Meet the Abayudaya (in Luganda, literally, "the Jewish people").
Photo from the website of Bechol Lashon. |
Numbering at approximately 1500, they are a Ugandan, homegrown group of Jewish practitioners whose faith comes not from a tradition of lineage from Jewish ancestors, but rather the declared faith of their founder, Semei Kakungulu. According to the account given by community members to Richard Sobol, in 1919, Kakungulu, a powerful leader at the time of British colonization, went into seclusion to study the Bible. In his reading, he surmised an authenticity in the Jewish Bible and the laws it laid out. Beginning with the circumcision of himself and his sons, he began to practice the faith prescribed by the Old Testament. Kakungulu was a powerful man and others followed his example, and soon enough there was a small but growing group of these new Old Testament practitioners, miles and worlds away from any Jewish community. And thus began the tribe that, still today, thrives on Nabugoye Hill and surrounding villages near the eastern Ugandan city of Mbale.
Over the years, the Abayudaya have connected with Jews from around the world, learning about the development of post-Biblical Jewish tradition and ritual and taking on many of the customs practiced by Jews worldwide, but with their own, distinct flavor. In 2002, more than 300 members of the community were converted by a Conservative Jewish Beit Din. While they were forced into hiding during the reign of Idi Amin and struggle with issues of clean water, health, and education as many other communities do in their area, members of this community practice their faith with a conviction which rivals that of many, if not most Jews today.
(This information is summarized from "Abayudaya: The Jews of Uganda" by Richard Sobol, supplemented by information from conversations with community members on a brief, prior trip to the community.)
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