Lemba Update
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!!” (grin) I continue to be amazed at our ability to ‘not hear’ or comprehend the situation. The separation of over 2,000 years — the cultural difference of being African instead of our version of a perceived “Jewishness”, what Jews are supposed to look like.
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 Ashkenazi 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
Rufina
http://www.saudades.org
rufina @ saudades.org
Celebrating our Portuguese - Jewish heritage