Each morning, wrapped in talit and tefilin, I stand in prayer. And, as I pray, I do so hoping that my prayer will lead to new understandings of the words of prayer, unlocking new dimensions in my relationship with myself, God and community. As I reach the Ahavah Rabbah (the prose and blessing that comes just before the Shema), the prayer in which we speak of God's great love for us - I gather the four corners of my tzizit, and say "V'havienu l'shalom m'arba kanfot ha'aretz v'tolichenu komemiut l'lartzeinu - Bring us to peace from the four corners of the earth and lead us upright to our land." Yet, often when I say these words, my thoughts and focus have already leaped to the Shema. The centrality of the Shema in our tradition calls to me to focus on God's unity and love, distracting me from this idea of ingathering our people from all ends of the earth.
Earlier this month, life became the liturgy as I participated in an extraordinary 
mission to the Abuyadaya community in Nabugoye Hill, Uganda. Joined by four other North American rabbinic colleagues, we participated in the historic installation of East Africa's first Rabbi, Gershom Sizomu (who was ordained here at the Ziegler School this past May) and in the formal conversion of some 250 East African Jews. In an instant, V'havienu l'shalomwas no longer the expression of a messianic vision that could only happen when people from all ends of the world come together in the World to Come; these words were the here and now.
To our wonderful delight, more than 250 people from Uganda (from Nabugoye Hill and from other villages in other parts of the country), Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, and South Africa formally entered the Jewish people. Living in a world without many of the conveniences we so readily enjoy (like running water, electricity, technology, and paved roads), it was amazing to consider what many of these gerei tzedek (righteous converts) went through to participate. Many traveled for hours in crowded buses, standing in the back of packed trucks, sleeping on classroom floors, walking long distances and waited - all to affirm their Judaism and to connect with klal Israel.
As the Jewish community marked the historic installation of its first rabbi, the 
celebration was not just one for Ugandan Jews or even East African Jews - but for Jews throughout the world. In addition to our rabbinic delegation, Israelis traveling in the region and teens and adults in Uganda volunteering through the American Jewish World Service flocked to the village, reminding us of an enduring Jewish lesson. Wherever we are, no matter how far away from our physical home we might find ourselves, we have a home that transcends languages and land - a home within the Jewish community.
We convened three simultaneous Batei Din (rabbinic courts of three who meet for the purpose of confirming candidates for conversions), hearing story after story of families, individuals, and communities that had discovered the innate truth of Torah and a commitment to the God of Israel - long before ever finding the larger Jewish community. As we came together, many spoke different languages and we could only converse through the mediation of a translator (in Uganda alone there are more than half a dozen local languages). Yet, throughout our visit, we met one another through the study of Torah, connected with each other through words and melodies of prayer, and created home together within the walls of the Beit Knesset - the synagogue.
One need only to speak briefly with Rabbi Gershom to know of his great vision of 
training others to lead the communities in East Africa and he has already begun implementing plans to bring up to 12 students to study and live within his community for that purpose. And thanks to the generosity and commitment of people and communities such as Gary and Diane Tobin (B'chol Lashon), Rabbi Richard Camras and Shomrei Torah Synagogue (West Hills, California), USY, and Rabbi Howard Gorin, the Abuyadaya community has made great strides in educating its community and in bettering the lives of the community members.
A week after returning, I know that this experience will continue to impact me - personally and professionally - for a long time to come. And, I also know that our visit truly made a difference in the lives of so many Jews in Uganda and throughout East Africa.
As I think back to the prayer of Ahavah Rabbah, one word exemplifies the true lens through which I now say this prayer - komemiut - upright. In the one biblical 
occurrence of this word, Rashi suggests it means that we stand with fully upright posture in the moment when our people achieve the highest level of spiritual development they could ever reach. As if to say, our prayer of Ahavah Rabbah expresses this desire to reach our highest spiritual potential - here and now - with the ingathering of people from the four corners of the earth. The presence of Jews throughout the world is not only an opportunity to experience home away from home, but helps us truly manifest or hadash al Zion Tamid - a new everlasting light shining upon Zion. And in moments such as these, the ingathering of people from across continents and cultures transcends time and space.
Together, we can continue to strive to reach our collective spiritual potential by continuing the ingathering of our people from all over - including those in the Abuyadaya and other East African communities. I hope you will join me in this effort. If you want to visit, I can assure you that the community is very, very happy to welcome its guests and more gracious than any hosts you have ever encountered. But, I also hope that you will consider adding the Abuyadaya community to the list of those tzedakot to which you offer support, knowing that you will make a difference in the day to day lives of our brothers and sisters across the world. (see the end of this email for details)
Imagine - if we could truly bring about the ingathering of people from all corners of the earth, how much more quickly could we truly usher in Messianic times.
Ken yehi ratzon - so may it be.
Shabbat Shalom.