The Past, the Present and the Future

Within the past few weeks, I have been beside myself. I am actually a Messianic Jew but hold my Jewish birth and heritage very dear to me. This past Saturday I was accused of being racist, and on Sunday I was called a Jewish Pig by a fellow coworker in front of a supervisor, who said nothing. I was also told to forget where I came – my experiences. I can’t and won’t when that is what has molded me.

First of all, let me tell you a little bit about Rosh Hashanah. Rosh Hashanah is described as “the day of judgment” (Yom ha-Din) and “the day of remembrance” (Yom ha-Zikkaron). Your deeds and that of humanity are laid bare. God judges each person passing in front of Him for evaluation of his or her deeds.

How appropriate, then that this opportunity to share my memories of Rosh Hashanah should open up. God guides, He blesses and He puts you where you can be a voice of reasoning. As a Jewish child in the 1960s military it was difficult. I should also state my family is of mixed blood in addition to religion. My oldest sister is dark skinned; my middle sister has the frizzy hair and yellow skin, while I definitely look European. Looks, my friend, can be deceiving. On my Census Bureau I mark, black and of mixed race as that is true. I underwent a lot of racial and ethnic bashing for my religion and my choice of friends, as well as my family’s race. Much like today, I find that being Jewish, even Messianic Jew, is not popular.

My mother was born Baptist but converted to Judaism long before my birth. My father was hard core Baptist. I went to Temple and celebrated Sabbath on Friday night or Saturday; and I was in church on Sunday. I laugh now telling everyone that I did not have a childhood, but I did. My father and mother led us in prayers on Sabbath and on High Holy Days. We were taught to atone for our “sins” and to forgive those who have sinned, and continue to sin. I have always asked for God’s guidance and his forgiveness.

I remember my mother saying the prayers, the unleven bread and traditional Jewish fare being laid on the table before us. I remember beautiful blue-stemmed glasses and a tall elegant flask holding our Kosher wine. The flask and blue stemmed glasses are ringed in gold and were decorated in gold filigree. As I was young, I was not allowed much. We each said our blessing and took part in the reading of the Torah. I will have to admit, we were a traditional yet untraditional Jewish-Christian family. I did not claim to be Christian until I converted when I was in my mid-20s.

We did not have a shofar through which to blow, so my father a rather tall (if not only to me) man, and thin, would cup his hands and make a blowing sound. Let me explain, on Rosh Hashanah we recite before God Hebrew verses of Sovereignty, Remembrance, and Shofar blasts. The Sovereignty reminds of who is King, Remembrance so we are reminded of wince we came and where we are to go, and through God, Shofar, we are to attain that for which we pray and aspire to.

Today, I am Messianic Jew, but Jesus did not tell me to forget the old ways and do only the new. Jesus said I am to remember Moses and those before Moses, and those before Jesus. In my household, albeit, it is only me, I celebrate the old with the new. I pull out the Torah that has been in my family several generations now, and I keep my Star of David with a cross centered upon my neck. I have the mezuzah upon my door. My favorite Hebrew prayer: Barukh atah Adonai, Eloheinu, melekh ha’olam “Blessed are you, Lord, our God, sovereign of the universe”. I am also signing my Jewish name, Rebecca. (My sisters argue which name I was given in Temple, Rebecca or Sarah. Either way, I am proud.)


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