Narrow Uganda

Regarding the story on Uganda Jewry from September 16, “A tale of Uganda’s Jewish community,” the reporter gave a very narrow view on Uganda Jewry and in particular the Abayudaya communities. The majority of Black Ugandan Jews were converted by a series of Conservative rabbinical courts from 2002 onwards.

Since 2008 Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, who was ordained by JTS in New York, has built synagogues, schools, mikveh ritual baths and more. And the community is flourishing.

He was also responsible for bringing Kenyan Black Jews to Mbale in Uganda to study, and, in due course, was on the rabbinical court that converted the Kenyan Jews. There is a Jewish village in Kenya with a shul, library etc. Under the talented leadership of Yehuda Kimani, who was wickedly deported from Israel on arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport with a valid visa signed by our ambassador in Nairobi, this community is also flourishing.

By selective reporting, the paper and reporter have done little if anything to aid this amazing emerging community in Uganda and its branch in Kenya.

As the Post itself previously reported, the prime minister’s brother Ido and David Breakstone, vice chairman of the Jewish Agency, opened a building in Kampala in memory of Yoni Netanyahu for use by the Abayudaya community when in Kampala.

And of course, it is open to all Jews, irrespective of color or denomination. I am proud to be a friend of both communities. JUSTIN PHILIPS Jerusalem