First Impression- northern South Africa is one of the most beautiful places on Earth and a major tourist secret. much to see, few doing it.

This is a rural area, near Louis Trichardt, a town of maybe fifteen thousand, but it is a major shopping area and so has five banks.

It subtropical, I have mangoes, and papaws within a stones throw of my quarters and tea, avocados, citrus and beef are also raised here.

The farm of Ephraim Selamolela where I am staying is to be a bed and breakfast with game to see, hiking and bird trails. It has a new lodge, swimming pool with adjoining lake and a gorgeous view of the mountains. I will try to post some photos soon.

I have had three weeks now to begin an assessment of the situation here. As many know beforehand, the Lemba are scattered primarily across three countries, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. They are most numerous and best organized in South Africa. But here they are scattered over a 16,000 sq. kilometer area, from Soweto in the South to Messina in the North.

There are approximately 5,000 in Soweto alone just outside of Johannesburg. Another 5-8000 each in Pretoria and Pitersburg area; some 26,000 surrounding Louis Trichardt and 4-5000 concentrated near Thohoyandou. An estimated another 26,000 live north towards Mesinna on the Zimbabwe border. We haven't begun to estimate the number in Zimbabwe yet. Mozambique is a total guess. Many there have converted to Islam and most speak Portuguese.

On Jan 3, 2000, Prof Mathivha of the Lemba Cultural Association is holding a meeting to discuss the project. On the agenda is a new synagogue, a Lemba cultural Museum, and several other buildings including quarters for visiting educators. The Lemba here are serious on receiving Judaic instruction.

There is little knowledge existent today among the Lemba in South Africa on Judaism. There is a strong Jewish identity among them and many seriously want to be educated From what little I have seen so far, they have the strongest Jewish identity here in S A

We are going to be doing an on site education program here at the farm while the main site is prepared, about 10 kilometers from here. Approximately March 2000 we will recruit 6 men, one from Zimbabwe, five from distant communities to come and train for six months, and then as lay leaders, to form congregations in their home areas. This will be a major INTENSIVE 6 months. They will be in contact with me weekly after returning home. Hopefully one year from now we will have seven new congregations here of the Lemba. I will be asking Kulanu for support for the training and board for these lay leaders. I will submit figures shortly on this.

Right now, my major need and what is limiting the most is the lack of a vehicle. This is a very rural area and the Lemba are scattered across it. A light pickup, used but still serviceable, will cost starting around $4000 and they go up quickly from there. the market is somewhere from 4,000-5000 dollars for one that will hold up to the gravel roads.

The other obvious need is a land line which we are hoping for soon which will once again allow email access to the list. Once I have email I can post the list and supporters directly. Expenses for the vehicle and the phone per year are guestimated at $4,000 per year. Fuel and telephone are far higher here than in the United States. Diesel is close to $.50 a litre which cheaper than gasoline.

Other needs are still: Art Scroll siddurim, maghzorim, kippot, ( blue, for favored color) and everything Judaic.

Murphy's law - Everything costs more that planned. and takes longer. Getting here, with baggage ( one lost, still) plus a week at the bed and breakfast in Jo'burg just over $2,000.

My bottom line impression:

• We should have done it before but its good that we did it now.
• There is a huge amount of work to do here, this is the first step
• We have begun services among the Lemba; they are wonderful folks and coming forward with their own plans for their first synagogue. These folks are builders and it will be a good one.

We are building good support base with the S A Jewish community, liat liat. the most senior Rabbi here is openly supportive. My goal here first is to begin work before making the work more widely known.

I will try to and send a fax next week after the Lemba meeting.

B'shalom