My interest in our family's genealogy lead me to something my sister and I had felt all our lives. That we were of Jewish family.
We had always had a deep reverence for God and an interest and respect for Judaism. My discovery came as no surprise to anyone.
It turns out that my grandmother kept her Jewishness hidden for fear of persecution. In fact, my father was not even given a bris. (Circumcision with naming day)
Right from my earliest days, I can remember my father calling Nan "Rachelle" because of her dark eyes and jet black hair. I now suspect he knew he was a Jew, but it wasn't he who told us our hunch was right.
We visited our aunt who attended a progressive synagogue and was the only living relative of our father.
She was overjoyed when we told her the reason for our visit and added that "it took you girls long enough to work it out!" She told us the family's story and showed us pictures of our great-grandfather with his long beard and yarmulke. She also told us we came from the Tribe of Benjamin. The wolf.
Auntie is now passed, but she promised us she would take us to synagogue and a shabbos meal with her friends, but it never happened.
We studied Judaism and even went to visit a rabbi who took us to his friend's Jewish shop where we were shown the back room with the beautiful rolled Torah scrolls. We were made very welcome and we were happy to know we had Jewish genes.
Not so happy were our friends at church. They gave us hugs and consoled us with the knowledge that Christ was Jewish- it wasn't so bad!- so bad? we were honoured to have Jewish blood in our veins!
Likewise our brothers were appalled to know this and refused to listen further to us. Our mother was also concerned and asked me if I was going to renounce my faith in Christ and convert to Judaism.
I told her that I would never do that as I am convinced that Jesus is the Messiah
Those Jews who come to see and accept Jesus as the Messiah are by all accounts born-again Christians. They are no longer Jewish only but have been grafted into Messiah through Christ's Blood.
I used to think there's so much beauty in Judaism that if there were a way I could be Jewish but love Jesus, I would be it. Now I believe Messianic Judaism is my fit. There are many similarities in Judaism and Christianity, but if Jesus is not recognised as the Messiah, you will never have agreement. So I am definitely Messianic.
I love Jews and I love Jesus, so being Messianic Christian/Jewish is how I will love to be. Unlike those who saw fit to offer their condolences at my news, I am not ashamed
© Glenys Robyn Hicks
Why be ashamed at being more closely related to Jesus? What a beautiful heritage!
ReplyDeleteBarb, I am not ashamed, but I have found others are patronising and ashamed for me. It is a beautiful heritage! Thanks for taking tea with me today! Blessings!
DeleteGlenys, I loved hearing your story. So wonderfully spoken. Blessings.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Paula! Be blessed!
DeleteOf course, there's no reason to be ashamed of your ancestry! Of course, this knowledge doesn't change your religious beliefs!
ReplyDeleteI'm in a different situation as I've always known that I'm 1/4 Jewish by ancestry and that two of my great-grandparents came to the U.S. because their Jewish villages in Europe were attacked repeatedly by Cossacks. I value this background just as much as I do the other two threads of my ancestry. Here are some of my thoughts on Jewish ancestry vs. Jewish religious identity--they're not the same thing. It's important to remember that Christianity also has Jewish ancestry, which enriches and strengthens it.
Thanks for the link- it was very interesting! and thanks for sharing a cuppa with me today, Becca! Be blessed!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your story, Glennys!
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I must say I am Brazilian and beg your pardon in advance for any possible mistake (mainly because I don't "google" to translate!). In my view, you have two good reasons to feel honoured of: to be Jew and Christian at the same time!
Although you say "either you are a Chistian or Jewish", I'd like to contribute with a few words of Jesus Himself for you to ponder. Here it goes: Matthew 5:17 "Do not think that I have come to abolish Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them". So, I believe you can get the best of both teachings and be a better person.
It is such a blessing to have freedom in Christ and not be under the Law. Thank you for taking the time to comment, especially in English. Be blessed!
ReplyDelete