Hear O Israel

I did not see flashing lights, nor did I hear loud thunder, but along the way, over and over again, I heard a whispering in the wind: Shema Yisrael, Adonai Eloheinu, Adonai Echad.

 

Runa and I studied the Tanach together and found many passages that discussed how strangers and foreigners join with the Lord, God of Israel. These verses were calling to me: "This is the time, this is for you."

 

The Tanach talks about foreigners who have come to love the name of Hashem, who keep the Shabbat, and want to be His servants. Zecharia states (2:10): "Shout and be glad, O daughter of Zion, for I am coming and I will live among you, declares the Lord. Many nations will be joined with the Lord on that day and will become My people."

 

And Isaiah, the prophet says: "Also the sons of the strangers that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him and to love the name of the Lord, to be His servants, everyone that keepeth the Shabbat from polluting it and taketh hold of My covenant. Even them will I bring to My Holy Mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer" (Isaiah 56:6–7).

 

Another of those whispers was Zecharia, saying: "This is what the Lord Almighty says, ‘Many peoples and the inhabitants of many cities will yet come and the inhabitants of one city will go to another and say, “Let us go at once to entreat the Lord Almighty. I myself am going.” And many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord Almighty and to entreat him.’ This is what the Lord Almighty says: In those days ten men from all languages and nations will take firm hold of one Jew by the hem of his robe and say, 'Let us go with you, because we have heard that God is with you.'" (Zecharia 8:20–23).

 

There I was in a distant land, a foreigner, with my longing for the God of Israel, for His people and His land. He proclaims: also foreigners, also strangers will come. They will join in with the people, they will keep the Shabbat, they will take hold of the tzitzit (a four-cornered garment with fringes) of a Jew, to follow him, to ask him to teach them about their ways and the miracles of Hashem. How could I make it happen? What actions did I need to take to make it real for me?

 

Finally the Jewish congregation in Helsinki got their rabbi. I contacted him with the references from the rabbi in Stockholm. Once again, I took the opportunity, while in Helsinki on professional obligations, to contact Rabbi Michael, the new rabbi there. At first he was busy, but I did not give up. I briefly introduced myself over the phone and urged him to give me at least fifteen minutes while I was in the capital. Over the phone he tried to convince me not to go ahead with my plans. He even added: "And for you it will also hurt." In his warning, I could already feel the Mohel's (person who performs the circumcision) knife on my skin, as I contemplated the circumcision I would have to undergo. But still I did not relent. I knew I was inching closer to finally getting the long process of converting underway. I was extremely determined – the rabbi could have asked me to meet him on top of Mount Everest and I would have. "Ok, come at two o’clock, but I have other commitments so I can only see you for a few minutes." Half an hour later, I entered his office at Malmgatan 26 in Helsinki, where the synagogue and the Jewish school were also located.

 

I felt totally vulnerable in this new environment. I did not know how to behave. I asked for Rabbi Michael and was told to wait in the study hall. I explored his collection of books, mostly written in Hebrew, and let my fingers feel their covers, wishing that I could read and learn from these sources.

 

The rabbi greeted me warmly. Finally I felt I had an opportunity to share with someone my situation, my desires and my goals. I spoke from the very depths of my being, in a way I hadn’t been able to do in a long time. To my great joy the rabbi listened. He had told me he was busy, and maybe he was, but we sat for one hour, two hours. I told him about the inner whisperings that urged me to join the Jewish people and move to Israel.

 

I leaned forward to get his attention. I had waited for this moment for a long time. Finally I could tell a rabbi, somebody who could help me, how I felt inside. Now it was just my soul talking. "We have left the ‘Sunday-people’ in order to join the ‘Shabbat-people.’ We have left the Trinity religion to be joined to the One and Only God of Israel. We have left the ‘pork-eating’ people to join the ‘kosher-people.’ We have left the people who celebrate pagan holidays in favor of the people who find their joy in the biblical holidays." 

 

Both of us lost track of time and space, until the rabbi suddenly realized he had neglected his commitment. But I had convinced him – there was no doubt in my mind. He promised to help me. And I was happy. My soul had been drifting alone in the sea, almost drowning. I had thrown out a lifeline, but until now nobody had pulled me in. From this moment I knew that my soul would find peace. I knew I would become a Jew.

 

I followed Rabbi Michael out to the busy Helsinki street. Still standing on the sidewalk, before stepping into his car, Rabbi Michael took my head in his hands, gave me his blessing, and kissed me on the forehead. I will never forget that moment. Now I knew what action I had to take. I was on my way. My soul was being pulled to the shore, somebody had begun to care for it, had given it nourishment – in order that it should live.

 

To be continued.

 

 

(Strangers No More, by Shlomo Brunell. Reprinted with courtesy of Gefen Publishing House 2005 www.gefenpublishing.com)