By Mark Gelfand

For over 100 years, the Abayudaya (“People of Judah”) community has been devoutly practicing Judaism in their villages near the city of Mbale, in eastern Uganda.

Their five synagogues cooperatively share an organization called the Abuyadaya Men’s Club.

The Men’s Club leaders, Allan and Sam, have been pursuing ideas that might support their communities, ideas especially urgently needed during the extreme lockdown times of COVID.

While the Federation of Jewish Men’s Clubs (FJMC) and the Kulanu organization had provided some support, a new proposal to establish an Abayudaya community chicken broiler farm would be a larger, less-manageable venture. (Click here to continue reading the article in the Boston Jewish Journal.)

Abayudaya Jews of Uganda: Progress Through Challenges

Click at this link for a 25 minute video on the Abayudaya that was presented at the 2021 FJMC Convention.

Contribute to the Abayudaya

The Seaboard Region of the FJMC established a fund to assist the Abayudaya during the COVID-19 crisis and is now collecting contributions to help the Hadassah School, as well as assist with the basic needs of the Abayudaya community.  Funds go directly to the school and to the Abayudaya Men's Club, which is working to provide for the school and the community. Please go to Crisis Support for the Abayudaya to contribute.