Beth Din Reinforces Prohibition on Rabbis Attending Limmud Walking In
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Ninety percent rabbis attending or teaching at Jewish values which are grounded in Jewish ideas. Limmud is a Jewish festival of learning of our participants are orthodox-affiliated,” Tlearning festival Limmud. This was after “There are a range of presenters, and there that originated in the United Kingdom and said Roth. “Although local rabbis do not the South African Rabbinical Association are always orthodox presenters, including now holds more than 80 events worldwide. It attend, we bring in orthodox rabbis and requested the Beth Din’s opinion on their orthodox rabbis, at Limmud. All our learning allows anyone interested in Judaism to attend teachers from overseas. Both shomrei Shabbos long-standing policy. is conducted with the intention of learning and present. In South Africa for 13 years, people and unobservant people say that Following the request, the dayanim more deeply about Jewish history, culture, 2 000 people attended Limmud events across Limmud is the best Shabbos of their year. For (judges) of the Beth Din met the leadership religion, and text. Limmud is a space where the country in 2018. those who don’t keep Shabbat, it becomes one of Limmud to learn what it stands for, as orthodox and observant people feel very In these 13 years, the Beth Din has never of the times when they do,” said Roth. many did not know anything about the comfortable.” before asked to meet Limmud, so when its “In terms of how we put our programme organisation. But, in spite of a productive The Beth Din said the policy extended to dayanim requested a meeting with Limmud’s together, we are guided by Limmud’s values. meeting, the policy remained unchanged. rebbetzins (the wives of rabbis). “The grounds leadership, the organisation saw it as a This includes diversity, as well as the idea “After much deliberation, the conclusion of for the Beth Din endorsing the existing positive step possibly resulting in the relaxing that everybody should learn, and anyone the Beth Din is a complete endorsement of rabbinic policy are as applicable to rebbetzins of the policy on rabbis’ attendance. “We were can teach. We encourage people to empower the policy of the Rabbinical Association for its as they are to rabbis. rabbis to neither attend nor teach at Limmud Any suggestion that because of the latter’s promotion of values a difference should Walking in history’s footsteps which are contrary to the Torah’s philosophy exist undermines and principles,” the Beth Din told the SA the undeniable and Jewish Report on Tuesday. invaluable religious This is in spite of the fact that “Limmud standing and leadership South Africa is strictly kosher under the Beth role which our Din, and shomrei Shabbos [Shabbat observant] rebbetzins rightly hold in public spaces, and 90% of people who and fulfil, with tireless attend it across South Africa are orthodox- dedication to Torah affiliated. In Johannesburg, 35% are shomrei values and principles.” Shabbat,” according to Limmud South Africa Chief Rabbi Dr chairperson Adina Roth. Warren Goldstein said Many international orthodox rabbis and the long-standing Photo: Ilan Ossendryver Photo: rebbetzins attend Limmud in this country. policy of the South South Africa is the only place worldwide African rabbinate not where there is a ban on local orthodox rabbis to attend Limmud was attending. a joint decision made When asked what the Beth Din meant by by himself and the Limmud not promoting Torah philosophy Rabbinical Association. and principles, the organisation responded, Rabbi Yossi Chaikin, “The Beth Din’s mandate is to uphold halacha who heads up the and Torah values within the community. Rabbinical Association, King David High School pupils take part in the commemoration Underpinning everything we do is the said the policy dated of Youth Day by walking the route taken by youthful protestors fundamental belief in G-d and the divine back about ten years. origin of the Torah. “As is the case with at the Soweto uprising on 16 June 1976. “On questioning the Limmud team, we many old policies, these were told that these core beliefs are not are reviewed from time to time to see if they open to meeting, and always will be,” said themselves and rise to the challenge of a prerequisite for educators, nor is it a are relevant in the current context.” Roth. learning and teaching. prerequisite for content that is delivered at The SA Jewish Report heard from an In the meeting, Roth said she and her team “On the same note, we never force anyone the conference. anonymous source that the Beth Din was explained Limmud’s strict policies on Shabbat to listen to someone they don’t want to hear. “As a result of this Limmud policy decision, considering imposing a psak on the matter – a and kashrut, and that there was strong It’s all about making empowered choices. the Beth Din is unable to approve or verify halachic ruling that would make this policy orthodox attendance at Limmud events There are eight sessions per time slot, and this conference, and endorses the policy of official Jewish law in South Africa. It is still globally, both in terms of participants and everyone’s biography is available, so you know the South African Rabbinical Association. If unclear if the endorsement of the policy by presenters. In fact, in England, it is attended what you are going to hear and can make an Limmud would change this policy decision, the Beth Din is officially a psak. by the chief rabbi, Beth Din dayanim, Chabad Continued on page 5>> The Jewish Community antisemitism? Survey of South Africa assimilation? 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