An interview conducted by Chukwu Nonso Ekwunife of Kosher World News, at Camp Sarah Hall, Tikvat Israel Synagogue Kubwa, Abuja Nigeria.

It was on Sunday evening during celebration of a Jewish wedding held in Tikvat Israel Synagogue that I got introduced to Sar Habbakuk by Yephet Echegwo, a very supportive Jewish brother and a member of Tikvat Israel Synagogue. The introduction was very informal as he, Sar Habbakuk related to us as a father and friend. When I requested for an interview, he jokingly told me that we cannot have interview in the mist of wedding celebration when we have food and drinks to enjoy ourselves with. After much pleasantries filled with laughter, he told me that we will have interview the next morning which is Monday. But he warned me that I must have patient because he must finish his morning prayer (which ends as from 9 am) before he can speak with me.
Having pass the night in Tikvat Israel, I was seated at Camp Sarah Hall very early in the mornin, helping myself with some rich Jewish book stocked in the self. It was some minutes past 9 am when he came out to check on me and request for more 45 minutes. Just as he promised he came back to the hall even before the time he promise. We exchanged pleasantries and began the interview in earnest.

Can you tell us about yourself sir?

“My name is Sar Habbakuk. I am from Nnewi in Anambra; I am the leader of Tikvat Israel Community base here in Abuja Nigeria. You can call me ordinary Habbakuk if you wish. (Laughs)”

Can you tell us how you come to become an observant Jew?

“I was born and raised a Catholic. My father served many Catholic priests as both Alter night and home servant. My mother on the other hand is a very staunch Catholic. So you see I was raised from childhood to become a devoted catholic until after I married my wife.” “Few weeks to our wedding, I was given a prophecy by a prophet that I was not called to be a catholic and I should leave Catholic Church. He told me that where I was currently religiously is not where Hashem called me to be. He refused to give me more detail on the prophecy rather he gave me another prophecy, he told me that my wife will give birth to a baby girl and that she will develop some health challenges.”

What is your wife’s reaction to all these?

“When I discussed with my wife, I told her that I don’t want to do anything with Christianity again and that we will not go on with the wedding. I was shocked by her response, because unlike what you expect of a woman who is about to have her presumed most important event in her life thwarted. Some women will be very mad at you in such a situation. But she calmly said to me “wherever you are I will be and whatever I decide she will support.” To me it was like a miracle. I was already worried about what her response will be.” “Remember this is one week to our wedding in Catholic Church. I can confess that my wife is the best woman a man can get, especially, someone who wants to practice Judaism.” “It reminds me so much about what happen between Abraham and Sarah when they came to Egypt where Abraham said Sarah is his sister and Sarah did not object. That’s why I take her as the best woman on earth and she has never disappointed.”
“Then, on the prophecy given to me by a Sabbath prophet, everything he said about my daughter came to pass. They all came to pass as my wife gave birth to a girl as he prophesized. Also, she developed some health challenges few months after her birth. She later recovered after she was prayed for in a Sabbath Church.”

“I later joined Messianic Sabbath and became an anointed minister after my training and even opened a Sabbath Ministry here in Abuja under Yahshua the Way Sabbath Assembly. In fact, this Synagogue was formally a Messianic Shabbath until around 2003.”

How did it Happen Sir?

“In 2003 a man came to speak to me about Judaism here in Abuja—in this very synagogue. Then it was still a small house we use then. It was under Yahshua the Way Ministry and we still observe all the doctrines of Messianic Sabbath which entails removing shoes, wearing white garments, believing in Yahshua as the savior etc. He has a problem in the office and I told him that one way I will know that what he is telling me is true is that I will wear my shoes to pray about his problem for seven day and if Hashem answer my prayer for him them I will accept what he is saying about Judaism.” “Lo and behold, after I finished the prayer his problem got solved where he was working as he was about to be sacked as the plan was thwarted and the person who planned it all got sacked instead.” “So that was how I started paying attention to Judaism until we fully transformed into Judaism through the help of many people who guided me into becoming what you see today.”

Can you tell us about Tikvat Israel Synagogue?

“As I have said before during my narration of how I become an observant Jew, Tikvat Israel was formally a Messianic Sabbath with the name Yahshua the Way. It got transformed into Judaism in 2003 and since then it has been great experience for me personally and everyone who was with us then—and those who have come in contact with us in Nigeria and other countries of the world.”

“We are a growing community with the intent to build a community where people will grow not only in Judaism but also in other areas of life—where everyone will be supported to grow spiritually and otherwise.” “Tikvat Israel is all about family”. “We are one family where mothers and fathers see every child as their own and children see every mother and father as their parents.”

“Having said that I must admit that we have our short comings but we are still growing and we will get to where we sincerely desire to get to.” “We have achieved a lot since we transformed and I believe it’s because of our sincerity of purpose which is to see that Judaism grow in Nigeria and Africa.”

From what you said Sir, it suggests Tikvat Israel has achieved many things. Please can you tell us what Tikvat Israel has achieved as a Jewish Community?

“I don’t know if I can be able to list things we have achieved since we started because it is numerous but I will try to highlight some of them because you asked for it. This is because I shouldn’t be the one to go about blowing our trumpet rather it is people who should do that. If you would have asked around people would have given you what you are looking for.

(Me: Cuts in…) I will still do that”

“You have to enquire to know what is happening in their life as against waiting until they tell you. So generally I will advice that they work to support and empower their members economically. Judaism is not a selfish religion. It is like a family where everyone gets supported to flourish.

“That is good.” “Okay” “Firstly, as you can see we now have good structures here unlike when we started. We now have a big synagogue under construction, we have bungalows also and we have a befitting hall.” “The hall was made possible by Camp Sarah.” “Just like I said before, this place was previously a small hut that everyone parks themselves during service. But as you can see, people have a Synagogue to pray in, a hall to organize their events and very important, house to sleep in. I believe you having slept over after the wedding had a good night rest here today.”

“Secondly, Tikvat Israel has been the platform where numerous people learn to read and pray Hebrew. Some have gone to become Cantors in different Jewish communities in Nigeria. I can say that Tikvat Israel is in the forefront of Hebrew language learning in Abuja and Nigeria at large.Thanks to Jewish men and women who supported this community in our journey. People sacrificed their time, money and knowledge to see that Tikvat Israel is what it is today. I am grateful to them”

“Thirdly, in 2018, Tikvat Israel community carried out a tour of six states where we familiarized with Jewish communities in those states, taught Hebrew language and also supported them with books and other materials that will help them Jewish wise.” “The program was sponsored by Kulanu after I presented the program to Kulanu management. I will forever be grateful to them for sponsoring the program. The program includes the visit of Professor William Milles to Avishai Synagogue Nkpor and visit to other Jewish Centers in the Eastern Nigeria and parts of Southern Cameroon.”

(Me: cuts in) what inspired you to embark on the tour?

“One thing I strongly believe is that life is all about giving. So I believe that everyone always has something to give at every moment. No one is without something to give. Even if you don’t have money you will have knowledge to pass unto another person. You will have advice to give. You will have consolation to offer. You will have time to spare. So everyone always have something to give.”

“So what made me initiate and carry out the program is simply to help other Jewish communities grow. Just as other Jews are coming from America and other parts of the world to help us grow I believe we should help other Jewish communities in Nigeria grow too. So that’s why I carried out the program.”

(Me: cuts in) Which States did you visit and what Synagogues did you visit? Can you tell us?

“If I still remember clearly, we visited a total number of six states which includes FCT, which is the host community of Tikvat Israel Synagogue. After that we visited Ebonyi, Anambra, Delta, and Lagos, and Rivers states.” “Then on the Synagogues we visited: in FCT we visited Gihon Hebrew Synagogue. In Ebonyi we visited Ahavat Yisrael Synagogue. In Anambra we visited Ben Yirael Synagogue, Melek Kevot Synagogue–both in Nnewi. In Awka, we visited Bet Shalom Knesset Synagogue, Torah Haqadosh Jewish Congregation. In Obosi, we visited Ohav Shalom Synagogue. In Neni we visited Divine Seed Synagogue. All these are in Anambra state.”

“In Delta state we visited Rock of Ages Synagogue. In Rivers State we visited Yesharim Synagogue Port Harcourt. Then finally, we visited Bet Eri Synagogue, Kehilat Yitsrael, Ahavat Tzion and Igbaleri Synagogue. It was a huge success and I am happy I embarked on that program because it has helped in uniting and educating people who are new into Judaism about Judaism. Today the positive results are there.”

“Fourthly, Tikvat Israel is the first Community in Nigeria to have one of us working as a Cantor in a Synagogue in United state of America. We have been able to raise a Cantor who is currently working as a Cantor in United States of America. He is my son actually by name Moshe Ben Habbakuk who happened to be the chief Chazzan of Tikvat.” “He is the first to achieve that fit among Nigeria Cantors. One significant thing that happened to Tikvat Israel as Community is that that one year after my son went to United States, we received a gift of a very big safer Torah from the community he is working with in US—it is the biggest safer Torah in Nigeria. For me and all of us in Tikvat Israel, it is a sign that he is doing well over there. So as you can see we have achieved a lot as a community.”

Fifthly, Tikvat Israel Community was the first community to host the first Jewish Rabbi that came to Nigeria by name Rabbi Howard Ben Gorin in 2004. He visited Nigeria to learn and interact with Jews in Nigeria—-we have had many Rabbis and Jewish brothers pay us visit from US and other countries.” “As Hashem may have it we received him at the Airport after people who were meant to pick him fail to show up at the Airport.”

“On the day he was meant to arrive Nigeria, we sent one of our brother and elder who was staying as a guest in Tikvat Israel community then. His name is Yerimyahu Ben Moshe to go and join others Jews in receiving him.” “To me then, I thought Nigeria Jews will throng in their numbers to welcome him but unfortunately he became stranded at the Airport owing to the fact that those who were supposed to pick him couldn’t make it.” “He finally met with the Yerimyahu Ben Moshe who brought him to Tikvat Israel Synagogue and that was how he came to stay at our Synagogue for many days before departing.”

“One thing I will like to divulge here is that when I heard about his coming to Nigeria I prayed to Hashem not to allow Rabbi Ben Gorin met people who will frustrate His intention for Jews in Nigeria. I will say that what happened is answer to my sincere prayer. Just imagine a situation where he was not able to meet the Elder that went to the Airport from Here? He would have boarded the next available flight and return back to America. And that will be the end of his mission. We may not be able to benefit all we benefited from him.”

“They should also criticize less. Their is too many criticism among us. I believe that the best thing you can do for your brother

“Again, in 2006 when Rabbi Ben Gorin visited again, accompanied by Jeff Liberman, they stayed in my House which is in Tikvat Israel Synagogue for one week.

“Lastly, Tikvat Israel is also the first community to organize and host the first Jewish conversion in Nigeria in 2021.We have Rabbi who came from US and Uganda to conduct the conversion. We have also organized four different Jewish marriages in our community. So it has been a success story even though not without challenges. But in all I am proud of what Tikvat has achieved so far.”

What is your advice for Jewish communities in Nigeria?

“Jewish communities in Nigeria have done well in the area of practicing Judaism so I am happy with what we have achieved so far. I am very proud of our achievements so far. But on the other hands I will advice that leaders get more involved in the life of their members. Leaders have to go beyond practicing Judaism religiously to helping members solve personal problems especially financial problems.”

You have to enquire to know what is happening in their life as against waiting until they tell you. So generally I will advice that they work to support and empower their members economically. Judaism is not a selfish religion. It is like a family where everyone gets supported to flourish.

“Again, we must minimize the way we criticize each other. Let’s criticize less. If there is an issue, approach your brother or your sister and tell him or her instead of criticizing them behind their back. So I will advice them to criticize less. Doing this will help Judaism grow better in Nigeria.”

I must confess that I am swept of my feet by the achievement of Tikvat Israel Community. But I will want ask; what is your advice to Jewish youths in Nigeria?

“I want to start by telling a little bit of my story when I can to Abuja. Many people who don’t know me will not believe that I worked as a laborer in construction sites. My wife on the other hands fried Akara (beans cake) and hawked fruits in the streets of Abuja so my children can be taken care of.” “The truth is that life is not easy for anyone who is starting new. So my advice to Jewish youths is to first be dedicated in the worship of Hashem, then add hard work, diligence and patience, everything will be fine at last. Don’t be in a rush to make it.

Me: shalom SAR Habbakuk, this is where we will be ending our interview for now. I hope to return in the future. Thank you for giving us the opportunity to speak with you.
“Shalom to you; I appreciate you interviewing me. I will always be accessible whenever I am needed. Shalom lekha”