PROJECTS

Scattered Among the Nations assists geographically and politically isolated Jewish or Judaism-practicing communities to overcome adversity and to continue embracing the Jewish religion and culture. Scattered Among the Nations has helped the Peru’s Inca Jews, India’s Benei Menashe, Ghana’s House of Israel, and Nigeria’s Ibgo Jewish community, and expects also to provide support to Uganda’s Abayudaya. SAN endeavors to embrace the highest level of tzedakah in the Maimonedean ladder of giving — to help communities strengthen themselves. 

PROVIDINg SUPPORT DURING THE HOLIDAYS

SAN helps the Inca Jews to celebrate Jewish holidays every year, sending funds for the community to buy kosher food for Passover and the High Holidays, and has sent recordings of Jewish prayer services for their self-education.

FACILITATING ALIYAH TO ISRAEL

Peru’s Inca Jews longed to go to Israel to further their Jewish practice, and SAN led the effort in the United States to help hundreds of Peruvian “Inca Jews” gain formal recognition and become fully integrated in the world Jewish community. Most have emigrated to Israel, however, there is more to be done. At the time of this writing, dozens of Peruvians are waiting in Peru to obtain recognition and make aliyah to Israel, which will require outside resources to realize.

SENDING JEWISH BOOKS

Many SAN communities crave a Jewish education above all else, but do not have the resources to purchase Jewish books. Frequently, communities use care-worn photocopies of photocopies of Jewish books they once borrowed from a library in the nearest large city. SAN has helped congregations send many boxes of Jewish books to needy communities around the world.

ENCOURAGING OTHER PROJECTS

These are just a handful of the needy communities and projects needed for those communities. SAN has no staff and very limited organizational resources, but encourages you to organize your own projects — to visit communities, to pair with isolated communities as “sister congregations,” to send Jewish rabbis and teachers. One generous donor, upon reading an article by SAN’s leaders and consulting with us, was inspired personally to bring a Torah to the Benei Menashe in Manipur, the first in the modern history of that community. It was the most cherished gift they could have received.