Shembe takes to the Torah

Bishop Phakama Shembe has taken his flock on a new religious path by adopting the Jewish Bible.

But, in embracing his brothers in the Jewish faith, the controversial bishop has caused another stir in the fractured Shembe church, many of whom do not believe their faith needs to "borrow" from another religion.

Shembe, who was booted out of the original church several years ago, signed a historic agreement last week with Farrel S halkoff, chairman of a private company, Bibleo, to supply his church with the Tanach.

It is the English version of the Hebrew Bible, comprising the Torah, the Prophets and sacred writings, including Psalms, Proverbs and the historical books.

Shembe said he chose it because it provided sharp analysis, insights and explanations that were missing in the Old Testament in the Bible. "There are a lot of truths I get in this Bible. There are word-for-word explanations."

The Chief Rabbi of South Africa, Dr Warren Goldstein, said he was "moved" by Shembe's decision.

"To have such an important congregation in South Africa embrace it is something really special. I feel very proud as a South African and as a Jew and a rabbi to see the Hebrew Bible get such attention," said Goldstein.

The Shembe Church was founded in 1910 by Shembe's grandfather, Prophet Isaiah Shembe, and to this day, millions of followers are guided by him.

Phakama Shembe's church of about 250000 followers in Gauteng, Mpu-malanga, Free State and North West is the only one to switch to the Tanach.

The leaders of the other three factions, eBuhleni, Ginyezinye and eKuphakameni, are not impressed.

The eKuphakameni faction was awarded the exclusive right to use the name Nazareth Baptist Church - the traditional name of the Shembe church - as well as the hymns, prayers and religious uniform after a protracted court battle.

Edward Ximba, secretary-general of the eKuphakameni faction, said there were no plans to use the Tanach, as the Shembes were "not an extension of the Jewish religion".

"There are practices, however, which the prophet taught us and which we later found out were similar to the Jewish religion."

Among common practices observed by both the Shembes and the Jews are the observance of Saturday as a Sabbath and not eating pork.

Ximba added: "Phakama must not be taken as if he represents the interests of Prophet Isaiah Shembe. We are led by the principles laid down by the prophet."

Enoch Mthembu, spokesman for the eBuhleni faction, which has more than four million followers, said Shembe's decision to embrace the Jewish Bible was "an insult" to Prophet Shembe. "The Shembe religion is a way of life. It doesn't need to borrow anything from any other faith, because it's complete."

The secretary-general of the eBuhleni faction Nazareth Baptist Church, Chancey Sibisi, said: "We are using the Old Testament, which is edited by the South African Bible Institute."

Maqhawe Zondo said in a statement drawn up on behalf of Inkosi Sizwe Shembe, head of the Ginyezinye faction, that it was "unfortunate" that Shembe had not invited them to debate his decision to use the Tanach.

"While we respect all scriptures, be it the Torah, the Koran or any other holy book, we are steadfast in strictly following that which God brought us through Shembe, the prophet. Our prayer service will continue in the form and manner taught to us by the prophet."

Phakama Shembe is unfazed by the criticism, saying: "I have never talked to them [the other factions] about this Bible, but I wish they can just listen to me about this because the only thing I read here is peace. If you read this [the Tanach], you will cry. This Bible analyses some of the verses that were hidden before in the [Old Testament]. My faction is embracing this [Tanach]. They love it a lot."

He said he would be meeting rabbis in New York next month to worship with them before travelling to Israel, at the invitation of the Israeli government, to open a museum devoted to the Shembes.

Professor Mthokozisi Khumalo, head of African languages at the University of Zululand and an authority on the Shembes, said he did not see a problem with the Gauteng faction embracing the Jewish Bible, but added it should have been discussed with the other three groups.