This year Temple Israel celebrated Lag B’Omer at our Wynberg campus by lighting a bonfire and holding our annual courageous conversation. This year our guest was Imam Muhsin Hendricks who brought along some of his students.
In addition to being a religious leader, Imam Hendricks is also a human rights activist, focusing on gender and sexual diversity in Islam. His documentary The Radical was screened with the kind permission of the film maker, Richard Finn Gregory. This documentary tells the story of Imam Hendricks’ journey as a devout Muslim who decided to be true to his sexuality without forsaking his religious and faith identity. The film also covers Imam Henricks’ work to assist other gay Muslims to deal with their own journeys here in Cape Town and in other African countries where homosexuality is outlawed. Despite the fatwa decreed against him for being gay and in opposition to his work, Imam Hendricks continues his important mission of assisting queer Muslims find comfort and peace of mind within Islam.
After counting the Omer and enjoying a delicious meal, we had the opportunity to have a meaningful conversation with Imam Hendricks around the bonfire during which he answered questions about his journey and his work as an Imam and an activist.
Lag B’Omer is the hillulah (yahrzeit) of the mystic and tzaddik, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Unlike a regular yahrzeit that is marked with sadness, a hillulah is commemorated with joy and celebration because, according to Kabbalah, on the yarzheit of a tzaddik, all the spiritual redemption of their life shines into this world, contributing to tikkun olam, ie. repairing the world. Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai defied Roman oppression and risked his life by teaching Torah despite the prohibition on doing so. Rabbi Yochai stood up to the Roman authorities who attempted to suppress the spirit and authenticity of the Jewish people.
Temple Israel www.templeisrael.co.za
• Published in the June 2023 issue – Click here to start reading.
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