The Apple of His Eye

A rabbi and his wife, as new believers in Yeshua, are in uncharted territory and faced with questions that demand answers. Daniel, as Rabbi of Temple Beth Shalom begins the most unique Friday night service as his congregation sits stunned by his apology. “I need to apologize to every one of you sitting here tonight because I have loaded you down with burdens too heavy for any person to bear. I realize I have spoken many many times about our responsibility as Jews to take up the yoke of the law. But I now realize none of us can take up that burden—not even your rabbi.” How will Daniel now support his family? And how will they now find a place to express their newly found faith? And how will they resolve the conflict between them as each desires their own expression of worship? “Yeshua just broke into my life—and He overshadowed all my fears, my shame, and wounds that had been crippling me,” Naomi explains to Daniel. “When I experienced His love, suddenly I was like a ballerina. Like I was gliding and not walking. So I guess I don’t worry how to worship Him. I want my love to burst forth just like His did for me. If I lose knowing Him and His presence—the air becomes empty. There’s nothing in it. Empty air. Wasted air. But with His presence, glistening honey plumps up every molecule in the air. Daniel, I don’t want to go back to a one-dimensional delusion of reality—reality is His presence.” Daniel, however, cannot put aside the memory of his Aunt Luba. Having been sheltered from the Nazis by a Christian family, Daniel asks, “Did they try to convert you?” Her answer remains etched in his heart and mind: “Their religion is good for them,” she tells him. “But, boychik, not for us. We are Yids. Our Torah is full of wonderful old men with white beards—and our shuls, when young I loved watching Papa drinking schnapps with all the men—all of them dancing with the Torah. I can see them—holding scroll like it was their baby.”