Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Welcoming Shabbat with Lecha Dodi in Uganda

Today we combine two regular features of Jewish Humor Central -- Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places and a song from the Kabbalat Shabbat service to welcome the weekly day of rest.

Two years ago we  posted a video of the girls from the Nangolo Synagogue in Uganda singing Mizmor leDavid from the Shabbat Morning Service. The Nangolo Synagogue is one of nine established by the Abayudaya people of Uganda.

Today we are sharing a video of Nangolo children singing Lecha Dodi in front of the synagogue.

The Abayudaya (People of Judah) are a community in eastern Uganda near the town of Mbale who practice Judaism. They are devout in their practice, keeping kashrut, and observing Shabbat. There are several different villages where the Abayudaya live. Most of these are recognized by the Reform and Conservative movements of Judaism. In June 2016 Rabbi Shlomo Riskin led a Beit Din that performed an Orthodox conversion for the Putti community of Abayudaya.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

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Hava Nagila Around the World - Played by Liub Anya Russian Accordion Band in Africa

Hava Nagila has a way of showing up in the most unexpected places. In August 2019 the Russian accordion band Liub Anya took their music on tour to Africa. 

In Tanzania they performed Hava Nagila on a portable stage to the delight of local African men and women who joined in the festive atmosphere.

Enjoy!

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Inside Nigeria's Jewish Community

They pray like Jews. They study like Jews. They keep the Jewish dietary laws. They observe the Jewish Holidays. But are they Jews?

Igbo Jews are members of the Igbo people of Nigeria who practice a form of Judaism. They either adopted Judaism newly, or are descendants of the Jews of Bilad el-Sudan. 

Over the past decades, some of members of the Igbo have migrated to Israel and especially to Tel Aviv, to fully connect themselves with their religion and ancestries. This wave of immigration can also be explained by the strong diaspora established in Israel since Nigeria was granted independence in 1960.

Nevertheless, the Igbo Jewish community is not recognized by the Israel's Supreme Court or by any other Jewish religious group. Indeed, while they identify themselves as part of the worldwide Jewish community, they are still struggling to be recognized by other Jews.

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO MAY NOT BE VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY ON SOME COMPUTERS AND TABLETS.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THEPLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.

Jewish Traces in Unexpected Places: Uganda Jews Sing a Song of Shalom

In 2011 we posted two videos about the Abayudaya Jewish Community of Uganda and told about their origins in 1919 and how the founder of their community embraced Judaism. 

It's a fascinating story about how Judaism emerged in central Africa, complete with a Yeshiva and Beit Midrash for Torah study and traditional prayer services with tallit and tefillin.  The community observes Shabbat and the laws of kashrut.

Now the Abayudaya and Israeli artist Irene Orleansky have partnered to create "Shalom, Mirembe!" as part of a music collection from Israelites and Jews of Africa and Asia. 

As we get ready for Shabbat, we're sharing this uniquely African musical number, followed by a narrative by the spiritual leader of this community, Rabbi Gershom, of how they got started. Rabbi Gershom discusses the community's nearly 100 year history and the challenges and successes that the Abayudaya have faced during that time.

Enjoy, and Shabbat shalom!

(A SPECIAL NOTE FOR NEW EMAIL SUBSCRIBERS:  THE VIDEO IS NOT VIEWABLE DIRECTLY FROM THE EMAIL THAT YOU GET EACH DAY.  YOU MUST CLICK ON THE TITLE AT THE TOP OF THE EMAIL TO REACH THE JEWISH HUMOR CENTRAL WEBSITE, FROM WHICH YOU CLICK ON THE PLAY BUTTON IN THE VIDEO IMAGE TO START THE VIDEO.)