Is Uganda Safer for Jews Than America? Inside Africa's Abayudaya Community with Shoshana McKinney Kirya-Ziraba
Is Uganda Safer for Jews Than America? Inside Africa's Abayudaya Community with Shoshana McKinney Kirya-Ziraba  
Podcast: Being Jewish with Jonah Platt
Published On: Tue Jul 28 2026
Description: Are Jews safer in Uganda than in America?Jonah interviews Shoshana McKinney Kirya Ziraba, a Southern California-born Black Jewish woman, now living in Eastern Uganda among the Abayudaya Jewish community. Shoshanah tells us about the nonprofit she runs called Tikvah Chadasha Uganda, Hebrew for "New Hope for Uganda,"  which provides women in Uganda with sustainable chicken farms, vocational and rehabilitation support for children with disabilities, and educational programs.Shoshana discusses the origins of the Abayudaya Jewish community, and how those who converted about 100 years ago are not the same kinds of converts we think of today. She explains their Sephardic influences, distinctive music, and persecution under Idi Amin when Judaism was outlawed, followed by a public resurgence. Shoshana also compares antisemitism in America with Uganda, and describes Uganda as a healing place where her Black and Jewish identities are normalized. She tells us how Ugandan Synagogues don’t need security the way most diaspora Synagogues do. Shoshanah explains Tikvah Chadasha Uganda’s programs: repairing wheelchairs, supporting children with disabilities and medical needs, providing glasses, building chicken farms to help women earn income, and selling challah covers and kippot on their website. She shares funding challenges and ways to support via tikvahuganda.org and on their YouTube channel.MENTIONS:1:30 – The History of the Abayudaya Community in UgandaShoshana discusses how the Abayudaya community came to be, and its roots and connection to Judaism. The Abayudaya and “All of Us”: Partners in Tikkun Olam3:35 – Music in the Abayudaya CommunityShoshana discusses music in the community, and its Grammy-nominated albumAbayudaya: Music from the Jewish People of Uganda3:55 – Judaism Outlawed in UgandaShoshanaa discusses the period in Uganda where Judaism was outlawed. https://jewishmuseum.org.uk/2019/12/04/the-abayudaya-the-jews-of-uganda/5:50 – Christian Ugandan Pro-Israel RallyShoshana tells us about the Christian pro-Israel rally that occured in Uganda after the October 7th attacks.https://www.jns.org/israel-news/african-christians-hold-prayer-rally-for-israel-in-uganda11:54 – Discussion about Tikvah Chadasha Uganda Shoshana describes the non-profit organization she formed in Uganda to support women, girls, and the Jewish community.https://jwa.org/blog/7-questions-shoshana-mckinney-kirya-ziraba16:21 – Ohr Torah Stonehttps://ots.org.il/Learn More About ShoshanaShoshana McKinney InstagramAbayudaya Communities in UgandaTikvah Uganda WebsiteTikvah Chadsha Uganda YoutubeMore Being Jewish:Watch Being Jewish on YouTube:www.youtube.com/@beingjewishpodcastSubscribe to the Being Jewish Newsletter:bit.ly/beingjewishnewsletterFor Sponsorships, please email:Jonah@JonahPlatt.comTo contact us & all things BJJP:www.BeingJewishPodcast.comFollow Jonah on:Instagram - @JonahPlattX - @JonahPlattFollow Being Jewish on:Instagram - @BeingJewishPodcastTikTok - @BeingJewishCREDITSWritten and Hosted by Jonah Platt, Executive Producer: Jonah Platt, Associate Producer: Rachel Stern, Head of Operations: Josie Rothschild, Operations Associate: Emma Webb, Research Associate: Samantha Greenwald, Production Associate: Sasha Fiora, Production Interns: Tatum Rosenblatt, Eden Waldman, YouTube Consultants: Jason Al-Samarrie & Zac Stein, Post Production by TIMEWEAVER, Creative Director: F. Brian Scofield, ACE, Lead Editor: Noam Klement, Editors: Gray Clevenger, Geoff McGee. Graphic Designer: Noah Bell, Theme Music by Gabriel Mann, Performed by Jonah Platt