Shoshana Nambi

Shoshana Nambi is the first female rabbi from Uganda; she was ordained in 2024 by the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York.[1][2][3] She currently serves as the assistant rabbi at Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, California.[4][5]

Early life and education

Nambi grew up in Eastern Uganda, in the Abayudaya community.[6]

Nambi studied for a year at the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies, and later enrolled at Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion (HUC-JIR), spending her first year at the Jerusalem campus before continuing her studies in New York City.[5] She was the first Ugandan female rabbinic student at HUC-JIR.[7]

Career

Nambi is the author of the children’s book The Very Best Sukkah: A Story from Uganda, which is about the celebration of Sukkot in her home community.[8][9] The book, published by Kalaniot Books in 2022, received a 2023 National Jewish Book Award and was named a Sydney Taylor Honor Book.[10][6]

Nambi was ordained in 2024 by the Hebrew Union College – Jewish Institute of Religion in New York City,[2] making her the first Ugandan woman to be ordained as a rabbi,[3] and the second member and first female member of the Abayudaya community to be ordained as a rabbi in the United States, with the first being Gershom Sizomu.[1]

She now serves as the assistant rabbi in Congregation Beth Am in Los Altos Hills, California.[4][5]

Awards and honors

The children’s book Nambi authored, The Very Best Sukkah: A Story from Uganda,[8][9] received a 2023 National Jewish Book Award and was named a Sydney Taylor Honor Book.[10][6]

In 2023, Nambi was named as one of New York Jewish Week’s “36 to Watch”.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b Esensten, Andrew (August 2, 2024). "First woman rabbi from Uganda arrives at Peninsula synagogue".
  2. ^ a b "15 Rabbis and 6 Cantors Ordained in NYC as part of the Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion Class of 2024/5784". HUC.
  3. ^ a b August 13; Kirya-Ziraba, 2024 Shoshana McKinney. "Trailblazing Rabbi Shoshana Nambi". Jewish Women's Archive. Retrieved 2025-05-08.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  4. ^ a b "Clergy - Congregation Beth Am". www.betham.org.
  5. ^ a b c Esensten, Andrew (2024-08-02). "First woman rabbi from Uganda arrives at Peninsula synagogue". J. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  6. ^ a b c Staff, New York Jewish Week (May 16, 2023). "Shoshana Nambi, 34, children's book author".
  7. ^ Rullo, David (December 29, 2025). "Beth El welcomes trailblazing Ugandan rabbinic student to virtual program". jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com.
  8. ^ a b Danis, Naomi (13 October 2022). "Shoshana Nambi on "The Very Best Sukkah"". Lilith Magazine. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  9. ^ a b Abusch-Magder, Ruth (10 October 2022). "Building the very best Sukkah — in Uganda". The Forward. Retrieved 29 August 2025.
  10. ^ a b link (2022-09-30). "Review: The Very Best Sukkah, A Story From Uganda". sydneytaylorshmooze.com. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
  11. ^ "NY Jewish Week's 36 to Watch 2023". Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Retrieved 2025-05-07.
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