According to the African Jewish Congress, there are about 30 Jews living in Eswatini, previously known as Swaziland, concentrated mainly in the capital city, Mbabane. Despite their small population, Swazi Jews have made significant contributions to the nation's growth and development, especially in the legal and economic sectors.
The affiliate of the World Jewish Congress is the Eswatini Jewish Community.
The Jewish community in Eswatini (formerly Swaziland) was established after the Holocaust, when survivors who were rejected from South Africa settled in the country. Many of these post-war Jewish immigrants intermarried with the indigenous population, and as a result, many Emaswati today carry Jewish surnames without being practicing Jews. The community has experienced very little antisemitism and remains active in the country’s business, legal, and nonprofit sectors. Notably, Jewish citizen Stanley Sapire served as Chief Justice of the Swazi Court of Appeal, and Natan Gamedze—a member of the royal line and grandson of the King of Swaziland—converted to Judaism in 1991 and is now an Orthodox rabbi.
The Jewish presence in Eswatini dates back to the Second World War, when many German Jewish refugees fleeing Nazi persecution, and eventually Holocaust survivors, who were turned away by South Africa found refuge in the country. Among them was Kalman Goldblatt, a Lithuanian immigrant who played a significant role in Eswatini’s economic development and helped establish its first townships. In the early years, these refugees faced severe hardship, battling poverty and diseases such as malaria and smallpox due to a lack of income and resources. With support from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, they gradually began to rebuild their lives in the years that followed.
According to the African Jewish Congress, there are about 30 Jews in Swaziland out of a total population of 1,343,098 – constituting 0.004% of the population. The Jewish population of Swaziland is almost entirely concentrated in Mbabane, the capital.
The Swazi Jewish community is affiliated with the African Jewish Congress, which is based in South Africa and advocates on behalf of the small and scattered communities of sub-Sahara Africa. It works to ensure that the Jewish community of Swaziland has international representation, including within the WJC, despite the small size of its population.
The Eswatini Jewish community do not have a spiritual or social center. However there are two Jewish cemeteries in Mbabane. The holidays are celebrated at their homes, with local members and expats Jews who works in the Kingdom.
The late president of the Jewish community in Eswatini, Geoff Ramokgadi, built and managed Kobe High School in Ezulwini. The school is a thriving institution that still serves all Emaswati children.
Due to the small size of the Swazi Jewish community, there is no synagogue. Jewish religious life, like other endeavors, is left to the initiative of individual members of the community. The African Jewish Congress does provide some religious assistance but religious life in Swaziland is not concentrated or centralized in any meaningful way.
Kosher food in Swaziland is extremely scarce, and non-existent outside of Mbabane.
The current president, Yael Uzan-Tidhar, is involved in youth and women empowerment organisations in Eswatini. She runs the Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability that support youth in their first career steps. Nathi Kirsh, who started his career in Eswatini, established the Kirsh Foundation that support Eswatini youth through education and entrepreneurship.
The Rabbi Moshe Silberhaft Library in Ezulwini, Eswatini, is a community-focused initiative established through a partnership between the African Jewish Congress (AJC) and Australian Books for Children in Africa (ABCA). It is located at the Kobe Ramokgadi Advanced Learning Academy, founded by the late Geoff Ramokgadi. With over 20,000 donated books, the library serves both the school and children in surrounding villages, with a system in place to deliver and collect books to ensure broad community access.
Israel and Eswatini have maintained diplomatic relations since 1968, after Eswatini gained full independence from Great Britain. Israeli ambassadors present their credentials and maintain excellent working relationships with the country. The Israeli Embassy has also since supported youth development in Eswatini by promoting computer literacy and helping establish the country’s first resource center for early childhood care and development teachers at the Likusasa Letfu Youth Centre for Employability.
Although there is currently no embassy in Mbabane, relations are conducted through Israel’s embassy in South Africa.
Embassy of Israel
428 King’s Highway
(Corner Elizabeth Grove)
Lynwood, Pretoria 0081
South Africa
Telephone: +27 (0)12 470 3500
Fax: +27 (0)12 348 5518
