Unfortunately, just as the website was to go online, just in time for the High Holydays, we have learnt that Rabbi Gamedze has had to suddenly cancel his (and family’s) visit due to illness. We of course wish the Rabbi all the very best for a speedy recovery, but have included below the biographical details and photo we had of the Rabbi for the Congregation’s interest, and trust that we will be able to host the Rabbi on a future occasion.
The story of every convert to Judaism is a gripping tale of spiritual discovery. In the case of Natan Gamedze, that journey began 40 years ago in Swaziland, where he was born into a royal family.
Rabbi Gamedze casts an imposing royal figure, but it is his intellectual capacity that makes the biggest impression. Graduating with honours from Oxford, he received a Master's in Translation from South Africa's Wits University, and served as translator in the Supreme Court of South Africa.
His gift for language - he is fluent in 14 languages - played a central role in his discovery of Judaism. He undertook a PhD in Hebrew in Israel and philosophy classes at Ohr Sameach in Jerusalem culminating in his conversion to Judaism in the early 1990’s. He completed further studies at the Brisk Yeshiva in Jerusalem and is now a rabbi and teacher. He is a much sought-after academic translator, continues to lecture internationally and is currently co-authoring his biography. After living for some time in Jerusalem, he now resides with his wife Shayna and family in the northern Israeli city of Tzfat/Safed.
We at the Melbourne Hebrew Congregation were honoured to host Rabbi & Rebbetsin Gamedze and their two children in Melbourne and looked forward to his enlightening sermons that were be delivered in the Melbourne Synagogue on Rosh Hashana & Yom Kippur. We hope that we will be able to host a visit of Rabbi Gamedze on a future occasion.
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