An article that appeared in this past week’s edition of the North Eastern Tribune brought attention to a recent event held by Limmud South Africa for the Jewish holiday of Shavuot.
I would like to highlight some of the values of Limmud which led us to host this event in order to provide a better understanding of the organisation.
The Jewish faith places great emphasis on the constructive power of debate. One of the most cherished parts of the Talmud, the Ethics of our Fathers (5:17) goes so far as to declare that “any argument that is for the sake of Heaven will ultimately endure”. What the tradition teaches us is that arguments do not weaken us, rather some debates are destined to endure and develop with us as we grow in this world.
With this in mind, our Shavuot event was aimed at facilitating a dialogue around the Jewish attitude towards ‘outsiders’ in light of the recent xenophobic attacks in South Africa. The Jewish experience is one that has taught us all too well the difficulty of being ‘outsiders’ in the land of another. During the event, numerous perspectives on the subject were addressed, both thoughtfully and respectfully. Many speakers and participants praised the South African Jewish community for its efforts in protecting victims and curbing prejudice, while others believed that our own experience demanded even more from us. Our event was enjoyed by all who attended, precisely because it posed difficult questions in an open and respectful setting.
We encourage those of you who haven’t attended a Limmud event to come join us at this year’s conference on 31 July to 2 August at the Indaba Hotel, Fourways, and be part of an unforgettable Jewish journey.
For more information visit www.Limmud.org.za or e-mail Limmudsa@gmail.com
