Lemba People - Halakhic Status As Jews

Halakhic Status As Jews

Halakhic Jewish status (Jewish status according to Jewish law) in modern Rabbinic Judaism is determined by an unbroken matrilineal line of descent or by conversion to Judaism. Jews who adhere to Orthodox or Conservative Rabbinism therefore believe that Jewish status by birth is passed by a Jewish female to her children (if she herself is a Jew by birth or by conversion to Judaism) regardless of the Jewish status of the father. It is therefore very unlikely that Orthodox or Conservative Judaism would recognize the Lemba as 'Halakhically Jewish'. The Reform branch of Judaism on the other hand recognizes patrilineage and does acknowledge unusual descent outside of the European and indigenous Middle Eastern spheres.

South African Jews have long been aware of the Lemba, but have never regarded them as anything more than an "intriguing curiosity."

The case for the Lemba being accepted as Jews is generally rejected, but has been advocated by several rabbis and Jewish associations who view them as one of the "Lost Tribes of Israel". The Lemba Cultural Association has approached the South African Jewish Board of Deputies asking for the Lemba to be recognized as Jews by the Jewish community. The Association complained that "we like many non-European Jews are simply the victims of racism at the hands of the European Jewish establishment worldwide" and threatened to start a campaign to "protest and ultimately destroy 'Jewish apartheid'".

According to Gideon Shimona in his book, Community and conscience: the Jews in apartheid South Africa:

In terms of halakha the Lemba are not at all comparable with the Falasha. As a group they have no conceivable status in Judaism.

Rabbi Bernhard stated the only way for a member of the Lemba tribe to be recognized as a Jew is to undergo the formal Halakhic conversion process, after which they "would be welcomed with open arms."