Recording the history of the Zimbabwe and Zambian Jewish Communities

This web site aims to celebrate over 150 years of Jewish Communities and presence in Zimbabwe and Zambia and help record the history and details of a unique period for the benefit of both current and future generations. From a peak of some 8,500 Jews in the early 1970s – the total Zimbabwe and Zambian Jewish community in 2022 is less than 100 souls (from 200 in 2008). This is the story of once vibrant communities that settled for many different reasons in what was originally Rhodesia – later to become Southern Rhodesia and then Zimbabwe as well as Northern Rhodesia – later to become Zambia. Time however, is of the essence as the numbers of those that can “tell the story” and the remaining community dwindle.

There is a LOT of material on this website – remember to use the SEARCH bar at the top of each page or the specific search bar for e.g. cemetery records. For mobile phones and tablets you can find the SEARCH bar under the HOME menu above.

March 12th 2024 – more material added to the main Zambia menu with thanks to Aviva Ron, Mervyn Blumberg and Mark Abrams.

March 3rd 2024 – extensive additions to the Zambia Cemetery page. 

Feb 23rd 2024 – a new page on Copperbelt businesses and families added.

Feb 20th 2024 – the ZJC guestbook facility has been reinstated.

Feb 17th 2024 – updated page of  ZCJ community recipe books added.

Feb 11th 2004 – new pages for the Mutare Jewish Cemetery

and the Penhalonga Jewish Cemetery

Feb 6th 2024 – additional pages with video interviews and short biographies.

Feb 4th 2024 – a page on Professor Michael Gelfand

July 6th 2023 – a new page on Zvishavane (Shabani) including 7 Jewish graves

To see full history of updates

Jewish members of the reserves 1916


The past is not the property of historians; it is a public possession. It belongs to anyone who is aware of it, and it grows by being shared. 



 William J. Murtagh

If you or one of your family members has a story or images relating to the history of the ZJC please let us know here.