Africans convert in Uganda ceremony

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Published: 07/15/2008

More than 250 Africans converted to Judaism in Uganda.

Last week's conversions were supervised by Gershom Sizomu, Africa's first native-born black rabbi, and other Conservative rabbis from the United States, who saw each potential convert as part of a Bet Din.

A ceremony in the Abayudaya village of Nabogoye included converts from Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and Nigeria. Some 800 Abayudayans formally converted to Judaism in 2002.

"The relationship between God and the Jews in the Torah resonates for many spiritual seekers," Sizomu said. "It is important that Africans and others know that they can choose Judaism as a spiritual path and that we are open to them."

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