Abayudaya

Abayudaya
ِLocal and foreign Rabbis pray in the synagogue of Puti next to Mbale
Total population
2,500 [1][2]
Regions with significant populations
Uganda
Languages
Luganda, Lusoga, Lugwere, Hebrew
Religion
Judaism
Related ethnic groups
Baganda, Bagwere, Basoga

The Abayudaya (Abayudaya is Luganda for "People of Judah")[3][4] are a Jewish community in eastern Uganda, near the town of Mbale. They are devout in their practice, keeping kashrut and observing Shabbat. There are several different villages where the Abayudaya live. A community that converted to Judaism in the 20th century, most community members are affiliated with the Reform and Conservative movements of Judaism.[5] In June 2016, Rabbi Shlomo Riskin led a Beit Din that performed an Orthodox conversion for the Putti community of Abayudaya.[6][7]

The Abayudaya's population is estimated to number between 2,000 and 3,000;[1] like their neighbors, they are subsistence farmers. Most Abayudaya are of Bagwere origin. Some, from Namutumba, are Basoga. They speak Luganda, Soga, or Gwere, and some have learned Hebrew as well.[8]

  1. ^ a b Shadrach Levi, Mugoya (November 6, 2017). "We Are the Jews of Uganda. This Is Our Story". The Forward. Rachel Fishman Feddersen. Retrieved August 26, 2018.
  2. ^ Ornstein, Dan (2023-04-02). "For Passover, I sent matzo to the Jews of Uganda. They've given me a gift as well". Goats and Soda. NPR. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
  3. ^ Berg, Irwin M. (January 1997) "Among the Abayudaya". Commentary Vol. 103(1) pp. 52-4.
  4. ^ "Pomerance, Rachel. "Uganda's Jews finally have their day at the Mikvah". Archived from the original on 2002-08-16. Retrieved 2006-01-25.
  5. ^ Maltz, Judy (2020-01-05). "In First, a Ugandan-Jewish Wedding in Israel". Haaretz. Retrieved 2020-01-07.
  6. ^ The Abayuday:Judaism Emerging, A Spiritual Journey Into Africa, by Menachem Kuchar.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference tjoa was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Godfrey Mwakikagile, Ethnicity and National Identity in Uganda: The Land and Its People (New Africa Press, 2009), p. 56.