Ninety year old "Rabbi" Samson Magombe of the Abayudaya community, Uganda. Rabbi Samson came to Judaism as a young boy when he studied under the community's founder, Semei Kakungulu. When Kakungulu died he became a community leader and continued to motivate community members to remain Jewish, even through the anti-Jewish oppression of Idi Amin's government in the '70s. Samson can no longer lift himself out of his bed to get to Shabbat services in the nearby Namanyonyi synagogue so after services the congregation comes by for a visit. Samson is grandfather of many of the community's current leaders, such as "Rabbi" Gershom Sizomu and Joab "JJ" Keki. [Update: Since this web site went on-line Rabbi Samson has passed away. The community misses him greatly.] |