In the past year, Jews have grappled with ideas around race, diversity and inclusion like never before. The Bush Report on racial inclusivity in the Jewish community, published by the Board of Deputies in April 2021, highlighted the false assumption that all Jews are essentially white and European. Having heard from voices in the UK about their experiences of black Jewish life, we now widen the frame for rare insights into Jewish experience within African communities.

 The Ugandan Abayudayah owe their origins to Semei Kagunkulu who in the early years of the 20th century renounced Christianity and circumcised himself and his followers. They followed biblical practice till visiting Jews taught them about rabbinic Judaism. In 2002 they formally converted to Judaism through the American Conservative movement and some have subsequently undergone an Orthodox Conversion.

You can book your place via our partners at Jewish Renaissance.

Rabbi Gershom Sizomu is the first native African to have received Semichah – rabbinic ordination. He is chief Rabbi to the Abayudaya and the first Jewish member of the Ugandan Parliament.

Malka Shabtay is an Israeli anthropologist who has penetrated more than most into this secret world. Her film Finding the lost Jewish tribes of Ethiopia is part of a campaign to have the Bal Ej recognised by Israel as a Jewish community.