Volumne 12 Number 5
May/June 1996
Iyyar/Sivan/Tammuz 5756

"What Would Your Mother Think?"
Ask this Jewish Mom!

By Ruth Shulberg

I was brought up in a traditionally Jewish home in the Lower East Side of New York City. Needless to say, everyone I knew in my school and neighborhood was Jewish as well. As a young child I loved seeing my mother light the candles on Friday night although she didn't spend much time in the synagogue. My father mainly went to the services during Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashannah. I loved going with him. I loved seeing him wearing his tallit as he prayed. I loved the family getting together for the Passover seder every year.

Unfortunately after I got married, religion was no longer a greater part of my life. I was more concerned about making a living, although I still continued to go to my fathers seders and loved them very much.

My first husband died when my son David was 3 years old and my daughter Debbie was 5. My parents helped to take care of them while I went to work and therefore David was very influenced by my father's traditions.

In 1974, after marrying my current husband Harry, our family moved to California to seek the good life. As time went by David met and fell in love with Debbie. She was not of the Jewish faith but they were married. Joshua, their son, was born and they decided that it was time for them to think more about their religion. My son and his wife had been believers in Yeshua for some time, but now they felt the need to be involved with a congregation.

They spent a number of weeks visiting various groups until finally they found themselves at Kehilat Ariel. They didn't tell me about this but David called one day and said he would like to take me somewhere on Saturday. He wouldn't tell me where. He wanted it to be a surprise. To make a long story short, it was the biggest surprise of my life! The name Jesus was never uttered by my parents, although I thought he was probably alright for Gentiles. I must admit I fell in love with Kehilat Ariel, its people, its Rabbi and his wife and when I saw the young men wearing Tallit, I felt like my father was in the room. I was flooded with warm memories of the past.

After attending the Messianic Synagogue several times, I began to understand that Yeshua was not just for my Christian friends but He is the one promised to us Jews too. It all came together one evening in April of 1994 when I prayed with our Rabbi and my son to receive Yeshua as my personal Messiah and Savior. G-d has blessed me so much, but I must say that things have not always been easy. Rabbi Barney was by my side a year ago when I went through a very traumatic surgery. The family of Kehilat Ariel has been by my side through many experiences. I was immersed in water one and a half years ago which has brought me even closer to Yeshua.

So many things have happened to bring me peace. I have many things to work on but I know that G-d and Yeshua will help me see it through. In the words of Yeshua's prayer: "Thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."-Matthew 6

URL:http://www.kehilatariel.org/5_6_96.html

Last Modified May 10, 1999