Ugandan Rabbi to Speak In Roxbury

ROXBURY — Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, the spiritual leader of the Abayudaya Jews of Uganda, will be discussing his community and how our local community might be supportive at a private home in Roxbury on Sunday, August 5. Rabbi Sizomu is completing his ordination at the Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies at the University, and expects to be the first Abayudaya rabbi educated in a seminary. He is being sponsored by the Institute for Jewish & Community Research and is currently the ambassador for the Abayudaya in the United States.

The program is being sponsored by The Federation-Jewish Communities of Western CT, Inc. There is a minimum $1,000 gift to attend. The fundraising event will include a cocktail reception.

For reservations and directions, phone the Federation offices at 267-3177 or send e-mail to Dferrell@jfed.net.

Nestled within the rolling hills and valleys of Eastern Uganda lives a community of 750 black Ugandans who practice Judaism, observing Jewish holidays, singing Hebrew songs, dining under the Laws of Kashrut, and keeping the Shabbat holy, as they have for generations. The Abayudaya Jews of Uganda want to become less isolated and to have more interaction with the outside Judaic world.

The Federation-Jewish Communities of Western CT, Inc is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit serving Litchfield and New Haven counties which helps to create and strengthens community. The Federation provides funding of local constituent Jewish organizations and creates programs for children, seniors and supports people in need through their annual campaign.

The Federation is directly engaged and collaborates with other organizations like the Institute for Jewish & Community Research in supporting Jews and Jewish communities in Israel and worldwide, where they can make a real difference in people’s lives.