Congregation Etz Chaim welcomes Rabbi Gershom Sizomu, who was ordained at the Zeigler School of Rabbinic Studies in 2007, and is the spiritual leader of the 100-year-old Abayudaya ("People of Judah") community of almost 3,000 Jews living in rural villages in Eastern Uganda.

He is the grandson of community elder Rabbi Samson Mugombe and lives near the Moses Synagogue in the village of Nabugoya, which he and others from the community’s early 1980s “Kibbutz movement” built with their own hands. His goal has been to gather back together what was left of the Abayudaya community after the devastating reign of Idi Amin Dada ended in 1979. "Rabbi Gershom," (as he is called) has been aided by the American Jewish community, particularly his colleagues in the Conservative movement, who have provided funds to help the Abayudaya community grow and strengthen. Many of Gershom's colleagues have been privileged to travel to the Mbale district to meet, teach, and officiate at the Beit Din, and to welcome new converts to the Abayudaya community.

Please note: Rabbi Gershom will be bringing some of the handcrafted items made by the Abayudaya community  such as kippot, challah covers, etc., to sell while here at Etz Chaim.