“If you truly care about what is happening in Israel—how to support the Jewish state and understand who you are—the best thing to do is to come to Israel, bring your children to pre-military programs, and serve in the IDF,” 19-year-old Asher Amir, who immigrated to the country from Kenya in 2017 at the age of 10, tells JNS.
Amir has enlisted in the Israel Defense Forces and is waiting for his induction notice. “It’s a privilege to be Israeli,” he said.
The Mombasa-born Amir said his family’s decision to move to Israel stemmed from the belief that there is no safer place for Jews than the Jewish state.
“The terror organization Al-Shabaab fired a rocket at El Al aircraft that used to fly directly between Israel and Kenya,” he said.
In Nairobi, Kenya’s capital and largest city, about 50 Jewish families remain, Amir said.
“Everywhere in the world, including in Kenya, you can still see remnants of small Jewish synagogues along country roads—a Magen David somewhere that shows Jews once lived there, but no longer do,” he said.
Jewish infrastructure in Kenya, Amir said, consists mainly of a small number of synagogues. He did not attend a Jewish school and did not know Hebrew before immigrating to Israel.
“We prayed in English because most of the Jews in Kenya barely speak Hebrew,” he said.
What struck him most after arriving in Israel, Amir said, was seeing children walking alone on the streets from the third floor of his Israeli stepfather’s apartment.
“In Kenya, you can’t do that. It’s not safe. There’s a massive gap between Kenya and Israel in terms of security,” he said.
Although he is not currently recognized as Jewish under halachah, Amir expressed a strong desire to reconnect with his roots and strengthen his Jewish and Israeli identity.
Amir enrolled in Nativ—The National Center for Identity and Conversion.
The program offers courses for soldiers and civilians in Judaism, Hebrew and Israeli culture, often leading to conversion, particularly for new immigrants or those seeking a deeper connection. The government-supported courses are free of charge and combine history, philosophy and practical Judaism with trips and community experiences.
“After Oct. 7, I felt I needed to know this country better than I thought I did,” Amir said.
“I want to dive deeper into Zionism—what it means to be a Zionist. I feel I lost some sense of that, and I know Nativ teaches not only from books like the Tanakh [the Bible] but also through visiting places. If you learn about Nazareth, they take you there. That’s a wonderful thing,” he added.
From Kenya to Israel, Amir said he also hopes to pass on the tradition of hospitality.
“In Kenya, when you host someone, you give them your whole house, food, everything you have. It’s a very warm feeling to be hosted and treated well, and that’s something I want to carry with me,” he said.
