Once outlawed, Uganda Jews open synagogue

[Behind the Aegis]

Source: AP

MBALE, Uganda (AP) — Seth Yonadav swaggered along a dirt path in rural Uganda, pointing toward the new synagogue where young men wearing yarmulkes lingered.

Up on a hill the synagogue stood like a crown jewel, surrounded by schools and a guest house, all owned and operated by a small community of Jewish believers in this remote hamlet founded by a single convert a century ago.

The Stern Synagogue, built largely with money donated by Americans, is a source of pride for hundreds of Ugandan Jews known locally as the Abayudaya, who have tenaciously maintained their belief despite the prejudice they have suffered over the years in this Christian-dominated country.

The community continues to pursue formal recognition from Israel, which would give it a further sense of inclusion. The Jewish Agency, a nonprofit that works closely with the Israeli government to serve Jewish communities worldwide, has recognized the Abayudaya since 2009, spokesman Avi Mayer said.


Read more: https://www.news-journal.com/news/2016/dec/30/once-outlawed-uganda-jews-open-synagogue/

[Judi Lynn]

1. Great article. Best wishes to the Abayudaya and their families.

[dhol82]

2. Just bothered by the use of 'swaggered' in the opening sentence

Gives it a negative connotation.
The writer could have said 'walked proudly' instead.

[lunasun]

3. Me too.. Excited , stride, proudly, so many choices

swag·ger
ˈswaɡər/
verb
1.
walk or behave in a very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive way.
"he swaggered along the corridor"


noun
1.
a very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive gait or manner.
"they strolled around the camp with an