Thank you to Kulanu for funding the Lemba project. The Lemba youth will be benefiting from your generosity and concern
Everyone is hugely excited and looking forward to our continued programs. This coming weekend we are having a workshop for the Betar counselors and a meeting for the parents
I want to share an experience with you of what happened recently; one of the many visitors who were interested in finding out more about the Lemba, duly went on a “fact-finding-mission” to the northern province to meet and mix with the Lemba community
I received a telephone call from a distraught person, who was
“shocked that the Lemba were wearing beads and living in
huts!!” It reminded me of when I first saw Jews from Arab lands who had
newly arrived in Israel and were living in a transit camp. The very
foreignness to what I had perceived as Jewish all my life living in
South Africa - taking my image of Jews from the local (South African)
Ashkenazi community who mostly hail from Lithuania, was quite a
shock. I remember standing transfixed - staring in wonder and awe that
these colorful and exotic people were part of us. I felt a connection
in spite of my upbringing within an Ashkenaz community; which could
well be due to the corrupted Judaism of my childhood and family of
Crypto-Judaism
What a fascinating people we are, a wonderful tapestry of woven
threads and different textures; all woven together to form the
beautiful diverse tapestry known as “Jews”
Today, we are faced yet again with another challenge - of
accepting the Lemba - who would normally (and more easily) be
categorized as a “Bantu African Tribe” than cousins who have
been separated from Judaism for more than 2,000 years with all the
repercussions this entails
My experience of meeting the Jews from Arab lands so many years
ago in Israel was much the same I presume as the first young Betar
girl (from an Ashkenazi middle-class community) who spent a few days
with the Lemba in Soweto. She was fully briefed that the Lemba were
not practicing normative Judaism - due to the influence of
missionaries, colonialism and apartheid. Today, many practice a
mixture of Christianity with some Jewish traditions passed down
through the ages, due to the 2,000 years or more of separation from
Judaism and the corrupting influences along the way
The cultural shock was enormous. She landed up sleeping three in a
bed with the other girls of the family - something that we are not
used to in our “western society” but which is well accepted as the
norm in many African homes. Somehow their warmth and generosity is
more pronounced than many of their “white” counterparts. I
am pleased to say that the experience was a positive one with firm
friendships developing from the experience
It takes time and it takes knowing possibly as I do on a personal
level the feeling of having been separated from the main body of
Judaism -- the feelings of not belonging -- to fully comprehend the
enormity of the Lemba phenomenon. The fact that they [can and do ]
strongly identify as “Jews” is a miracle in itself
We have identified a young man from the first group of 10 who is
definitely leadership material. I am hoping we can sponsor him (with
funding received from Kulanu) to join Betar as a full member and
eventually becoming one of the counselors. I will keep you posted
regarding this exciting possibility. He is our future!! But it also
depends on his parents and their willingness to have him become
integrated into Betar, as they have not shown an interest -- yet -- in
knowing more about Judaism. I'm hoping that this will not become an
issue with either the Betar-parents or Lemba-parents. To my
knowledge, the subject of the “Black Jews” of Southern
Africa has never officially been addressed. The silence of our leaders
. . . quite deafening
This has been corrected by a three-hour talk show on the subject
on Radio 702, hosted by Jon Quelane, who had Rabbi Norman Bernhard as
his guest in the studio, with a live link-up to Professor Mathivha,
leader of the Lemba Cultural Association in the Northern
Province. This was three spellbinding hours
Jon Quelane introduced the subject by inviting Professor Mathivha
to guide the audience through the oral history, traditions and culture
of the Lemba people. People who strongly identify as Jews. Many of the
traditions are similar to Jewish tradition, and although corrupted
over the centuries of living in isolation from normative Judaism,
still recognizable. The Lemba are extremely proud of their Jewish
heritage which is rooted in ancient Judaism
Rabbi Bernhard addressed the subject in a warm and sensitive
manner giving the halachic views and explaining the reasons and need
for a halachic return by conversion, to enable those who may be
interested in rejoining their Jewish brothers and sisters in following
traditional Judaism once more. I cannot stress enough the enormous
contribution made by this radio show; to the Lemba, to the Jewish
community at large and the general public. I had amazing feedback
from the Lemba people themselves. Some are wanting to find out more
about possibly attending shul -- others just to say
“thank-you”
Rabbi Bernhard welcomed the Lemba live -- on air -- and promised to
do all he could to help those who wished to return. This was no small
matter - this show had us in South Africa glued to the radio -- the
first time that a senior orthodox Rabbi of our South Africa community,
welcomed the Lemba, addressing all the issues and questions
Jon Quelane was sensitive to the subject matter which he hosted
with professional diplomacy, leaving a huge audience wanting and
hoping for more. This was first class radio and from what I hear, not
the last time we hear Rabbi Bernhard on the Jon Quelane's show!
Rabbi Bernhard was going to drive the 5 1/2 hours up to the Lemba
Cultural Conference held earlier this month. All was arranged but due
to the conference being held on Shabbat, Rabbi Bernhard was not able
to attend
He was very disappointed . . . but very understanding and plans on
going up to visit the Elders in the Northern Province another weekend
or even during the week when we can set it up for him to meet with the
Elders and Professor Mathivha
As usual, our situation in Africa is quite unique. The photographs
alone tell a story where words become redundant -- one we as Jews have
been faced with a number of times in our history -- and once again we
recognize our specialness as a people
Adeus e shalom http://www.saudades.org
Rufina
rufina@saudades.org
Celebrating our Portuguese - Jewish heritage