A participant of the Lost Jewish Communities track, Jennifer Apple shares her experience in Uganda.

Travel Log
Day Four: Thursday, November 29^th.

Lost Jewish Communities Track:  Uganda

Early morning, 5am to be exact. Woke up and ventured on yet another long and beautiful ride. For a teenager, long travels are normally spent listening to music and catching up on much needed sleep, but for me, the passing scenery and images were part of my experience – I desperately struggled to keep myself awake. Uganda appeared to be a world within itself, ranging in all types of topography and conditions, with more than enough fertilized land and nature to keep many animals happy for the rest of their lives. I wondered how Uganda could possibly be considered a “developing country” with all of its seemingly ‘developed’ land.

Our destination for the day seemed simple. Arrive at the Putti community, spend some time and continue on our way. It started out just as that too. We

picked up a member of the community named Moshe, who was about our age, on the crowded main dirt road and headed onto an alternate path. The deeper we got into the grass, the harder it was to even find a path to drive on, let alone for our van to maneuver itself. When we finally stopped, silence swelled within our close confined travel space. We looked out the

windows at what seemed to be a bare field with just a few structures made of reddish-brown brick and straw ceilings, the most minimal layout. Yet, as soon as we stepped outside, we were greeted with overwhelming handshakes and smiles, a welcoming introductory assembly line of everyone from their small community. We began our stroll to the main structure and found the words “Beit Kenneset”, Synagogue, written in chalk on its exterior, a white wooden ark, makeshift bimah and benches within. Thus began a very different experience than what was expected. As every member of the Putti community sat amongst us, we listened to their leader talk about their community and upbringing, their hopes and beliefs.

A man named Semei Kakungulu founded the Abayudaya, Luganda for “People of Judah”, community in 1917 in Uganda and as the community grew, many people began to decide for themselves what aspects of Judaism they found most important.  The Putti community broke away to try and pursue Judaism in a more orthodox fashion and hopes to eventually make aliya. Their one, and obviously vital, problem though is the fact that there does not exist an Orthodox Rabbi who is interested in converting their whole community, mainly because of the extensive amount of time it would take to do so. Yet, their whole community believes more than anything that, with time, the opportunity will arise and until that day, they will pray three times a day, keep Shabbat, eat Kosher (vegetarian, in their case, since they don’t have someone who is qualified in slaughter) and continue to name their children after Biblical figures. As we concluded our discussion time, the Putti community gathered around a guitar and hand drum and the whole community began to sing songs in Luganda, English and Hebrew. Then, we were finally given the opportunity to sit in small groups and learn about Chanukah. Their leader, Enosh, read one of the Hebrew passages we were discussing and we taught some of the members Hebrew phrases and Chanukah songs.

There are honestly no words to describe how I felt watching these phenomena and listening to these songs. For me, this year in itself is an opportunity to discover where I see myself within the Jewish faith, how I practice my beliefs even with external pressures and my relationship to the State of Israel. Even though I come from a Modern Orthodox background, I purposely placed myself on the Classic Year Course track to expose myself to all the other practices of Judaism and see how I maintain my traditions. To say that this process has been hard is an understatement. It’s been an intense struggle to maintain my old practices, but even more so, to find that spiritual connection everyone claims they find when they come to the State of Israel. As I watched the Putti community singing these songs and learning Hebrew with all their hearts, my eyes filled to the brim with tears

Through all the privileges and opportunities I am given, the one thing I struggle with, the practice and spirituality of Judaism, these “African Jews” have found, embrace and live with every day. I am still unsure whether I was moved by the unbelievable notion of “African Jews” across the world, singing in Hebrew or whether it was simply the fact that it was just an incredible experience. I do know though, that the commitment the Putti community has to Judaism and their desire to push themselves are things every Jew should aspire to create in their lives. I can only hope that, as my Year Course experience draws to a close, I am able to find that place too.