Cantors Assembly Abayudaya Haggadah

A message from Hazzan Mike Weis of the Cantor’s Assembly

One of the prime directives of the CA’s mission to Uganda in 2019 was the creation of a one-of-a-kind music project to support the Abayudaya community. I am pleased to say that that project has achieved the first stage of completion: a complete, full-color, multi-media, virtual Haggadah that tells the story of the first 100 years of existence of the Abayudaya community in words, pictures, music and video.

Published by the Cantors Assembly and produced by Hazzanim Mike Stein and Jeremy Stein, this haggadah is only seeing a limited Beta release for this Pesah.

Given the obvious time constraints, we are seeking as much feedback as possible, and would like to get this into as many hands as possible. Though there is a suggested donation of $18 per copy, in truth, this year, we just want people to use the haggadah and provide us with  feedback so that we can make it even better for its official release next spring.

If you have the opportunity to share this with your communities prior to Pesah, that would be ideal. Otherwise, anytime you can do so would be most beneficial.

All proceeds from this project will go to benefit the Abayudaya community.

To learn more visit this page on the Cantor’s Assembly website.

To purchase or download the Haggadah, click here.

Israel & The Abayudaya Community: A Rabbinical Dialogue

A Marsorti.org webinar will take place on Sunday, March 7th, 2021

at 9:00 AM, PT / 12:00 Noon, ET / 7:00 pm, Israel time / 8:00 pm, Uganda time.

The Abayudaya Jews of Uganda seek equality and inclusion in Israel, in the global Jewish community and, in the Zionist  community. In Israel they face ongoing discrimination and legal challenges in their quest for full recognition by the State.

As we begin to prepare for Pesach, a holiday of questions, Masorti brings together distinguished rabbis across countries and time zones to explore some answers (and maybe more questions…these are rabbis!) in a Zoom webinar.

The special guest speaker is Rabbi Gershom Sizomu.  Rabbi Gershom Sizomu is the first native-born, ordained, Black rabbi in Sub-Saharan Africa. He is also the first chief rabbi of the Abayudaya in Uganda, a member of the Ugandan Parliament and a Grammy award nominee.  He will be joined by:

• Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Vice Chancellor for Religious Life and Engagement at JTS, Member of Masorti Foundation Board
• Rabbi Andy Sacks, Director of the Masorti Movement’s Rabbinical Assembly in Israel, Director of Masorti Israel’s Religious Affairs Bureau
• Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Rector and Distinguished Service Professor of Philosophy, American Jewish University, Member of the Masorti Foundation Board

For additional information and to register, refer to the announcement page at Marsorti.org.

We also recommend Background Information on the Israeli Supreme Court Case Regarding the Jewish Community in Uganda.

This was posted on The Rabbinical Assembly website on January 26, 2021.

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 in Aaron’s memory, 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.