A community of Jewish converts in Uganda recently gained official recognition from Jewish Agency of Israel, the world’s largest Jewish nonprofit organization. In a letter to the leader of the Conservative Movement in Israel, Jewish Agency ruled that Abayudaya Jews of Uganda must be recognized by the state. This is a significant development since only converts from formally recognized communities are eligible to seek citizenship in the country under the Law of Return.
In the letter to Rabbi Andrew Sacks, director of Rabbinical Assembly of the Conservative Movement in Israel, Jewish Agency confirmed that as of 2009, “We view the Abayudaya in Uganda as a recognized community registered with the Masorti-Olami world Conservative movement.”
The letter from Yehuda Scharf, director of Jewish Agency’s immigration division, also stated that the organization now recognizes the authority of Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, the spiritual leader of all Abayudaya Jews.
After splitting from Christianity in the start of the 20th century, members of the Abayudaya community started identifying as Jews and abiding by Jewish customs and laws. In 2002, a rabbinical court sent to the African country by Israel officially converted most of the 1,500 members of the Abayudaya community. Since 2009, Abayudaya Jews have had their own rabbi.
While Israel’s Ministry of Interior is in charge of approving requests for immigration as well as issuing other visas, it typically relies on rulings and recommendations made by Jewish Agency when the status of a particular community is unclear. In certain cases though, it has overruled Jewish Agency’s decisions.
For many years, requests by Abayudaya Jews to study in Israel or live in the country have been held up, since Israelis have raised pertinent questions about their status as Jews. In the meanwhile, most members of the Abayudaya community were converted to Judaism before 2009 and it is not very clear how Jewish Agency would succeed in implementing its recommendation.
“I am still intent on bringing a group of students here in June, and I’m hoping it will happen,” said Sacks.
Many years ago, Sacks had attempted to bring a group of six young Jews from Uganda on a study program to Israel. Among other things, this program would have included a two-month stay at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem. However, Sacks’ plan fell through eventually since the Ministry of Interior regulations state only Jews are eligible to partake in programs offered by non-degree conferring bodies such as yeshivas and they must acquire special student visas approving their status before being allowed to enroll with any of these bodies.
The Ministry of Interior has so far held off issuing visas to Abayudaya Jews.
“It’s strange because we also have Jews from England and South America participating in the same program, but they’re allowed to come here with tourist visas and change their visas here,” said Sacks. “The Ugandans, though, were told that they must receive their student visas in advance.”
Still, four years ago, one member of the Abayudaya community was allowed to spend an entire year at the Conservative Yeshiva in Jerusalem, where he studied Judaism before returning to Uganda.
Asked how the Ministry of Interior feels about Jewish Agency’s recent ruling, a spokesperson said, “Since this is an issue of policy, it has been passed on to those who make policy decisions. We are awaiting responses.”
In a related incident, an Abayudaya Jew who first sought permission to immigrate to Israel five years ago was contacted by Jewish Agency last month and asked if he is still interested in relocating. Mugoya Shadrach Levi had applied for citizenship under Israel’s Law of Return but never received a response from the Ministry of Interior.
Photo Credits: Richard Sobol
