EDITOR'S NOTEBOOK

A Magical Shabbat

I

n Lugandan, the native language of Uganda, Abayudaya
lage. Davis discovered the two groups have lived together "in
means "the Jews." Uganda — a tropical, malaria-rid-
total harmony" for many years. "They farm the same land and
den, still-developing country in East Africa — has 21V2
all the youth attend the same schools," she said.
million people, 2.4 million of whom are HIV positive;
"They have no media interference," she added, "so they do
1 million have AIDS. The average annual income is $330.
not know they are not supposed to get along."
The literacy rate is 40 percent. Health care is limited to about
That got me thinking that part of the reason why the latest
half the population.
Palestinian uprising against Israel has dragged on for 25
Surprisingly, there are Jews in Uganda — obi ervantJews.
months is because the Arab press has brazenly resorted to
They live outside Mbale, a town about four hours from
inciting hatred and violence toward Jews.
Kampala, the capital.
_
Davis had snapshots of kippot crocheted by Muslims like
Edwina Davis, an HIV-AIDS educator from West
Muslim headdresses, but with Jewish symbols. •
Bloomfield, visited Mbale on a six-month
Kosher wine is nowhere to be found in Uganda, so Davis
sojourn to AfriCa to "really work and help" in
brought a bottle of banana wine for Rabbi Gershom Sizomu
the battle against HIV-AIDS. She volun-
to bless. The rebbetzin, Tziporah Nasi, made dinner for
teered with the American Jewish World
Shabbat in her outside kitchen. The meal included challah,
Service, an independent relief agency that
fish and matooke, a native dish of mashed bananas wrapped in
applies the Jewish ideal of tikkun dam, heal-
banana leaves and steamed.
ing the world, in regions torn by poverty,
Davis felt embraced by the couple's engaging demeanor: "It
hunger or disease.
was like we were old friends who had not seen each other for
In 2001, Davis retired after 7 1/2years as
a while." For their two children, an 8-year-old boy and a 6-
ROBERT A. executive director of
year-old girl, Davis brought Jewish
the Michigan Jewish
SKLAR
books, games and chatchkes. The kids
AIDS Coalition in
most enjoyed a colorful tin seder plate.
Editor
Southfield. She
embodies MJAC's
Making The Connection
core values of dignity, compassion,
Sunset welcomed villagers into Moses
hope and prevention.
Synagogue, lit not by electricity but can-
Davis had been to East Africa twice
dles. "It was magical," Davis said.
before. This time, on April 1, she left
A member of Temple Beth El in
for Uganda to serve the Rubaga Youth
Bloomfield Township, Davis found the
Development Association. RYDA
service more traditional. "But the songs
assists vulnerable kids in and around
were
the same and some of the prayers
Kampala, including street children,
were
the
same, as were the blessings," she
orphans and school dropouts. HIV-
said.
AIDS has left 2 million Ugandan
The "three sacred Torahs," she said,
orphans in, ts swirling wake.
Edwina Davis and her driver, Martin.
moved her spiritually.
The human immunodeficiency
In the warmth of this tiny synagogue
virus (HIV), which leads to the
in a distant, struggling land, Davis said she "felt very connect-
acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), knows no
ed to these people and to Judaism."
bounds. It infects fetuses as it attacks pregnant women. It
When Rabbi Gershom invited her to address the villagers,
afflicts women as it does men. It kills people of all back-
she
told them about her work in Kampala, "and about the
grounds, not just homosexuals, by slowly and painfully dis-
need for Jewish youth to be the hope of the Jewish people's
abling the immune system.
future by taking very good care of their reproductive health."
Worldwide, 36 million adults have HIV-AIDS.
The Abayudaya date back to Buganda leader Semei
Kakungulu, who founded Mbale and began to study the
Relishing The Moment
Bible. Converted to Christianity by British missionaries, he
Uganda is 7,500 miles from Michigan. An RYDA driver
came to believe that God loved those who followed the Torah,
named Martin drove Davis to Mbale.
Davis said. Buoyed by this revelation in 1919, he, his sons and
the rest of the men in the town of 3,000 people circumcised
"It is easier to get from Detroit to Mbale than it is to get
themselves, and promised to circumcise new baby boys at the
from Mbale to the Abayudaya," said Davis in a captivating
age of eight days, as God had commanded of Abraham, a vil-
October talk in Southfield. "We had a map, but outside of the
big cities, a map is useless."
lage leader told Davis. To honor the sacred Jewish ritual, the
neighboring communities named the townsfolk "the Jews."
So Martin found a very old man to ask directions to the
The Abayudaya were converted to Judaism in accordance
"church." Soon, Davis spotted a Magen David on a brick
with Halachah (Jewish law) when Israeli and American rab-
building. "Martin," she said, "this must be the place."
bis convened a rabbinic court in Mbale.
"Why do you say that, Madame?" he asked in his native
Davis cherishes her weekend with the 800 Jews of
dialect. Martin used the courtesy title as most Ugandans
Uganda. "The amazing images from my visit will be with
would, out of respect for Davis' age and because she is a
i)
me forever, she said.
Muzungu — a white person.
"When I say out loud that I found a Magen David on a •
He wouldn't have understood, but as they drove up to the
school building in remote, rural Uganda, I get all choked up.
building, a man approached and said, "Shabbat shalom. My
This happens to me over and over again."
name is Moses. Rabbi is not here at the moment, but you are
welcome."
Edwina Davis went to Africa to fight a blood-borne
scourge. She came back with a deeper sense of her Jewish
"I was speechless," Davis said.
identity and our enduring unity as a people. ❑
The Hebrew-speaking Abayudaya live next to a Muslim vil-

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IN

11/1

2002

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