any Somali clans embracing Judaism during the pre-Islamic era, the conversion of individuals and families cannot be ruled out. The Hebrew heritage of marginalized Somali clans, including the Yibir, can be traced back to theBeta Israel, or Ethiopian Jews. By the 16th century, the Somali population had largely adopted Islam as their primary religion.[7]
Ethiopians brought their brand ofChristian orthodoxy and elements of Judaism with it. This is evident in the presence of Jewish archeological evidence in the region, such as ancient cemeteries in theHargeisa region of Somaliland embossed with the Star of David.[8] TheDamot Kingdom, led by the JewishQueen Gudit, also had a significant impact on the spread of Judaism in the region.[citation needed]
The Yibir, also spelled as Yibbir or Yebir, is a marginalized clan found in Somalia. They are believed[by whom?] to have Jewish roots, specifically tracing their heritage to the Beta Israel, also known as Ethiopian Jews. The Yibir have faced discrimination and marginalization within Somali society due to their perceived Jewish heritage.[citation needed]
There is limited historical evidence of the Yibir's Jewish origins, but it is believed[by whom?] that they may have been converts to Judaism or that Jewish traders and merchants may have intermarried with the clan. Some accounts[like whom?] suggest that the Yibir have preserved Jewish customs and practices, such as circumcision and kosher slaughter of animals. However, their Jewish identity has been largely kept secret for fear of persecution.[citation needed]
The Yibir have traditionally been associated with the practice of traditional healing and divination, which has led to further discrimination against them. They have also been marginalized economically and socially, often occupying the lowest rungs of Somali society.[9]
Ethiopian Judaism entered the Somali peninsula through Somaliland while southern Arabia Judaism entered the peninsula primarily through southern Somalia and also through Somaliland albeit with limited arrivals. While there is no strong evidence of any Somali clans embracing Judaism during the pre-Islamic era, the conversion of individuals and families cannot be ruled out. The Hebrew heritage of the marginalized Somali clans including the Yibir is an ancient one which goes back to the Beta-Israel, Ethiopian Jews. Somalis were, at least nominally, entirely Islamized by the beginning of the 16th century.1 Islam remained very shallow in the interiors of the Somali peninsula until the 1800s.2 Since 1500, no large scale of indigenous Somalis practicing a religion other than Islam has been reported. The Greater Ethiopia Influence One of the five Somali inhabited regions in the Somali peninsula is part of modern-day Ethiopia. While the population of this Somali region is a negligible 6,000,000 people compared to the overall Ethiopian population of 110,000,000, the landmass of this Somali region is about 1/3rd of the total Ethiopian landmass. It should be noted however, under its old name of Abyssinia, Ethiopia had ruled much of modern-day Somaliland, including sections of the semi-autonomous region of Puntland.3 Zeila town in Somaliland was ruled by the Axumite Kingdom as early as the 900s before losing the strategic town to local Muslims and their Arab co-religionists. The Axumite
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