New Zealand Listener 03.14.2020

52 LISTENER MARCH 14 2020

BOOKS&CULTURE

by PAUL SPOONLEY

A

s Simon Schama noted, the

“Jewish story has been anything

but commonplace”. Imagine, then,

what that story might entail on

the edge of the global diaspora?

This book provides an insight, specifi-

cally of those Jews who live in or have an

association with Auckland. It is the initia-

tive of the indefatigable Ann Gluckman,

now in her early nineties. She first edited

a similar book in 1990 in honour – in part

• of the founding of the Auckland Hebrew
  Congregation (1840). Now, 27 years later
  and after another volume in 1993, she has
  recruited a wide range of authors to talk
  about their Jewishness, personal and com-
  munal, past and present. She has been
  helped by Deb Levy Friedler and Lindy
  Davis.
  For me, this is the most comprehensive
  of the three volumes, with more than
  enough of interest. It is sprawling, both in
  terms of content and writing style. There
  are 123 contributions, ranging from short
  chapters to a few paragraphs. Inevitably,
  some are more engaging than others.
  Some topics might be of limited interest to
  a wider audience.
  I saw an earlier version of the manu-
  script and can testify that editing has been
  light-touch. It works for some in terms of
  a rawness and directness, but others could
  have used more editorial guidance. But
  this is community talking and it should
  express itself via a variety of voices.
  What will impress is the energy and
  impact associated with a relatively
  small community. There are the well
  known – Wally Hirsh, Lesley Max, David
  Galler, Deb Filler, David Levene, Sir Peter

Gluckman – and there are stories from

others who have contributed to the arts,

community, medicine and law but who

will not be known as being Jewish. What

might be misleading is the fact that there

are Jews with surnames such as Smith,

Brown and Collins.

The other aspect that will impress read-

ers is the diversity of the community. For

some, Zionism or Judaism defines their

Jewishness. In other cases, it is about

whānau and community. Some tell stories

of migration and intergenerational Jewish-

ness whereas others are recent converts.

B

y and large, the tone is one of cel-

ebration and positivity about being

Jewish in Auckland and New Zea-

land. There are two points of tension. One

is the rise of anti-Semitism globally and its

ramifications. Juliet Moses sees 2014 as a

turning point locally and there is certainly

evidence of a heightened anti-Semitism in

recent years. The desecration of matzevah

(headstones) in Auckland’s Karangahape

Rd Jewish cemetery and the online argu-

ments (again) about a Jewish conspiracy

are a challenge for all of us.

The other is the fragility of Jewish iden-

tity, especially Halachic (law and practice

based on the Talmud) identity. As Sir Peter

Gluckman points out, the low birth rate

locally, the loss of those emigrating to

Australia and the high assimilation rate all

provide challenges to future community

vitality.

This is a welcome contribution to the

available literature on the diversity of

contemporary New Zealand by telling the

varied stories of members of a long-stand-

ing and important ethnic and religious

community. l

IDENTITY AND INVOLVEMENT: Auckland Jewry

into the 21st Century,

edited by Ann

Gluckman, Deb Levy

Friedler and Lindy

Davis (Renaissance

Publishing, $50)

Paul Spoonley is a

leading sociologist

and academic.

A sense of

identity

A third volume

of reflections by

members of the local

Jewish community

speaks to its own

diversity.

As Sir Peter Gluckman

points out, a low birth

rate, emigration losses

to Australia and a

high assimilation rate

are challenges to the

community.

M

AN

JA

W

AC

HS

M
U
TH

Ann Gluckman: the third of her Auckland Jewry

volumes is celebratory and positive.