Conversion in the Nusak Afriki
Conversion:
Re-connection, not renunciation
Conversion, rooted in an authentic Hebraic Hashkafah and as upheld in the morality of the Bantu, conversion is not an excision from identity, it is a deepening of identity affirmed by re-introduction as rectification
The Chief Rabbinate of Africa’s Conversion Program
From Preparation to Revelation — From Nefesh HaGer to Ger Emet
The Conversion Program of the Chief Rabbinate of Africa, a project of the Beth HaMidrash Botsina Kadisha under the leadership of Chief Rabbi Pinhas Eliyahou Shaday, was established to guide every Bantu and African soul carrying the flame of the Nefesh HaGer — that soul of Israel buried in generations of oblivion, yet never extinguished.
This program arises from a dual necessity: spiritual and historical.
Spiritual, as it represents a return to Torah Alef, the Torah received by Moshe Rabbenu at Har Sinai, and preserved by the Sages of the Mizrah and the lands of Cham ben Noah.
Historical, as it responds to the foundational Responsa authored by Rabbi Pinhas Eliyahou Shaday following the halakhic Psak (ruling) of Rav Chaim Kanievsky zatzal, which recognized the validity of a Gerut Le’Chumra for the Igbo communities of Nigeria (and, by extension, for the scattered tribes across the African continent — Ephraim, Gad, Menashe, Dan, Naftali, Zevulun, and Reuven, as mentioned by our Sages in Talmud Sanhedrin 94a), because Igbos are part of the Bantu tribes.
A Conversion Rooted in the Kabbalah of the Ari HaKadosh
Our approach draws from the exalted tradition of the Ari HaKadosh in Shaar HaGilgulim.
He teaches that the soul of the convert is not that of a non-Jew, but an Israelite soul returning to its source: the Nefesh HaGer.
The task of conversion, therefore, is not to create a new identity, but to reveal a pre-existing one — to reconnect this soul to its Tzaddik-root, and to transform it into a Ger Tzedek (righteous convert), and ultimately a Ger Emet (true convert).
Thus, the primary objective of the Program is to equip each prospective convert with the tools to continue growing, far beyond the mere formality of conversion, towards a complete Tikkun Nefesh (rectification of the soul), following the path of the Masters of Lurianic Kabbalah.
A Comprehensive Training Process — Halakha, Tikkun, and Kavanah
The Conversion Guidance Manual developed by Botsina Kadisha is a true Teshuvah (return) guide.
It rests on three inseparable foundations:
In-depth study of Halakha — al pi Sod, according to the writings of the Ben Ish Chai and Rabbi Chaim Vital, to understand the Law not as an external code, but as a structure for spiritual elevation.
Tikkun HaMiddot — the purification and refinement of character traits, following the teachings of Shaarei Kedusha: learning gentleness, discipline, joy, and self-mastery even before fulfilling the Mitzvot.
Kavanah (sacred intention) — every act of practice, every prayer, every thought becomes a channel for conscious connection with the Divine.
This triad — Halakha, Tikkun, Kavanah — forms the core curriculum of the program, accompanied by intensive instruction averaging 8 hours per week, to enable a harmonious assimilation of Jewish values and lifestyle within a framework of benevolence, excellence, and joy.
An African Vision of Tikkun Olam
The Chief Rabbinate of Africa’s Conversion Program is also an act of Tikkun Olam (Rectification of the World), and more specifically, the rehabilitation of the spiritual role of the peoples of Ham.
It reveals that the original Bantu traditions were never idolatrous or polytheistic, but rather veiled forms of monotheism — living roots of the ancient Covenant.
By restoring the nobility of these heritages, the program reinstates our fathers and mothers to their place in the great symphony of Israel, and imbues their descendants with the pride of a renewed, millennia-old identity.
Eliezer Program — Return to Israelite Spiritual Identity
The Eliezer Program was created to help every Bantu and Afro‑descendant reconnect with their spiritual identity as Israelites through study, knowledge, and the light of the authentic Torah.
It is an inner path of truth, rediscovery, and the restoration of a memory long erased.
Through works such as Darkei Teshuvah (“The Paths of Return”) and Lenaarei Kush (“To the Rivers of Kush”), written by the Chief Rabbi of Africa, Rabbi Pinhas Eliyahou Shaday, the Eliezer Program guides each soul toward a renewed awareness of who they truly are: a spark of the people of Israel, scattered among the nations—but never extinguished.
This program seeks to correct the historical narrative by demonstrating that the original Bantu traditions were never idolatrous nor polytheistic.
Rather, they were—and remain—veiled forms of ancient monotheism, an expression of faith in the One Living God handed down from the patriarchs.
This restored perspective returns to our fathers and mothers the spiritual dignity and nobility of soul that are rightfully theirs, rekindling among Afro‑descendant youth a deep sense of pride and coherence in their heritage.
The Eliezer Program serves as a bridge of return, leading each participant step by step toward the reconnection of the Tinok Shenishba—that “captive child” mentioned in the Gemara—the Israelite who, though raised far from Torah, has never lost his or her Israelite essence.
It teaches that no distance, no broken history can erase a divine origin.
Through study, reflection, and spiritual mentorship, the Eliezer Program seeks to rekindle the consciousness of Israel within every Bantu and Afro‑descendant heart.
It is a school of return—to oneself, to Torah, to the light of our ancestors—an alliance rediscovered, sealed through truth, knowledge, and love.
The name “Eliezer,” meaning “My God is my help,” encapsulates the mission of this program:
to reconcile memory with faith, Africa with its spiritual calling, and the Bnei Yosef with the living Torah.
A Conversion Model According to the Masters of Sod
Our process prepares the convert to experience a true Hashra’at HaShekhinah — the descent of the Divine Presence into the soul.
According to the Ari’s tradition, this preparation culminates, where possible, in three days of complete fasting followed by mikvah under rabbinic guidance, and the Tipat Dam or Brit Milah performed with the kavanot (mystical intentions) expounded in Shaar HaMitzvot.
This level of commitment confers upon the convert, from the very moment of immersion, the status of Ger Emet, sincere and confirmed, honoring the words of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who affirmed that “trust in a true convert is immediate, from the very first moments following their choice.”
Eliezer Program: The Path of Return Through the Great Gate
This approach to conversion is not a rupture but a return through the great gate — a return to Sinai.
Like the Bnei Israel in Egypt, the peoples of Africa are preparing to receive the Torah anew, not to adopt a foreign culture, but to rediscover their own, original, divine, and eternal.
The Chief Rabbinate of Africa’s Conversion Program embodies this renaissance.
It is a bridge between heaven and earth, a spiritual springboard for the Bnei Moshe, the Bnei Yosef, and all scattered children of Israel who today hear the call of the Alef — the call of their soul.