NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Abayudaya

The Abayudaya (Abayudaya is Luganda for "People of Judah"^[2]^[3], analogous to Children of Israel) are a Baganda community in eastern Uganda near the town of Mbale who practice Judaism. Although they are not genetically or historically related to other ethnic Jews, they are generally devout in their practice of the religion, keeping kashruth, and observing Shabbat. There are several different villages where the Ugandan Jews live. Most of these are recognized by the Reform and Conservative sects of Judaism. However, the villagers of Putti are still seeking an Orthodox conversion and practice strict Rabbinical Judaism.^[4] To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In Genesis (the first book of the Bible) Judah (×™Ö°×”×•Ö¼×“Ö¸×” Praise, Standard Hebrew YÉ™huda, Tiberian Hebrew YÉ™hÃ»á¸Äh) is the fourth son of Jacob and Leah, born in Padan-aram (Genesis xxix. ... The Children of Israel, or Bnei Yisrael (×‘× ×™ ×™×©×¨××œ) in Hebrew (also Bnai Yisrael, Bnei Yisroel or Bene Israel) is a Biblical term for the Israelites. ... Baganda, also called Ganda, are the largest ethnic group in Uganda. ... Mbale is an eastern Ugandan district in the foothills of Mount Elgon. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... For other uses, see Jew (disambiguation). ... The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ... For other uses, see Sabbath. ...

Their population is estimated at approximately 800, having once been as large as 3,000 (prior to the persecutions of the Idi Amin regime); like their neighbors, they are subsistence farmers. Most Abayudaya are of Bagwere origin, except for those from Namutumba who are Basoga. They speak Luganda, Lusoga or Lugwere, although some have learned Hebrew as well. Idi Amin Dada (mid-1920s[1]â€“16 August 2003) was an army officer and president of Uganda. ... The Bagwere are a Bantu ethnic group in Uganda and constitute some 4% of the population. ... A map of Busoga Kingdom and its districts The Busoga Flag Busoga is the kingdom of the 11 principalities of the Basoga people, one of the largest of the five traditional kingdoms in present-day Uganda. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Lusoga is a Bantu language spoken in the Busoga region of Uganda by approximately 1 500 000 people. ... Lugwere is the language spoken by the Bagwere, a Bantu people found in the eastern part of Uganda. ... Hebrew redirects here. ...

History

The sect owes its origin to Muganda military leader Semei Kakungulu. Originally, Kakungulu was converted to Christianity by British missionaries around 1880. He believed that by doing so, the British would allow him to be the chief ruler of the territories he conquered in battle for them. However, when the British limited his territory to a significantly smaller size, Kakungulu began to distance himself from them. In 1913, he became a Malachite Christian, a follower of a belief system combining Christianity, Judaism, and Christian Science. However, upon further study of the Bible, Kakungulu came to believe that the customs and laws described in the first 5 books of Moses (Torah) were quite true. When told that only Jews observe such customs, he exclaimed, "Then we will be Jewish!" In 1919, Kakungulu had become far more clearly Jewish in his practices: he circumcised his sons and himself and declared his community Jewish. According to Henry Lubega^[5], "he fled to the foot of Mt. Elgon at a place called Gangama where he started a separatist sect known as Kibina Kya Bayudaya Absesiga Katonda (the Community of Jews who trust in the Lord)." The British were infuriated by such an act and effectively cut off ties with him and his followers. Baganda, also called Ganda, are the largest ethnic group in Uganda. ... Semei Kakungulu was a Ugandan man who founded the Abayudaya community in Uganda in 1917. ... Topics in Christianity Movements Â· Denominations Â· Other religions Ecumenism Â· Preaching Â· Prayer Music Â· Liturgy Â· Calendar Symbols Â· Art Â· Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul Â· Church Fathers Constantine Â· Athanasius Â· Augustine Anselm Â· Aquinas Â· Palamas Â· Luther Calvin Â· Wesley Arius Â· Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury Â· Catholic Pope Coptic Pope Â· Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box: Christianity is... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Christian Science is a religious teaching regarding the efficacy of spiritual healing according to the interpretation of the Bible by Mary Baker Eddy, in her book Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures (first published in 1875). ... Mount Elgon is an extinct volcano on the border of Uganda and Kenya. ...

The arrival of a foreign Jew known as "Yosef" in 1920 whose ancestral roots are believed to have been European, contributed much towards the community's acquisition of knowledge about the seasons in which Jewish Festivals such as Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Succot, and others take place. A source in the Abayudaya community confirms that the first Jew to visit the community was Yosef, who stayed with and taught the community for about six months^[6], and would appear to have first brought the Jewish calendar to the Abayudaya community.^[4] Jewish holiday, (or Yom Tom or chag or taanit in Hebrew) is a day that is holy to the Jewish people according to Judaism and is usually derived from the Hebrew Bible, specifically the Torah, and in some cases established by the rabbis in later eras. ... Passover, also known as Pesach or Pesah (פסח pesaḥ), is a Jewish holiday (lasting seven days in Israel and among some liberal Diaspora Jews, and eight days among other Diaspora Jews) that commemorates the exodus and freedom of the Israelites from Egypt; it is also observed by some Christians to... Shavuot, also spelled Shavuos (Hebrew: ×©×‘×•×¢×•×ª (Israeli Heb. ... Look up Rosh Hashanah in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Yom Kippur (Hebrew:×™×•Ö¹× ×›Ö´Ö¼×¤Ö¼×•Ö¼×¨ ) is a Jewish holiday, known in English as the Day of Atonement. ... Sukkot (סוכות or סֻכּוֹת sukkōt, booths) or Succoth is an 8-day Biblical pilgrimage festival, also known as the Feast of Booths, the Feast of Tabernacles, or Tabernacles. ...

Furthermore, the laws concerning Kashrut were first introduced to the community by Yosef. The community continues to practice kashrut today. Yosef's teachings influenced Semei Kakungulu to establish a school that acted as a Yeshiva, with the purpose of passing on and teaching the skills and knowledge first attained from Yosef. The circled U indicates that this product is certified as kosher by the Orthodox Union (OU). ... This article is about the Jewish male educational system. ...

After Kakungulu's death from tetanus in 1928, his followers divided into a group that reverted to Christianity and another, the Abayudaya, that became devout Jews. They isolated themselves for self-protection and survived persecution, including that of Idi Amin, who outlawed Jewish rituals and destroyed synagogues. During the persecutions of Idi Amin, some 80-90% of the Abayudaya community converted to either Christianity or Islam in the face of religious persecution. A core group of roughly 300 members remained, however, committed to Judaism, worshipping secretly, in fear of being discovered by their neighbors and being reported to the authorities. This group named itself "She'erit Yisrael" - the Remnant of Israel - meaning the surviving Ugandan Jews. Tetanus is a medical condition that is characterized by a prolonged contraction of skeletal muscle fibers. ... Idi Amin Dada (mid-1920s[1]â€“16 August 2003) was an army officer and president of Uganda. ... The synagogue Scolanova Trani in Italy. ...

In the 1960s and '70s, the Abayudaya began a moderately successful effort to establish contacts with Jews in Israel and elsewhere in the world. The sect underwent a revival in the 1980s, centered on a self-described "Kibbutz Movement." Kibbutz Merom Golan as seen from Bental mountain A Kibbutz (Hebrew: Translit. ...

Today

As of 2008, most of the community lives around the Moses synagogue on Nabugoye Hill outside Mbale or the nearby synagogue in the village of Namanyoyi. Others live several miles away from Mbale in Nasenyi and Putti (both in Pallisa District). A fifth synagogue is in Magada village (Namutumba District), approximately 70 km distant.^[4] Mbale is an eastern Ugandan district in the foothills of Mount Elgon. ... The putto is a figure of a pudgy baby, almost always male, often naked and having wings, found especially in Italian Renaissance art. ... Pallisa is a district in eastern Uganda. ...

Currently the She'erit Yisrael community is looking for help in their desire to undergo an orthodox giur (conversion to Judaism) and make aliyah, and move to Israel. This community is centered around the Putti synagogue and consist of roughly 130 members. Orthodox Judaism is the formulation of Judaism that adheres to a relatively strict interpretation and application of the laws and ethics first canonised in the Talmudic texts (Oral Torah) and as subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and Acharonim. ... Ger tzedek (Hebrew: righteous convert or convert [of] righteousness) or Ger (stranger or convert) or is a gentile (i. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

Gershom Sizomu, one of the leaders of the Abayudaya, has been enrolled in the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies a five-year graduate program at the American Jewish University (formerly the University of Judaism) in Los Angeles, California where he studies Hebrew, rabbinic literature, Bible, Jewish philosophy, and other subjects. The program entails studies both in the USA and in Israel, upon completion of which, he will receive ordination as a rabbi under the auspices of the Conservative Movement, and then return to Uganda to lead its Jewish community. The Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, informally known as the Ziegler School or simply Ziegler, is the graduate program of study at the University of Judaism. ... The American Jewish University, formerly the separate institutions University of Judaism and Brandeis-Bardin Institute, is a Jewish, non-denominational and highly eclectic institution. ... Los Angeles and L.A. redirect here. ... This article is about Conservative (Masorti) Judaism in the United States. ...

Once looked upon with disdain and hatred by their Christian and Muslim neighbors, the Abayudaya have been given significant amounts of respect in recent times. Relations with neighbors have become significantly better and some view members of the Abayudaya with respect and admiration.^[7] It should also be noted that the community has been growing at a steady rate. Down to 300 individuals after the fall of Idi Amin, the Abayudaya have grown to as many as 800 individuals since that time.

Community Institutions

Besides the five synagogues (Nabugoye, Namanyonyi, Nasenyi, Namutumba and Putti), Jewish schools have been established with outside help from individuals and organizations such as Kulanu where secular as well as Jewish themed subjects are taught. What is unique is that unlike many Christian run schools, learning Hebrew and Judaism is merely optional for non-Jewish students. Christian, Muslim and Jewish students attend these schools. Scholarships given by outside sources have enabled some students to attend Universities as well. The following are the currently existing community institutions: Kulanu is an American based organization aimed at aiding dispersed Jewish communities all over the world who are interested in returning to their religous roots, which is Judaism. ...

Religious Life and Customs

The Abayudaya initially practiced a form of biblical Judaism^[8], maintaining animal sacrifice among other customs. However, as the community increased their ties and interactions to the outside Jewish communities, namely in the United States and Israel, their religious ideology and customs shifted towards mainstream, normative Judaism. Members attend Shabbat services regularly both on Friday evenings and Saturdays.^[4] Congregations remove their shoes before entering the synagogue.^[4] This custom is suspected to have been practiced among Jews in biblical times and is still practiced among a few Jewish communities today. The Abayudaya maintain a Kosher diet and slaughter their own animals in accordance.^[4]^[8] Jews by country Who is a Jew? Jewish ethnic divisions Ashkenazi Jews Sephardi Jews Black Jews Black Hebrew Israelites Y-chromosomal Aaron Jewish population Historical Jewish population comparisons List of religious populations Lists of Jews Crypto-Judaism Etymology of the word Jew Categories: | ... The circled U indicates that this can of tuna is certified kosher by the Union of Orthodox Congregations. ...

Music

Music has been an important aspect in the lives of the Abayudaya. In recent years, the community has produced two CDs that have centered around religious themes. In fact, one of the albums, entitled "Abayudaya: Music from the Jewish people of Uganda" produced by Jeffrey Summit. was nominated for Best Traditional World Music album at the 47th Grammy Awards. The Grammy Award for Best Traditional World Music Album was first awarded in 2004 alongside the award for Best Contemporary World Music Album. ... The 47th Grammy Awards were held on February 13, 2005 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. ...

In addition to this, their community has received further recognition and respect within the Jewish community because of the work of Noam Katz, a Jewish American musician. His 2005 CD, Mirembe ("peace" in Lugandan), featured the Abayudaya on the majority of its songs. Between studying at a seminary, Katz travels North America, and gives a slideshow/concert which showcases the music of the Abayudaya.

The music of the Abayudaya is distinctly African yet Jewish at the same time. Many of the songs combine words in Lugandan as well as Hebrew. Additionally, Psalms and prayers are set to a distinctly African tune and rhythm. Music is viewed as important by the community due to a variety of reasons. Some elders of the community have maintained that it was music that enabled the community to persevere through the harsh conditions that they had to endure under the reign of Idi Amin. Idi Amin Dada (mid-1920s[1]â€“16 August 2003) was an army officer and president of Uganda. ...

See also

The Rt. ... The British Uganda Program was a plan to give a portion of British East Africa to the Jewish people as a homeland. ...

References

External links

This page aims to list articles on Wikipedia that are related to Uganda. ... Telephones - main lines in use: 54,074 (1998) Telephones - mobile cellular: 9,000 (1998) Telephone system: seriously inadequate; three cellular systems have been introduced, but a sharp increase in the number of main lines is essential; e-mail and Internet services are available domestic: intercity traffic by wire, microwave radio... // Main article: Uganda before 1900 The earliest human inhabitants in a contemporary Uganda were hunter-gatherers and Manesh. ... Culture of Uganda - Ugandas population is made up of a complex and diverse range of tribes. ... Africans of three main ethnic groups--Bantu, Nilotic, and Nilo-Hamitic--constitute most of the population. ... As a developing country, health indicators in Uganda lag behind the rest of the world. ... The Roman Catholic Church in Uganda is part of the worldwide Roman Catholic Church, under the spiritual leadership of the Pope and curia in Rome. ... Province of the Church of Uganda is a member church of the Anglican Communion. ... // In 1989 Islam was practiced by an estimated 2. ... Hinduism in Uganda appeared with the Hindu immigrants who came to Eastern and Southern Africa. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_Uganda. ... This is a list of cities and towns in Uganda: â€¢ â€¢ Ugandan topics Communications â€¢ Economy â€¢ History â€¢ Military â€¢ Transport Politics and people Foreign relations â€¢ Human rights â€¢ Political parties Idi Amin â€¢ Milton Obote â€¢ Yoweri Museveni â€¢ Tito Okello Geography Cities and towns â€¢ Demographics â€¢ Districts and counties Culture Education â€¢ Islam â€¢ Judaism â€¢ Languages â€¢ â€¢ List of cities... Uganda is divided into 56 districts, listed below. ... Counties of Uganda The Districts of Uganda are divided into approximately 163 counties. ... The national park system of Uganda is maintained by the Uganda Wildlife Authority. ... The Politics of Uganda is based on a democratic parliamentary system with universal suffrage for all citizens over 18 years of age. ... The President of Uganda is the head of state in Uganda. ... Uganda is landlocked and depends on foreign imports for most of its consumer goods and energy requirements. ... Uganda continues to experience difficulty in advancing respect for human rights. ... Political parties in Uganda details political parties in Uganda. ... Edward Mutesa. ... Obote pictured at the beginning of his second regime in 1980 Apollo Milton Obote (December 28, 1924, Apac, Uganda â€“ October 10, 2005, Johannesburg, South Africa), Prime Minister of Uganda 1962-1966 and President of Uganda 1966-1971/1980-1985, was a Ugandan political leader who led Uganda to independence... Idi Amin Dada (mid-1920s[1]â€“16 August 2003) was an army officer and president of Uganda. ... Yusufu Kironde Lule (1912 - 1985) was President of Uganda for a short period in 1979. ... Godfrey Binaisa Godfrey Lukongwa Binaisa QC (born 30 May 1920), lawyer, former President of Uganda and Attorney General in the post independent government of Uganda of the 1960s. ... Paulo Muwanga was, as the chairman of the governing Military Commission, the de-facto President of Uganda for a few days in May 1980 until the establishment of the Presidential Commission of Uganda. ... Bazilio Olara-Okello (1929 â€“ January 9, 1990) was a Ugandan Brigadier in the military coalition between Tanzania Peoples Defence Force and Uganda National Liberation Army (UNLA) during the Uganda-Tanzania War that overthrew Idi Amin in 1979. ... Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (born c. ...

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