From the Head of Jewish Life
Rabbi Daniel Siegel
Purim and the Promise
Muzungu, Muzungu, Muzungu-how-are-you? As a white person travelling about Uganda this was the word* I would most often hear, being spoken about me or in greeting me.
Then, as I approached Nabugoye Hill (Imbale, Uganda), a mass of children came out to greet me, followed by adults. The ‘differences’ remained the same, they were black and I white, but the greeting was Barukh HaBah. We were all Jews, nothing else mattered.
I lived as a member of this Abayudayah (Lugandan for people of Judah) community for awhile.
At this time of the year fond memories always return to me, as I recall celebrating Purim with these joyous, kind and embracing people.
On Purim, we recall how Haman sought to destroy the Jews whose particularity in religious observance, practices and law, set them apart. Idi Amin, former president of Uganda, likewise tried to eradicate the Abayudaya who survived his persecution, though in only small numbers.
They have now grown into a thriving community with two schools, the Hadassah Primary School and the Semei Kakungulu High School. Their High School welcomes Muslims and Christians who study with their Abayudaya neighbours in their Jewish community school.
In the spirit of Purim, they retain their individuality while respecting and honouring the common humanity of all peoples.
Members of the Abayudaya community have recently applied for immigration to Israel under the Law of Return. While The Jewish Agency considers the Abayudaya a recognised Jewish community, Israel’s Interior Ministry does not.
It has often been observed that Jews are no different from one another for those seeking to destroy us. On Purim, we remind ourselves that yichud means both singularity and unity – neither can exist without the other.
The Abayudaya welcomed me as a fellow Jew into their community and extend their embrace of brotherhood to all their neighbours with whom they have grown through mutual support and respect.
The Rabbis teach: “All of the festivals will be abolished in the future (the messianic age), but Purim will never be abolished”. Purim (which means “lots”) represents the hoped for promise – the casting of all our individual lots together.
ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר כן תהיה לנו
The Jews experienced light and gladness, joy and honour….So may it be for all of us
(Megillat Ester and the Havdalah Service)
Chag Purim Sameach
*Generally taken to mean ‘white man’, as it refers to those who ‘roam aimlessly’ among the predominant native black population of Africa.
