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Shai Afsai

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Jun 15, 2026, 3:15 PM

Someone taught him to hate

The cure for a man screaming curses at me in front of my children is a widespread culture of curiosity and inquiry. US educational institutions have work to do

Feb 28, 2017, 12:32 AM

Two homes: Thirteen Rhode Islanders who have made aliyah

For much of Jewish history, vast numbers of Jews did not have even one land wherein they could feel secure as Jews and know that they belonged. Most of the American Jews telling their stories here have been fortunate...

May 14, 2015, 12:12 PM

Beta Israel and Nigerian lost tribes

During a 2014 visit in Nigeria’s capital, Abuja, as I was driving with Igbo Jewish author Remy Ilona to one of the city’s synagogues, he expressed his surprise that the state of Israel has not yet recognized the Igbo...

Nov 12, 2014, 4:21 PM

One of the many unique religious traditions developed and preserved by the Jews of Ethiopia — the Beta Israel (House of Israel) — is the annual Sigd holiday, which normally occurs fifty days after Yom Kippur (the Day of...

Nov 4, 2014, 9:48 AM

Rhode Islanders Visit Abuja’s Igbo Jews

In August I met up in Abuja, capital of Nigeria, with Congregation Beth Sholom of Providence’s Rabbi Barry Dolinger and Naomi Baine, who journeyed to Africa, for the first time, in order to teach the city’s Igbo Jews. Our...

Mar 11, 2014, 12:20 PM

First Israeli-born qes to visit Rhode Island for one week in March

Twenty-seven year old Qes Efraim Zion-Lawi, the first Israeli-born qes, will visit the Jewish community of Rhode Island during the last week of March. Qes Efraim will be participating in activities connected with the Providence Community Kollel (Center for Jewish...

Dec 26, 2013, 2:48 PM

The Igbo Jews who came to Providence

An American Jewish community connects, through the shared experience of Hebrew prayer, with visitors from Nigeria

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About Me

Shai Afsai's writing has been published in The Forward, Haaretz, Arutz Sheva/Israel National News, The Jerusalem Post, The Providence Journal, Anthropology Today, Underground Voices, Jewish Quarterly, Journal of the American Revolution, Midstream, Shofar: An Interdisciplinary Journal of Jewish Studies, New English Review, CCAR Journal: The Reform Jewish Quarterly, Rhode Island History, The Jewish Link of New Jersey, The Times of Israel, CJ: Voices of Conservative/Masorti Judaism, Heredom, and Rhode Island Jewish Historical Notes.