Kahal Kadosh She'erit Yisrael Jews in Uganda - The Establishment of Shomer Mitzvot Jews in Uganda

The Kahal Kadosh She'erit Yisrael in Uganda is a group of Jews whose practice clings strictly to Orthodox observance. Our group is called She'erit Yisrael because at the time Idi Amin declared a ban on our community, and a majority converted to other religions. The few individuals that remained are those that make up our kehilla. For that reason we decided to call ourselves "She'erit Yisrael" meaning the remnants of Yisrael in Uganda. Our congregation comprises approximately 129 members - both adults and children who aim to achieve an Orthodox giur. In addition to that, we yearn to go to Eretz Yisrael - the home of the Jewish People. Can one claim to be Jewish without Israel? We believe that a complete Jew must think of Israel and of the Holy city "Yerushalayim" - the city in which we had our Beit Mikdash (Holy Temple). Our stay in Uganda is not conducive to our Jewish practice; we love to be in Israel because HASHEM desired the lovers of his Torah to dwell there.

Our Observances

We are always learning more and more, but we attempt to live a 'shomer mitzvot' lifestyle based on Chazal and orthodox Judaism. We have listed in brief the kind of mitzvoth and practices we have taken on below.

Daily prayers

We consider praying as a positive precept; for Scriptures says, "Ve'Otto Ta'abbod" "and to Him shall you serve (Debarim 6:13), the above in simple terms implies prayers. For that reason we have prayers three times a day i.e. Shachrit, Min'cha and Maarib/Ar'bit. Early in the morning, every male loves putting on the Tallit and Tefellin. For our small children, they are taught to say the "Modeh Anii L'faneikha Melekh Chaiy…" and the "Shema" before leaving their beds. In the afternoon, we make sure to say the second Amidah and in the evening we have to recite the 'Shema."

The Shabbat

We start preparing for the Shabbat from Yom Rishon (Sunday). By Friday, as scriptures say, "Zachor et Yom Hashabbat L'kad'sho "remember the Shabbat day to keep it holy" (Sh'mot. 20:8) our foremost concern is lighting 'Nerot Shel Shabbat' (Shabbat candles), and gathering for Kabbalat Shabbat (welcoming the Shabbat with Friday night services). We make sure to avoid doing a 'melacha' - such as traveling, fire, electric lights, automatic devices, sports and amusement etc. And as usual, the Havdalah is done to distinguish Shabbat from other weekdays. We of course recite the Kiddush - which is part of sanctifying Shabbat day.

Pesach

As a historical event, Pesach commemorates the liberation of the B'nei Yisrael from Egyptian bondage. Like it is said in scriptures Duet.16: 1, observe the month of Abib and celebrate the Pesach of HASHEM your God, it is therefore a positive precept to observe the festival of Matzot. Our Seders are held on the nights of 15th and 16th of Nissan and the tradition is that the 1st, 2nd and 7th & 8th are considered shabbaton on which no work is done amongst community members and no touching, selling and eating of any Chametz.

Shabu'ot

The She'erit Yisrael members regard Shabu'ot occurring on the sixth and seventh of Sivan as a festival that marks the end of the counting of the Omer. Because Israel is a people by virtue of the Torah, the She'erit members are delighted in the festival that remarks the receiving of the Torah on Har Sinai. As such Shabu'ot is observed for two good days and the laws concerning work on Shabu'ot are as the same as on Pesach. Because we do not eat any meat completely, we do eat dairy and honey.

Sukkot

The festival of succot begins on the fifteenth of Tishri and lasts for seven days. We dwell in our booths constructed by banana leaves and grass. Under the same time, we celebrate Shemini Atzeret and Sim'hat Torah hence nine days.

Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur

These occur in the same month with Succot. Rosh Hashanah, which starts on the eve of 1st Tishri, is a day for blowing Shofar. The first and second day are considered Shabbat on which no work is done apart from having services and blowing the Shofar. As for Yom Kippur, this is a day on which we abstain from eating and drinking any thing. Usually, we start fasting from 6.40 pm on the eve of 10th Tishri until dusk after reciting the Neilah, which is normally done at around 6.55 pm onwards when its approaching the eve of 11th Tishri.

Rosh Hodesh

Rosh Hodesh is the beginning of the New Month. Rosh Hodesh differs from other ordinary weekdays in the order of services held daily and the day remains very important in the She'erit Yisrael community of Uganda.

Chanukah

This is known to be a festival of dedication or sometimes called a festival of lights, which occurs from the eve of 24th Kislev until the eve of 1st Tebet and lasts for eight days. We recall a miracle that happened to our fathers in the days of the temple that there was no pure oil for lighting the Menorah because the Romans had defiled the Mikdash. However, some little oil found that could only sustain a single day, managed to uphold for eight days. In memory of the above miracle, we light the Chanukah candles for eight evenings.

Fast of Esther and Purim

The 13th of Adar is a fast of Esther and the day preceding the 14th of Adar marks the joyous festival of Purim. This reminds us about the plot by Wicked Haman to massacre all Jews in Persia. We therefore observe the above two days because we believe that Mordechai, Esther and other Jews in Persia fasted and prayed for HASHEM's mercy to be delivered out from the destructive design of the Wicked Haman. The Megilah is read but cursing, whenever they mention the name of Haman, Zeresh etc is not our custom. We have the local Esther drama acted on the 14th Nissan and local beers are drunk after the Megilah reading.

17th Tammuz and 9th Ab

The 17th Tammuz and 9th Ab mark the demolition of the first and second Temples. Unlike the fast of 17th Tammuz, the fast of 9th Ab like that of Yom Kippur begins at sundown and closes at nightfall of the following day. These two days are considered very important thus observed in the Kahal Kadosh She'erit Yisrael Jews in Uganda.

Brit Milah and child naming

All our male newborn male children have to fulfill the mitzvah of Brit Milah. This is usually held on the 8th day after the birth of a male child and the naming too takes place the same time. One who does the part of Mohel is Uri, and not only in the She'erit community but even in the conservative group. Uri Katula has trained other adults how to perform this task in case of his absence. Currently, we have more than four members carrying out the circumcision work.

Bar/Bat Mitziwah

At the age of twelve years for girls and 13 Years for boys, Bar/Bat Mitzvah is held immediately one enters that age. The concerned children are set free from their parents and accorded with the responsibility for their actions.

Jonathan Memorial Day

We recall the time when the rescue of the Israel Hostage took place at Entebbe Air Port in Uganda, a tough moment that resulted in the death of our dear brother Yoni Netanyahu. The 4th of July therefore has been confirmed as a special day in the Kahal Kadosh She'erit Yisrael Jews in Uganda; a day that marks the death of Yoni and rescue of the hostages of the holy children from the hands of the Hijackers/Idi Amin. On this day, every one is in grief and a brief history concerning the event is read to the members of Kahal Kadosh She'erit Yisrael Jews in Uganda.

Shmuel Memorial Day

Dr. Shmuel Wapnick is considered a very great pillar in the establishment of the She'erit Israel community in Uganda. He was one of our religious teachers and contributed a lot towards the design of this community as regards the Orthodox establishment in Uganda. He sent many books concerning the Orthodox practice and had started constructing a synagogue, which is still under contruction. In addition to all this, after Rabbi Bakshe Doron (the previous Chief Rabbi of Israel) approved our travel to Eretz Yisrael, Shmuel had pledged to sponsor this trip of one family going for a kosher giur; unfortunately he left this world without implementing his goals. For that matter, we recall his efforts done towards the plight of Kahal Kadosh She'erit Yisrael community in Uganda. The community, whose funds were donated by Jack Goldfarb, planted some trees in Memory of Shmuel Z"L.

The Ghetto/Yishub

The Ghetto/Yishub from where all members have resorted to residing is our communal home. It is located in Putti Village, Kabwangasi Sub County in Pallisa District. Our houses are grass hatched, constructed around the synagogue and at least most of them are fixed with mezuzot brought to us last Tammuz 5763 by Sjimon Den Hollander the President of the Magen Yisrael (the Ugandan Jews support group). The members in the Yishub comprise of adults, the youth and the children (some of which are orphans) and our Reb does the teaching in the Yishub. Our main food is Cassava, Maize flour, Millet flour, sorghum flour, potatoes, beans, Groundnuts and Soya beans. Food is usually served and brought to the round table for all members. We do observe kosher; as such, apart from kosher fish, we stopped eating any meat until the day we shall be taught to slaughter. The community's major activities are farming, making bricks and knitting of kippot/table cloths/Kiddush cover cloths. Our clothing differs from that of other communities in Uganda; men do put on Kippah all day while the married ladies cover their heads full time.

Hevrah Kadishah

The Hevrah Kadishah is group of members in our community that is responsible for burial ceremonies. The Hevrah Kadishah group is responsible for protecting the dead body from being touched by members, responsible for purchasing all burial facilities, and the group comprises of members trained by the community Reb to conduct burial services where necessary. It is our custom that the dead body does not exceed fifteen hours while still on earth. We have always been very conscious about this despite of the burial facilities like burial cloths and the "Mitah" which have proved very expensive for the group to afford.

The Administrative Structure

The community is independent with its Cabinet composed of the Community Coordinator, Secretary for foreign/Internal affairs, Secretary for Finance, Secretary for Education, Secretary for Women Affairs, Secretary for Youth, Secretary for Elderly Affairs and three Cabinet members.