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Published on: 6/1/2009
Last Visited: 6/30/2009
Rabbi Gershom Sizomu relates story of Uganda's Abayudaya community
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If their rabbi, Gershom Sizomu, and Be'chol Lashon (In Every Tongue) - a San Francisco-based Jewish nonprofit organization that works to promote a global Jewish community - have their way, the story of the Ugandan Jews will become widely known in short order.
Sizomu recently visited Minneapolis and served as scholar-in-residence, from May 22-24, at Beth El Synagogue in St. Louis Park.
He also spoke to groups of students at the Amos and Celia Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School about life in his villagenear Mbale in eastern Uganda.
During several events throughout the weekend, Sizomu shared the genesis of the Jewish community of Uganda, shed light on the tremendous hostility that the small minority community has endured, and reported on efforts to rebuild the community that almost became extinct under Amin's tyrannical rule.
Sizomu, 40, is the only rabbi in Uganda and the only black rabbi from sub-Saharan Africa to be ordained by an American rabbinic school (he was ordained in 2008 by American Jewish University in Los Angeles).
After graduating from rabbinic school, he returned to Uganda and opened a yeshiva to train teachers and rabbis to serve growing Jewish communities throughout Africa.
"It is vital for African Jews to have rabbis from their own countries," he said.
"And it is important that Africans and others know that they can choose Judaism as a spiritual path and that we are open to them."
Rabbi Gershom Sizomu spoke and sang recently at Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School. (Photo: Tamar Fenton)
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Rabbi Gershom Sizomu spoke and sang recently at Heilicher Minneapolis Jewish Day School. (Photo: Tamar Fenton)
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The Ugandan community does not claim its lineage from one of the lost tribes of Israel, according to Sizomu.
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Sizomu explained how the small Ugandan Jewish community is helping to improve conditions for its Christian and Muslim neighbors in Uganda by addressing social, educational and economic ills plaguing the entire region.
With the support of Be'chol Lashon, the Abayudaya are engaged in a comprehensive health and development project that includes building a health center, preventing disease and developing the economy.
"Rabbi Sizomu really inspired the congregants of Beth El with his stories," said Be'chol Lashon program coordinator Andrew Esensten, who accompanied the rabbi to Minneapolis.
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For information about Sizomu, the needs of the Abayudaya or Be'chol Lashon, visit: bechollashon.org/projects/abayudaya/projects.php.