CURRENT AFFAIRS

An ancient people tasked with a moral obligation to engage in the world around them. Protecting traditions and cherishing the past whilst working tirelessly for a brighter future for all. The custodians of values that have revolutionised society and form the basis of the international human rights movement today. A people who embody the principles of Tikkun Olam, repairing the brokenness of the world, and tzedek, justice. This, to me, is the essence of the Jewish people and why I am #JewishAndProud. Building and enhancing a sense of Jewish identity and public pride within Jewish communities across the globe is one of the key priorities of the World Jewish Congress in 2023. The WJC, the global representative body of over 100 Jewish communities around the world and an organisation which focuses on fostering Jewish unity and representing the interests of the Jewish people to ensure our continuity, is lending its support to its partner organisation ‘Jewish on Campus’ and amplifying their #JewishAndProud campaign.

This campaign, being led by the World Jewish Congress’ flagship program the Jewish Diplomatic Corps (JDCorps), hopes to support and empower members of the JDCorps to lead their communities with regards to building Jewish identity and public pride. It also hopes to encourage local communities to see their Jewishness as a source of pride; start conversations on Jewish identity from a Jewish perspective; reject the shame of Jew-hatred and to reclaim Jewish narratives and Jewish stories from the non-Jewish world; and finally, to remind Jewish communities that being Jewish is more than just fighting Jew-hatred. June is celebrated as ‘Youth Month’ in South Africa, in commemoration of the Soweto Uprising of 1976 and the struggle and impact that the youth had in the fight against Apartheid.

During this time, which focuses on the younger generations, it is truly encouraging to see a global Jewish campaign on positive identity being launched by the youth in our communities.

‘Jewish on Campus’ is a student-led organisation, started in the United States of America, that is dedicated to empowering Jewish students through social media campaigning, education, and grassroots organising. They strive to provide Jewish students with a voice and resources to combat antisemitism on their college campus and have collected thousands of submissions of antisemitism from Jewish students around the world. Jewish on Campus uses those stories to raise awareness on social media and to understand the climate of antisemitism on campus.

As part of the campaign, the JDCorps held a series of training sessions with one of its members in the United Kingdom, Ben M. Freeman, who is also the author of the book ‘Jewish Pride: Rebuilding a People and Reclaiming our Story: The Pursuit of Jewish Pride’. “Personally, I see Jewishness as a buffet, filled with an amazing range of diverse foods”, shares Freeman. “Each Jew will go to the buffet and fill our plates with different combinations of Jewishness. That is fine, normal and natural. But the essential thing is that we get up off our seats and we walk to the buffet to engage with active Jewishness”.

Freeman ‘s work focuses on the historical aspect of Jewish identity, and the fact that the Jewish people trace their origins to the Land of Israel. Despite living in countless countries around the world over the centuries, we are a people indigenous to the Holy Land. Freeman stresses that Jews have always been defined by our practice, and that belief in the Jewish religion is not necessarily a prerequisite for Jewish practice and participating in Judaism. The Pesach Story commemorates the moment when Jews became a nation and received the Torah - this festival celebrates us as a distinctive and separate group. The final words of the Seder, L’shana haba’ah b’yerushalayim or ‘next year in Jerusalem’ define our deep connection to the Land of Israel.

Freeman’s writing explains that many of our laws and customs form part of an unbroken chain that connects Jews today to our ancestors and the language of the modern state of Israel, Hebrew, is the same one used by Jews for centuries. Another beautiful aspect of our tradition is the link with the environment – there are numerous Jewish holidays, such as Sukkot (Autumn Harvest), Pesach (Spring Festival & Barley Harvest), Shavuot (Wheat Harvest) and Tu B’ Shvat (the tax season for produce, one of the four Jewish new years and the birthday of the trees). Freeman also notes that Jews have a distinct societal structure that is still in place today.

Indeed Cohens today, those descendants of the Kohanim or Jewish priests, do not enter cemeteries.

So many challenges face young Jews today. Yet, the beauty of Jewishness is diverse and nuanced, flourishing and evolving. There is so much to be proud of – from our Jewish food to Jewish humour; our environmentalism and music to the fact that we are a community, no matter how far we are separated geographically (Kol Yisrael arevim zeh bazeh); our hospitality starting with Abraham and his tent; to Jewish innovation and the ‘Start Up Nation’.

In my view, to hold two contradictory worlds within yourself – remembering and cherishing what has come before us, but always looking forward in hope; immersed in elevating this world, raising it up physically and spiritually, to a higher ideal – this is what makes me a Jew.

I am proud to be Jewish and to have this humbling responsibility, to turn our principles into action in everything that I do, and to be a part of a people tasked as an Ohr La’Goyim, to be a light unto the nations striving always to be an example of what is good and right and just. To carry in my heart the legacy of a people who have overcome unimaginable odds but, despite the challenges, are here today - a small group of people making a remarkable impact across the globe. I am humbled to have the privilege of passing this Jewish identity on to my children and the next generation.

I encourage our Durban Jewish communities to embrace this new campaign share their thoughts on their Jewish identity and how they connect to our history and traditions on social media, by tagging the World Jewish Congress using the hashtag #JewishAndProud to spread this message far and wide.