Dinner Discussion with Rabbi Gershom Sizomu

Join us for a dinner discussion with Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, the Chief Rabbi of Uganda. Rabbi Sizomu will share with us stories about his experiences as a rabbi of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda, and there will be a musical component as well!

Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, the leader of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda, is the first black rabbi from sub-Saharan Africa to be ordained from an American rabbinic school. In 2008, he was ordained at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies program at the University of Judaism in Los Angeles and returned home to Uganda to lead his Jewish community and establish a yeshiva in Uganda to train Jews from ancient and emerging communities throughout Africa. The Abayudaya, whose tribal name means "people of Judah," trace their Jewish origins to the turn of the 20th century.

Today, Rabbi Sizomu, a charismatic leader and accomplished musician, continues to help his community remain healthy and strong, both physically and spiritually. The Abayudaya are a growing 100-year old community of over 1,000 Jews living among their 10,000 Christian and Muslim neighbors in scattered villages in the rolling, green hills of Eastern Uganda. With the support of Be'chol Lashon, at which Rabbi Sizomu is Senior Rabbinic Associate, the Abayudaya are engaged in a comprehensive Health and Development Project that includes building a Health Center, preventing disease, and developing economy. Improved healthcare and community development provided by the Abayudaya Jews to their Christian and Muslim neighbors fosters good will and cooperation among the communities.

Questions? Contact Rachel (rlevy@fas)