An Israel newspaper reported that its not in recognition with the Ugandan Jewish community last Thursday.
Minister for interior denied the request for Kibitz Yosef who currently dwells in southern Israel. The report says Yosef was to leave the country by 14th june 2018.
A representative told an Israel newspaper that the decision represented Israel’s stance on the Ugandan Jewish community, not just the applicant in question. The ministry said Yosef could challenge its decision in the High Court of Justice.
Uganda currently has upto two thousand jews (Abayudaya) whose roots trace early twentieth century when a former leader read the bible and welcomed Judaism.
Its should be noted that United states conservative rabbis converted most members hence the disown as jewish by Israel which has haredi Orthodox Chief Rabbinate
In the year 2016 the jewish agency for Israel recognised the community which created path for some members who relocated to Israel. In the meantime the Ugandan Abayudaya are struggling to obtain similar recognition. Israel last December denied visa application by community member to study at yeshiva leading to racism accusations.
This week, the Chief Rabbinate published a list of draft criteria for religious courts in the Diaspora to have its conversions accepted in the Jewish state. If enacted, Jewish converts in America may face additional hurdles in being recognized as Jewish by the Chief Rabbinate, which controls Jewish marriage, divorce, conversion and burial in the Jewish state. However, it does not have authority over who can immigrate to the country.
