Aaron Kintu Moses, a leader of the Abayudaya Jewish community in Mbale, Uganda, will be visiting Northern Westchester as part of a North American speaking tour sponsored by U.S.-based Kulanu, Inc., a grassroots, not-for-profit Jewish organization supporting isolated and emerging Jewish communities worldwide.
Aaron Kintu Moses will be sharing the story of the 1,000-member Abayudaya community established in 1919 and its struggle to maintain its Jewish identity in Uganda in the face of persecution and intolerance, particularly during the regime of Ugandan dictator Idi Amin. In addition he will describe the extraordinary progress the community has made and the leadership role it has forged among its neighbors. Mr. Moses, a talented musician, will also perform songs composed by members of this Jewish community in Uganda.
• He will share his story with teens in 8th through 12th grades in an “Off the Books” program on October 26, 6:15 – 8:00 p.m. This program is free of charge, but RSVP is required.
• He will then give a talk and musical performance for adults on October 26 at 8:30 p.m. The fee is $10/adult.
Both events will take place at the Yorktown Jewish Center, 2966 Crompond Road, Yorktown Heights.
“The story of the Abayudaya is inspiring,” said Lisa Roberts, Program Director at the Rosenthal JCC of Northern Westchester. “The community has created a strong and vital Jewish presence in the heart of Uganda and works hard to improve the quality of life for its own people as well as for its neighbors. Mr. Moses’ presentation will enable us to hear first-hand how the community has improved all aspects of life in the community.”
Mr. Moses will discuss several Abayudaya-Kulanu development projects including the “Delicious Peace”/Mirembe Kawomera fair trade organic coffee program, which has brought together approximately 1,000 Jewish, Christian and Muslim farmers in a cooperative to produce fair-trade certified coffee. The Abayudaya took the leadership role in this unique program crossing religious lines. The program was awarded the prestigious Dr. Jean Mayer Award from the Tufts Institute for Global Leadership of Tufts University in 2008.
In addition, Mr. Moses will update audiences on the Kulanu-supported Abayudaya primary and secondary schools, which provide education and meals to some 700 Jewish, Muslim and Christian children studying together in peace. Other Abayudaya-Kulanu programs include a child hunger project, health education and women’s empowerment programs, micro-finance, eco-tourism, and more.
Kulanu has been working side-by-side with the leaders of the Abayudaya Jewish community for 16 years. In 2005, Kulanu helped the main Abayudaya village receive electricity when it joined Uganda’s national electricity grid. In 2007, it helped the community drill its first water well at their school.
Kulanu (“All of Us” in Hebrew), founded in 1994, supports isolated and emerging Jewish communities around the world, many of whom have long been disconnected from the worldwide Jewish community. Kulanu raises awareness and support for these communities through education, research, and publications about their histories and traditions. Kulanu communities are found in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North and South America.
The programs are sponsored by the Upper Northern Westchester Kesher group, which includes the Rosenthal JCC, First Hebrew Congregation in Peekskill, Temple Beth Am in Yorktown, Temple Beth Elohim in Brewster, Temple Beth Shalom in Mahopac, Temple Israel of Putnam Valley in Lake Peekskill, Temple Israel of Northern Westchester in Croton-on-Hudson, and Yorktown Jewish Center. It is funded in part by UJA-Federation of New York.
For more information about the Rosenthal JCC, please visit www.rosenthaljcc.org.
For more information about Kulanu and the Abayudaya, please visit www.kulanu.org/abayudaya
For more information about Kulanu, visit www.kulanu.org.
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