The last Jews of Asmara (Eritrea) (Harif, 23 May 2023)

Who knew? There was once a Jewish community in Eritrea numbering 500 Jews. Born in Aden, Rami Kanzen spent much of his childhood in the capital Asmara. He will tell us about the country’s Jewish history, from Italian colony through to independence in 1993. Jews from Yemen moved to Eritrea in the 19th century, attracted by economic opportunity, and the country attracted Italian Jews. Today most former Eritrean Jews live in Israel. Only one Jew remains in this African state adjoining Ethiopia and bordering the Red Sea – Rami’s cousin Sami Cohen.