JJ Keki, leader of Abayudaya Jewish community of Uganda, to speak Nov. 13
Released: October 30, 2009
TOPEKA – As part of the Diversity Matters Series, JJ Keki, leader of Abayudaya Jewish community of Uganda, will speak from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, at Mabee Library, Washburn University.
Keki, serving as leader of the 1,000 member Jewish community, is a Black African Jew living in a country that only sanctions Islam and Christianity. He has been acclaimed in Oprah magazine for his leadership of the “Delicious Peace” interfaith Fair Trade coffee cooperative, and has also been nominated for a Grammy in traditional world music.
He will share the story of his community’s evolution, from the struggle to maintain Jewish identity in the face of persecution, to the remarkable development of ties with neighbors of different faiths.
This program is part of a Kulanu speaking tour to raise funds for two Abayudaya schools that educate and feed 700 Jewish, Christian, and Muslim children. Kulanu is a non-profit organization which supports isolated and emerging Jewish communities around the world.
The event is sponsored by Washburn University’s Diversity Fellows, multicultural affairs office, international programs office, history department, Phi Kappa Phi, Washburn Student Government Association, and Temple Beth Shalom’s Endlich Fund.
For more information, contact Joanne Altmann at (785) 670-1564 or visit http://www.washburn.edu/temp/Dr_As_project_WU_version.pub.
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