Israeli Traveler Brings Prayer from Uganda's Jinja Tribe to Jerusalem's Western Wall

Israeli traveler Yitzhak Carmeli recently concluded a remarkable journey to Africa, where he met members of the Jinja tribe in Uganda. This tribe identifies itself as descendants of the Lost Ten Tribes of Israel and maintains traditional customs and a strong cultural connection to Jewish heritage. During his visit, Carmeli participated in a heartfelt farewell ceremony with the tribe, who wrote a prayer on a piece of notebook paper requesting financial assistance to pay the rent for the land on which they built their prayer house.

The prayer was composed near the Nile River sources, in the midst of a banana plantation, where the tribe sang "Shalom, Shalom" as their hands were raised in unison. Carmeli carried the note with him and, two days later, placed it among the stones of the Western Wall in Jerusalem, symbolically connecting the tribe's hopes with the heart of the Jewish people.

Carmeli reflected on the experience by quoting a biblical verse about gathering the dispersed of Israel from the four corners of the earth, underscoring the spiritual significance of the encounter. The journey highlights the enduring bonds between distant communities and Israel, bridging continents through faith and tradition.