Jewish – His Love Endures Forever Blog

In a recent blog, I shared several Hebrew scriptures about the birth of the Messiah that were fulfilled by Yeshua, the Hebrew name for Jesus. These are just a few of the more than 300 prophecies that were fulfilled by Yeshua. I also said that many Jewish people are probably surprised to learn that everything about Yeshua was Jewish.

Today’s blog, “Our Jewish Jesus,” is about a holiday, Passover, that Jewish people, worldwide, commemorate during the spring. The Passover story is rich with meaning and deliverance for the Jews from their enemies, which, we know, has even greater significance at this current, perilous time for Israel and Jews throughout the world.

For those unfamiliar, thousands of years ago, the early Jews, then known as the Israelites, lived in Egypt where they were harshly mistreated as slaves. The Egyptian pharaoh ordered that all Israelite male babies be killed because the Israelite population was growing exponentially. God heard the cries of His people and Moses, one of the most prominent men in the Hebrew Bible, entreated the Egyptian pharaoh to let the Israelites leave Egypt so that they could go to Israel (then known as Canaan) to worship the LORD.

Despite awful plagues that came upon the Egyptians, pharaoh refused to let the Israelites go. The final plague was the killing of the firstborn in Egypt, both man and animal.

God, however, instructed the Israelites to slaughter a perfect, spotless lamb and to place the blood of the lambs on the sides and tops of the doorframes of their homes. Animal sacrifices were commanded because, according to Jewish law, “ … the life of a creature is in the blood, and I have given it to you on the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul,” Leviticus chapter 17, verse 11.

In Exodus 12 it says that when God saw the blood upon the Israelites’ doorposts, He would pass over those houses and that the firstborn in those homes would be spared. He commanded His people to commemorate this Passover deliverance forever, which is why Jewish people celebrate Passover every year.

The firstborn has always been an important concept in Judaism. Following their deliverance from Egypt, the Israelites were instructed to consecrate the firstborn son to the Lord.

So, you may be wondering, what does Passover and all of this have to do with Yeshua?

In the book of Luke, in the New Testament, it says, “When Yeshua (Jesus) was born, Joseph and Mary took him to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord as it is written in the Law of the Lord, ‘Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord. ‘ ” Luke chapter 2, verses 22 and 23.

Also in the New Testament, we read in the book of John, who was Jewish, “The next day Yochanan (John) was coming toward him (Yeshua) and said, ‘Look! God’s lamb. The one who is taking away the sin of the world,’ ” – John chapter 1, verse 29.

Yeshua had to live a sinless life in order to be the perfect lamb who would be sacrificed for the sins of the world. Peter, a Jewish fisherman who followed Yeshua, said that it was the precious blood of Yeshua, a lamb without blemish or defect, who redeemed people from their sins – 1 Peter chapter 1, verse 19.

It might also surprise you to know that Yeshua celebrated the Passover with his disciples.

Matthew, who was Jewish, records the following – “On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Passover), the disciples came to Jesus and asked, ‘Where do you want us to prepare the Passover meal for you?’ ‘As you go into the city,’ he told them, ‘you will see a certain man. Tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My time has come, and I will eat the Passover meal with my disciples at your house.’ ” So the disciples did as Jesus told them and prepared the Passover meal there,” Matthew chapter 26, verses 17 and 18.

During this Passover meal, Yeshua took some of the unleavened bread and blessed it and instructed his disciples to eat it. He also took a cup of wine (the cup of redemption – the third cup in the Passover meal) and instructed his disciples to drink it.

For those familiar with Christian traditions, this is now known as the Lord’s Supper (communion) which takes place in churches and Messianic synagogues throughout the world.

It is important for both Jews and Christians to understand the significance of this beautiful holiday of Passover which reminds Christians of the Jewish roots of our faith.

Finally, I’d like to say that there are a growing number of Christians who commemorate Passover with seder meals. In addition to wanting to explore and emulate their Jewish roots, followers of Yeshua are drawn to Passover because they identify with the freedom (from sin and death) that God gave to the Israelites in delivering them from Egypt. Those who follow Yeshua, including me, also believe that the matzah, (unleavened bread) which has stripes, that is eaten during the Passover, represents the 39 stripes that Yeshua received as he was beaten and whipped resulting in stripes upon his body prior to his crucifixion.

We also believe that the blood on the doorposts of the Israelites’ homes was a foreshadowing of the blood that Yeshua, the Perfect Sacrificial Lamb, shed for all mankind for the forgiveness of our sins. And we see this parallel in the lamb bone that is on the plate of every Jewish seder meal.

There are also other aspects of the seder that clearly point to the Messiah – his death, burial and resurrection. Passover is a prophetic and visual expression of Yeshua, the Messiah. At the end of every seder, these words are said, “Next year in Jerusalem,” which is a prayer of hope for Jews who wish to live safely in their Jewish homeland, Israel, and in God’s most beloved city of Jerusalem. Let it be so, dear Lord, let it be so.

Why Never Again is Now

As the war in Israel rages on, I believe that it is important to understand why Israel, and the vast majority of Jewish people, believe that there can not be a premature ceasefire while the terrorists have openly stated their intention to repeat horrific attacks upon Israel until the nation is completely destroyed and every Jewish person annihilated.

A quick history lesson will explain why Jewish people feel so strongly about this. Jewish people, including myself, have been absolutely horrified and, quite frankly, in disbelief, at the support that the terrorists have received while antisemitism on college campuses, in cities throughout the nation and the world is both blatant and skyrocketing.

We, the Jewish people, have been here before as the Nazi rage against Jews was known as ‘The Final Solution.’ This policy of deliberate and systematic genocide of all Jewish people, began across German-occupied Europe and was intended to reach beyond the European continent.

During the Holocaust, two-thirds of the Jewish population in Europe were murdered, including 90 percent of Polish Jews. Perhaps a comparison of the number of Jewish people before and after World War II throughout Europe will put things into perspective.

In 1933, the number of Jews in Poland was 3,300,000. In 1945, it was just 297,000. Jews living in Ukraine in 1933 numbered 1,500,000, and in 1945, Jews numbered only 600,000. And in Germany, the Jewish population was decimated from 330,000 to only 40,000 following the war. Had the United States and other countries not stepped in to combat the Nazi butchery, Hitler might have accomplished his stated goal – to eradicate the world of Jews. History is certainly repeating itself with the mindless mantras of total destruction of Jewish people in Israel and elsewhere.

I am sharing this because most Jews would love nothing more than to be allowed to live in peace and freedom. Every Jewish person in Israel is, in one way or another, being detrimentally impacted by this war. Jews around the world, including those in the United States, have determined that we can not sit idly by and permit another Holocaust.

As I have shared in recent podcasts, my faith in the God of the Jews – the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob – is the glimmer of light that sustains me during this perilous time. In spite of worldwide opposition, Jews and Christians are united in support of Israel.

As King David said in Psalm 31:21, “Praise the LORD, because he showed me how wonderful his faithful love is when the city was surrounded by enemies.”

I am continuously reminded that although the Jewish nation is surrounded by its enemies, and although Israel must do everything to prevent another Holocaust, ultimately, we must trust Almighty God for victory and vindication. This is my challenge and my commitment. Please consider whether you will do the same.

Hanukkah – Then and Now

Jewish people around the world are celebrating Hanukkah, a remembrance of miracles that God demonstrated on behalf of the Jewish nation more than 2,000 years ago. The commemoration of Hanukkah, this year, takes on even greater significance due to the abject, unimaginable evil that took place in Israel on October 7 when the nation was attacked and its people were slaughtered, kidnapped, and raped.

The story of Hanukkah begins in Israel a long time ago. The country was called Judea at that time and the Jews who lived there did not rule their land. However, while Judea was ruled by different kings, the Jews lived there as they always had. The farmers planted and harvested. The shepherds watched their sheep and on the Jewish feast days, they went to the Temple in Jerusalem.

They lived in peace until a Greek King – Antiochus – ruled Judea. He wanted the Jews to take Greek names, read Greek books and play Greek sports. He practiced the Greek religion which believed in many gods and worshiped images of these gods. He tried to make the Jews become like Greeks. He wanted to destroy the Jewish religion, so he did not allow the Jews to keep the laws of the Torah, such as observing the Sabbath. He put Greek idols in the Temple and put out the ‘Ner Tamid’ – the eternal light that burned in the Temple and symbolized the Presence of God. He commanded that pigs be sacrificed as offerings to the Greek gods in the towns and in the Temple. Anyone who refused to obey was killed. So were Jews who lit Sabbath candles or studied Torah, the Jewish law. The king’s soldiers went throughout Judea and forced the Jews to bow and worship Greek idols.

Yet many Jews began to rebel. The Jews had to fight a great battle against Antiochus and his armies but they were few against many. How could they win?

In Modin, a town near Jerusalem, a Jewish priest, Mattathias, and his sons refused to sacrifice to the Greek gods and pulled down the altar to the god Zeus. Mattahias refused to worship the idols and he led a fight against the Greeks. He threw down the idol and said, “Whoever is for the Lord, our God, follow me!” His five sons and many other Jews followed him.

When Mattathias died, his son, Judah, became their leader. Judah was called the Maccabee, the hammer. The people who fought with him were called Maccabees. Antiochus sent his best generals and large armies to fight them. They came with bows, arrows, swords, and horses. After the battle, they planned to capture the Jews and sell them as slaves. But that never happened.

The Maccabees surprised the armies of Antiochus. They caught them in a narrow pass between two mountains. From the tops and sides of the mountains, the Jews fought their enemies down below. The Jews were outnumbered but they prevailed.

Judah led them into Jerusalem where they began cleansing the Temple. They removed the images of the Greek gods and put an end to pig sacrifices to make the Temple holy once more. The Temple was overgrown with thorns and weeds. It was filled with garbage. When the Jews first saw it, they cried. They wanted to cleanse the Temple. They built a new altar, new gates, and new doors. When the time came to light the eternal light that burned continuously in the Temple they searched for oil. They found oil in a small jar, but it was only enough to burn for one day. But the oil in that small jar burned and burned until more oil could be prepared. The oil which was enough for one day burned for eight days and the eternal flame did not go out.

On the 25th day of Kislev on the Jewish calendar, the Temple again became the “House of God.” The Jews celebrated. They prayed and sang for eight days. Then Judah declared that every year, on the 25th of Kislev, an eight- day holiday would begin. The holiday is called Hanukkah which means dedication.

Since that time, Jews throughout the world have celebrated Hanukkah. They celebrate the triumph of good over evil and light over darkness.

As Israel and Jewish people around the world are faced with horrific evil once again, Hanukkah is a powerful reminder that God will help Jewish people and the nation of Israel in its darkest hour.

Thanksgiving – Really?

I am thankful for beautiful people in my life, including my daughter, Samantha, and my dear friend, Carole, who was very close to my mother throughout her life, and, who represents all that is good from my childhood. Carole lives a life of goodness and gratitude and brings deep joy to my heart and soul. Many Jewish people, however, like Carole and myself are struggling deeply with what is happening in Israel. The question, therefore, is can we still have gratitude in the midst of the suffering and pain in life?

We celebrated Thanksgiving last week, but there are many Jewish people who do not feel very thankful this year because of the war in Israel as well as the rampant antisemitism that has broken out on college campuses and in cities throughout our country, including New York City, where I grew up. Many of us are in total shock over this ever-worsening scenario and we keep wondering if we are ever going to wake up from this horrible nightmare. The intensity of the hatred and the sheer volume of the numbers of people, in all walks of life, who are not only calling for the annihilation of Israel, but also the eradication of Jews everywhere is something that is almost too much to bear.

So, how can we give thanks in the midst of the turmoil in the world, anxiety in our hearts, and uncertainty regarding what awaits us in the days to come? How can we be grateful if we are fighting a terminal illness, if a family member has recently died, or if we are overwhelmed with sorrow and anger about what is happening in the world? Is it even possible or correct to do so?

The Hebrew Bible repeatedly tells us to give thanks to God because His steadfast love endures forever. In fact, that phrase, “Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; for His steadfast love endures forever,” is repeated 26 times throughout the psalms and in other passages of the Hebrew Bible!

Does God want us to lie and to put on a happy face? No! God is not into denial, therefore we need to understand how we can cultivate an attitude and a lifestyle of gratitude, what I like to call ‘Thanksliving,’ in the midst of our suffering and problems.

Scientific research has shown the enormous health benefits of thankfulness even in the midst of suffering. No one feels grateful that he or she has lost a job or a home or good health. But there is a difference between feeling grateful and being grateful. We don’t necessarily have control over our emotions and we cannot easily will ourselves to feel grateful, less depressed, or happy.

But feelings flow from the way we look at the world. Being grateful is a choice and a perspective from which we can view life and not be overwhelmed by circumstances. Scientific research has found that gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people:

Feel more positive emotions. Enjoy good experiences. Have greater health. Improve the way we deal with adversity and build strong relationships with others and with our community.

Children, teenagers and adolescents who feel gratitude are 20% more likely to get excellent grades.

Grateful people also:

Have 10 percent fewer stress-related illnesses. Have blood pressure that is lower by 12 percent.

Live up to 7 years longer than unhappy or people who are not thankful and have 7 percent higher income than non-grateful people!

The Bible made this proclamation long before it was recognized by science. King Solomon, in the Book of Proverbs in the Hebrew Bible, said, “A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones,” – Proverbs 17:22. We see evidence of this with stress-induced heart attacks, debilitating depression and severe anxiety.

So, how do we handle the trials and suffering that come upon us and that we see throughout the world? We must first understand that suffering can refine and deepen gratefulness if we allow it to show us not to take things for granted.

It may be surprising to know that the Thanksgiving holiday was born out of hard times. The first Thanksgiving took place after nearly half the pilgrims died. It became a national holiday in 1863 in the middle of the Civil War and was moved to the fourth Thursday of November in the 1930s following the Great Depression.

When times are good, we take prosperity for granted and begin to believe that we are invulnerable. But in times of uncertainty, it becomes much harder to take for granted all the good that we have in life.

It is good, then, to consciously cultivate an attitude of gratitude which builds up a sort of psychological immune system that can cushion us when we fall. This does not mean that we try to ignore or deny suffering or pain. This way of thinking can lead to alcohol or drug abuse and any number of other health problems because we mistakenly think that stuffing our pain will make it go away. And, of course, it does not. What we can do, however, is to realize that we have the power to transform an obstacle into an opportunity. We can do this by thinking:

What lessons can I learn from this experience? How am I now more the person God wants me to be because of this experience? What ability did the experience draw out of me that I will now be able to use in other ways in life? How can I use this experience to help others?

I’d also like to share some simple ways to cultivate a life of gratitude.

Keep a daily gratitude journal. Write down the things for which you are grateful. Do you have food on the table, a roof over your head, a warm bed and people who love you? These are things we should not take for granted because we know that life can, and often does, change in an instant. Also, make a practice of paying attention to gratitude-inspiring events and write them down. Did you see a beautiful sunset? Did you hear the morning birds singing? There is beauty all around us, as the old adage says, when we stop and smell the roses.

Write thank you notes which will help you feel happier as well as nurturing your relationships with others. Doesn’t it feel great when you get a thank you note from someone? Yes! Writing a thank you note takes such little effort and means so much to people.

Hang around with people who are grateful and make a commitment to be one of those people.

Do not watch the news 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I am not saying that you should not know what is going on in our world, but the constant intake of bad news is not good for you mentally, psychologically, or emotionally.

Change your self-talk by focusing upon the things for which you are grateful. Instead of worrying, meditate upon the encouragement found in the Bible and focus upon God and all the good things that He has done in your life.

We can always thank the Lord because the Bible tells us that His steadfast love endures forever! As we meditate upon Bible verses of God’s goodness and think about His love and faithfulness to us in times past, these things can help us to live a thankful life.

As I mentioned previously, this Bible verse is repeated 26 times in the Hebrew Bible:

“Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever.” If we truly believe that God is good and that His love for us endures forever, what a different way of life we would lead.

During this season of Thanksgiving, I encourage you to set aside some time to think about the good things that you have in your life, to consider the fact that God’s love for you is unfailing, kind, generous and everlasting. This is why, even in the midst of trials, sorrow, anxiety and uncertainty in our lives we can always give thanks to the Lord because His love endures forever.

Jewish To The Core

In my previous blogs and podcasts, I have shared about the suffering and sorrow that Jewish people, in Israel, are experiencing after the horrific attack upon Israel on October 7. I have also shared how this attack has affected every Jewish person I know, prompting fear, grief and anger as many Jewish people are now declaring, ‘Never Again Is Now’. The term ‘never again’ arose from the ashes of the Holocaust during which 6 million Jewish people were slaughtered, simply because they were Jewish. The recent attack upon Israel feels like a bandage that has been ripped off an open wound and is causing us to see the disgusting, massive infection of anti-semitism again.

We have always emphasized our Jewish heritage to our daughter, Samantha. This photo shows us performing a skit about when our ancestors came from Eastern Europe to the United States with little more than the clothes on their backs.

Some or my friends are even wondering if any of their non-Jewish friends would be willing to hide them if ever it came to that. The question arises from caring Christians, who during the Holocaust, hid Jews in their homes to their own peril and sometimes, even death.

Jewish people feel that we can not sit idly by when rampant anti-semitism, perhaps once in the shadows, is now glaringly out in the open for all to see.

My reason for beginning a podcast and sharing these blogs is to help people consider their identity, what are we willing to live for, and now, perhaps what are we willing to die for? Knowing and living our lives on purpose, with intentionality, is a foreign thought to many, but, clearly, in light of recent events, Jewish people are embracing their Jewish identity which can be summed up in the common cliche, “If not us, who? And, if not now, when?”

I am going to share my story of what it means to be a second-generation Jew in the United States. My story mirrors millions of Jews and my prayer is that this podcast will be helpful to both Jews and Christians during this unprecedented, catastrophic time in history.

‘Jewish To The Core’ is actually the first chapter of my book, “Chesed (Mercy) – A Jewish Woman’s Discovery of God’s Mercy,” although I will be adding relevant information that relates to the horrific events taking place in our world today.

I grew up in the 1960s in Brooklyn, New York, in a secular Jewish home much like millions of other second-generation Jewish people throughout the country. My maternal and paternal grandparents had come to the United States, along with a massive wave of Jewish immigrants, in the early part of the 20^th century. They left Eastern Europe — Hungary, Poland, Russia, Ukraine, and others — for a better life.

The Statue of Liberty beckoned them and Ellis Island, the gateway for millions of immigrants from throughout the world from 1892 through 1954, was the door through which they came. The overcrowded halls of the processing building reeked of an odious smell and a cacophony of languages filled the air during this mass immigration resettlement. Despite the fears and uncertainties of what awaited them, Jewish immigrants came to America with the hope that the land of opportunity would make room for them.

They were escaping pogroms, widespread violence against Jews in the Russian Empire, persecution that existed solely because they were Jewish. Incredibly, we are witnessing this hatred and violence once again today. When our ancestors arrived in America, their goal, for the most part, was to leave their past behind.

Although my immediate family was not religious, we were Jewish to the core; a concept that many Christians have trouble understanding. Our identity is strongly Jewish but we do not actively practice the Jewish religion. Therefore, many Jews do not view Jewish atheism as a contradiction because many American Jews are culturally, but not religiously, Jewish.

Jews make up a small minority (approximately 2 percent) of the United States population. The population of Jewish people worldwide is, likewise, staggeringly small. We make up only 0.2 percent of the 8 billion people worldwide. On October 7, more than 1,300 Israelis and citizens of other countries, including 29 Americans, were slaughtered in Israel, a country whose population is less than 10 million people. Proportionately, the horrific deaths of 1,300 Israelis would be equivalent to killing nearly 40,000 people in the United States. Please let that sink in.

Is it any wonder that Jews in Israel and throughout the world are holding our collective breath with justifiable fear for what might lie ahead? Please also never forget that the terrorists’ desired intent and their long-time goal, in their own words, is to completely annihilate Israel and its people.

During my childhood, my family defined our Judaism this way: we are Jewish because our ancestors were Jewish. We also celebrated Hanukkah (not Christmas); Passover (not Easter); and we don’t believe in Jesus, or His rightful Hebrew name, Yeshua.

My mother, Maxine, before one of the most incredible miracles I have ever seen in my life and that was when she placed her faith in her Messiah, Yeshua, put it this way, “There’s us and them.” Although we had a strong emphasis on Jewish pride, we still feared being singled out. A study of history and today’s current events clearly demonstrate why.

During high school, I was asked to do a writing assignment to identify our ancestors and trace our family roots. I was excited at the prospect of learning more about my past but the search came up empty. There was no way to trace our roots even though all came through Ellis Island. Most immigrants came to Ellis Island with no official papers and left the portal the same way. My nana’s sentiment echoed that of millions, “We are Jewish. That’s all I know.”

Later in life, a DNA test confirmed what I already knew but desired to see in writing. I am 97 percent Eastern European Jewish; not a surprise, but still a source of pride and joy. It is this pride that Jewish people are now proclaiming throughout the world, despite their fears of anti-semitism.

And, as I explained in my podcast last week, there is an inextricable bond between Jews and Christians. Many Jews are now recognizing that they have true friends in Christians, who, like many Jewish people, uphold the Bible as their guiding light and who are showing their unwavering support for Israel and the Jewish people.

Psalm 135, one of the Hallelujah Psalms in the Hebrew Bible and a regular part of Jewish and Christian readings and song, says it best,

”For the Eternal made his choice; he selected Jacob as His own; He claimed Israel as His possession,” Psalm 135:4. Amen and amen.

Please consider sharing any comments or questions on my website, under the Contact Us tab. I will respond to each and every question and comment. May God bless you and may He bless His beloved people, the Jews.

I AM A JEW

I am a Jew. My mother was Jewish. My father was Jewish. My grandparents, on both sides, were Jewish. My ancestry is 97 percent European Jewish.

My father, not a particularly religious man, once told me,“Don’t say you are a Jew. Say you are Jewish.” I asked him why and he responded, “Because they called us dirty Jews,” evoking in his soul, the horrific, permanently scarred memories he bore from World War II and the Holocaust.

Well, today I say proudly that I am a Jew.

The images of the atrocities perpetrated against the Jews in Israel is bringing back the horrible images of the slaughter of 6 million innocent Jews in the Holocaust. Images that were placed behind scaffolding, horrific images in our minds that we thought we would never have to uncover again.

It is as though every picture of an Israeli slain is me or could be me. That is why the tears flow. We thought our days of wearing yellow Jewish stars were over, as though being Jewish was a crime.

We commemorate Hanukkah, Passover and Purim, the stories of evil rulers who wanted to destroy Jews just because they were Jewish. We celebrate them, as though they were just stories, thinking we could remember the victories of old without ever having to face this vicious reality again.

But now we face that same greater, monstrous evil. Barbaric, murderous people who want to kill us – just because we are Jewish. As a Jew, I call upon the God of our fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, to help us again. We know that He has helped and delivered us in the past and we are confident, because of His everlasting love and covenant to the Jews, that He will do so again.

Today and forever, I will always be a Jew.

Book Signing with Edie Bowman at Logos Bookstore on May 21 from 11 am to 1 pm

When Edie Bowman, of Canton, wrote her book, “God In Every Moment – Nothing Is Off Limits,” she had no idea that her friend, Deborah Markowitz Solan, of Cuyahoga Falls, had written a similar book, “Chesed (Mercy) – A Jewish Woman’s Discovery of God’s Mercy.”

“Your book was absolutely inspiring, encouraging, and extremely relatable to me,” Edie told me. “We have similar ways of thinking spiritually and artistically and your book felt so much like mine,” she said.

When I read Edie’s book, I had the same sentiments. “Edie’s book is an authentic and relatable compilation of stories, poems, quotes and life experiences that are entertaining and inspirational. From social issues to faith challenges and successes, ‘God In Every Moment’ captures the real-life experiences of an African-American woman who is committed to her faith, her family, and to allowing God to shine through her.”

Edie and I will bring our love for God and for people together at a Book Signing Event on Saturday, May 21, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Logos Bookstore in Kent.

“Edie and I are excited to come together as ‘sisters’ in our faith for our book signing. We both believe that God’s love overcomes racial barriers and brings hope in times of uncertainty. We look forward to seeing many friends at the book signing and we thank Logos Bookstore for hosting this event.”

Edie has a communication arts degree with a theater concentration from Malone University, where she was a professional tutor for five years. She is a professional playwright and the founder and CEO of “Into The Light Productions” Community Theater Company. She also has a bachelor of theology degree from Barak Christian Life School of Theology. She is also a Certified Life Coach and has been a cosmetologist for 30 years.

She has been married to Dr. Charles Bowman for 27 years and they have three daughters, Jazzmin, Tatiana, and Autumn. Dr. Bowman was a math teacher at Theodore Roosevelt High School in Kent for 14 years. He will be present at the May 21 book signing.

Bound By Love And Not Our Past

A visit with a group of friends to the Maltz Museum of Jewish Heritage in Cleveland personified the museum’s mission as “The Museum of Diversity & Tolerance.” In fact, on that day, we could have been its “poster children”. Our group consisted of Emily, of Japanese descent; Sharon and Lillie, of African descent; Dale, of German descent; and me, of Jewish descent.

It was a serendipitous experience as we took part in the museum’s first-of-its-kind Holocaust Survivor Memory Project. In August 2017, 92-year-old Cleveland resident and Holocaust survivor Stanley Bernath traveled to Los Angeles, where, during a 2-day, 10-hour span, he answered questions while being recorded by more than 10 cameras from a variety of angles. The state-of-the-art technology created a hologram-like projection of Stanley that can respond to more than 400 unique questions about his experience during the Holocaust.

Unbeknownst to us, beta testing was taking place the day we visited. The beta testing is an important part of the technology’s process, working out bugs so that when visitors come to the museum in the future, the technology will work fluidly.

There we were that day – a group of five women, whose ancestors were mortal enemies – each asking Stanley difficult questions. “Have you forgiven the Nazis? How did you survive your time in the concentration camps? What do you want future generations to know about the Holocaust?”

The questions and answers were painful but, according to the grateful docent, were vital for the long-term success of the project. Our group, she also noted with enthusiasm, was extraordinary based on our divergent pasts.

Yet, for us, it was more about our common present and our hope for a glorious future. Each of us, with different physical DNA, have the same spiritual DNA for we are all sisters, daughters of the Jewish Messiah Yeshua — Jesus.

I was reminded of Yeshua’s words in John 17:21. “I pray that they will all be one – just as you and I are one – as you are in me, Father, and I am in you. And may they be in us so that the world will believe you sent me.”

That day, at the Jewish museum of diversity and tolerance, Yeshua’s prayer was answered.

Dale, Lillie, Sharon and Emily, under a Chuppah canopy, where a Jewish couple stands during their wedding ceremony. Truly, as believers in Yeshua, we are the “Bride of Christ”.

Category: Jewish

All Eyes on Israel

Is This The End?

Our Jewish Jesus