Issue 20 | August 13,2012 | critic.co.nz

Before getting started, I should clarify that the title of this article does not
refer to a couple of blokes you might catch down at the Cook on a Thursday night.
Abraham and his sons Isaac and Ishmael provide the historical and spiritual
roots of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. University Chaplain Greg Hughson
explains: “Abraham is a very special character, who was admired by all the
followers of Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. He is a great example of faith
and trust in God.” Sharik Hussein, a Muslim student and member of the Student Interfaith Group, provides a
nice analogy: “Think of three holes in the ceiling, with three beams of light, but still the same source of light.
That is Abraham to the three faiths.”
Jewish people trace their roots back to Isaac, who formed the “Israelites” nation, while Muslims trace their
heritage back to Ishmael, who formed the “Ishmaelite” nation. Christians fit in there somewhere, but it’s more
complicated. They all believe in the one God, but have differing opinions on how to interpret God’s teachings
and whom they regard as true “prophets”. Muslims regard Prophet Mohammad as the final messenger of God,
while Jews insist that they’re still waiting for the messiah to turn up. Fast forward a few thousand years, cross
several oceans, and you’ll find small Jewish and Muslim communities in Dunedin.
A small number of Jews first arrived in Dunedin during the
Nineteenth Century, creating a cultural and artistic legacy
disproportionate to the tiny Jewish population. The Jewish
community helped develop the early economy of the city,
notably the Hallensteins family, who started a well-known
clothing chain – bet you can’t you guess its name? The
first synagogue, built on Moray Place in 1863, is today the
Temple Gallery.
Mathew Shrimpton, President of the Jewish Students Asso-
ciation and the Student Interfaith Group, says that today the
Jewish community is small – “about 50 families or so” – but
quite progressive, meaning there is not a strict adherence
to traditional Jewish practices. While you are unlikely to see
bearded Orthodox Jews knelling in prayer, the community still
gets together every fortnight or so, as well as for big cultural
and religious events.
Dunedin’s mini Tel aviv
Shrimpton’s own practice is not strictly “day to day”, but more
an “identity, cultural thing”, which he attributes to university
life and the lack of other Jewish students. “If I lived somewhere
else in a more Jewish environment I might be doing more
religious things. I guess it’s a function of where you are…
like a buffet really, you take what you want and leave what
you don’t.”
One of these traditions is Sabbath, the Jewish day of rest.
Traditionally, from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday
Jewish people will eschew everyday activities and use the
time to reflect on spiritual aspects of life and spend time with
family. Among other things, they are prohibited from “lighting
a fire”, which covers the use of electricity and automobiles,
and other traditional scarfie activities. With university assignments
and social events it can be very difficult as a student,
though ultimately Shrimpton enjoys the practice: “I like being
able to switch off and take some time to think. I guess it’s a
chance to look at yourself without any outside influences.”
brothErs
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