Abayudaya Shabbaton w/Rabbi Shadrach Mugoya – Open House Potluck Brunch 

Sunday, July 23rd - Open House Potluck Brunch, 10am-2pm, both Havdalah & Brunch at: 5707 NE 15th Ave, Portland 97211

Rabbi (Levi) Shadrach Mugoya is a member of the Abayudaya (“People of Judah”) of Eastern Uganda. Rabbi Eri of his village, Namutumba, appointed him to be his successor, “a great honor and a great responsibility.” Shadrach attended Uganda Christian University, graduating with a degree in Project Planning and Entrepreneurship in 2013. He studied in the yeshiva of the Chief Abayudaya Rabbi, Gershom Sizomu, in Mbale, the large city about 76 kilometers from his village.

Shadrach is now enthusiastically pursuing his studies with ALEPH (Alliance for Jewish Renewal) so that he can lead his people well as their rabbi. This fall he will be attending the Conservative Yeshivah in Israel. Most importantly, he and his beloved Naomi, along with 6 other Namutumba couples, will be married in their village by a rabbi from the U.S. August 8th. The community is currently recovering from an extreme food shortage caused by prolonged draught, hoping for a good harvest by late July.

The Ezra Uganda Assistance Fund provided money for food during the food shortage and is currently funding the creation of a complete solar campus for Namutumba’s new Tikkun Olam Primary School. P’nai Or of Portland’s Tikkun Olam Committee’s Abayudaya Fund supports the education of about 20 Abayudaya students, from pre-school through college age, including 9 from Shadrach’s village.