Abayudaya

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Synagogue of the Abayudaya community near Mbale

Abayudaya ( Luganda language, "Children of Judah") are a religious community in Uganda that professes Judaism . The approximately 1500 Abayudaya live at the foot of Mount Elgon mainly in Nabugoya near Mbale and Pallisa . They profess the Jewish religion , although historically they do not belong to any Jewish group.

origin

The Jewish community was formed around the warrior Semei Kakungulu , who first adopted the Protestant faith under British rule. After breaking with the British, he turned to the Christian Abamalaki sect , which had incorporated Jewish elements into their beliefs. Kakungulu was so fascinated by the Jewish faith that he turned away from the Abamalaki in 1919 and declared that he was now Jewish and that he would live according to the Jewish commandments. So he had his sons and himself circumcised . He gathered supporters with whom he settled near Mbale.

In 1920 a presumably European Jew named Josef came to them for about six months and taught them about Jewish festivals , the Jewish calendar, and the Jewish dietary laws .

In 1922 he published the book Ebigambo ebiva mukitabo ekitukuvu ("Quotes from the Holy Book"). In 90 pages he reported how he came from Christianity to Judaism. This book is still considered to be the Abayudaya textbook to this day.

But it wasn't until 1926, when the congregation came into contact with a white Jew who was spending some time with the congregation teaching them the Jewish rituals, that belief in Jesus Christ was finally given up. Semei Kakungulu died on November 24, 1928.

history

In 1961 there were around 3,000 Abayudaya living in Uganda with more than 30 synagogues. During the dictatorship of Idi Amin from 1971 to 1979 a persecution of the Abayudaya began, which led to the death of many parishioners, the destruction of all synagogues and the burning of the holy books. After his fall, the Abayudaya were able to continue their beliefs. Their number had dropped to about 300.

In 2002 there was partial recognition by the world Jewish community, when a rabbinical court, a Beth Din composed of three conservative and one reform rabbi, officially converted over 400 community members to Judaism.

The Abayudaya never had contact with the Beta Israel in Ethiopia , of whose existence they only found out in the 1990s, or with the Lemba in southern Africa. Their spiritual leader, Rabbi Gershom Sizomu , acquired a formal rabbinical training at the conservative Judaism belonging to University of Judaism in Los Angeles . He was officially in May 2008 as a rabbi ordained . To date, the Abayudaya are not recognized as Jews by the State of Israel .

In 2019, their number is estimated at 1,400 members.

Religious life

In 2009 the congregation had five synagogues in Uganda , in Nabugoya , in Namanyoyi Village, in Nasenyi and Putti, both in Pallisa District, and in Magada Village.

The religious music of the Abayudaya is based on the traditional Jewish liturgy, but often uses melodies from the local Ugandan tradition for the prayers sung. There are also numerous autochthonous religious songs.

literature

  • Richard Sobol: Abayudaya - The Jews of Uganda. Photography and text by Richard Sobol; music CD annotated by Jeffrey A. Summit, New York / London 2002, ISBN 0-789-20776-1 .
  • Michael Twaddle: Kakungulu & Creation Of Uganda: 1868-1928. Ohio University Press, 1993, ISBN 0-8214-1059-8 .

Discography

  • Kohavim Tikvah Choir: Shalom Everybody Everywhere! introducing the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda , Kulanu 1997, KUL-9701
  • Abayudaya - Music from the Jewish People of Uganda , compiled and annotated by Jeffrey A. Summit. Smithsonian Folkways Recordings 2003, SFW CD 40504
  • Rabbi Gershom Sizomu: Sing for Joy - Abayudaya Jews of Uganda . Abayudaya / Be'Chol Lashon 2007

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Ugandan Gershom Sizomu ordained as first black sub-Saharan rabbi ( Memento from May 29, 2008 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ^ Israeli embassy visits Jewish converts. In: Israelnetz .de. May 21, 2019, accessed May 26, 2019 .

Web links