TWO outstanding international guest speakers, the critical role of rabbis, the renewed spirit of Zionism and support for Progressive Judaism in Israel, and the adoption of a new siddur for the country's congregations were among the highlights of SAUPJ biennial conference in Cape Town recently.
Rabbi Joel Oseran, the World Union's vice president for international development, was the keynote speaker at the opening of the conference. He told participants of many lessons he has learned in helping to promote and foster Progressive Judaism around the world, including the central role played by Israel.
"Israel is our home," Oseran said, "and even though we Jews have established ourselves in incredible and successful ways throughout the Diaspora - including a rich and mutually beneficial history here in South Africa - we dare not forget that our family's historic and covenantal home is in one place and one place alone - the land of Israel." See full speech
Another special guest at the biennial was Dalya Levy, director of ARZENU, the international umbrella organisation of Progressive religious Zionists, who spoke at the Friday night gala dinner. She spoke of the miracle that is Israel.
"The fact that a Jew in the 21st century can live in the beautiful city of Jerusalem, the city of our ancestors, speak the language of our forefathers - of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, King David and King Solomon is, I think, one of the true miracles of this modern world," said Levy. "No other nation can make such a claim. No other nation had ever had their language redeemed from the bookshelves of history - the remarkable journey from the dawn of our people to the sunrise of our national return is a story of faith, tragedy, inspiration, admiration, pain, pride and the unity of one people." See full speech
During its National Assembly, the SAUPJ unanimously endorsed its slate of officers for the next two years. Steve Lurie, who was re-elected to serve his third term, greeted conference-goers with a report on the movement's activities during the previous two years. He specifically cited the arrival of three new rabbis - Robert Jacobs, Robert Ash and Ann Folb. See full speech
From 2008 to 2010, Lurie will chair the SAUPJ's executive committee, which will include Professor Antony Arkin and Greg Lyons, vice chairmen; Eric Meyer, treasurer; Rabbi Malcolm Matitiani, chairman of the South African Association of Progressive Rabbis (SAAPR); Monica Solomon, president of the South African Union of Temple Sisterhoods (SAUTS); Professor Antony Arkin, chairman of the South African branch of ARZENU; and Meghan Finn, national chairman of the South African branch of Netzer Olami, the international Progressive Zionist youth movement.
The South African Union of Temple Sisterhoods (SAUTS) held its own biennial starting the day before the SAUPJ biennial got underway. Monica Solomon was also re-elected for an unprecedented third term.
Other activities at the biennial included Shabbat services at Cape Town's three Progressive congregations, led by all the country's spiritual leaders; a Havdalah service at Temple Israel, Green Point, led by members of Netzer Olami; a panel discussion on Progressive Judaism and Israel; an opportunity to meet the movement's rabbis over tea; and an SAUPJ executive committee meeting. A rabbinic kallah preceded the conference.
The meeting of the SAUPJ's National Assembly also included greetings from the South African Jewish Board of Deputies, the South African Zionist Federation, the South African Union of Temple Sisterhoods and ARZENU. In addition, Rabbi Hillel Avidan, immediate past chairman of the South African Association of Progressive Rabbis, was honoured for his years of service to the rabbinic body, and to the movement as a whole.
"The SA Jewish community salutes this conference," said Michael Bagraim, president of the SA Jewish Board of Deputies. "Progressive Jewry has played and always will play a great communal role. This latest issue of xenophobia has seen this community come forward without question or reason. We stand together as SA Jews to help the whole society.
"We, as a community, need to be positive and strong. Our leaders take us forward with great strides. We, as a people, play our role far beyond our numbers - for this, we need to stand as one. We are not a people who sit on the fence. As Rabbi Adi Assabi, a Reform rabbi, stated: 'Sitting on the fence is not a Jewish option.'"
Advocate Jonathan Silke, chairman of the Western Province Zionist Council, spoke of Israel and its capital. "Israel has never abandoned its efforts to achieve peace and reconciliation with its neighbours and only real peace can ultimately provide the security that Israel deserves."
"Jerusalem has known many wars - too many," he said. "But its hope for eternal destiny remains 'the whole city', the city of peace. Jerusalem is a city of many peoples and Israel has always respected all believers, has preserved their holy places and is wholly committed to freedom of religion, religious worship and conscience for all residents, visitors and lovers of the city."