STORYTIME TAPESTRY

The Newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world

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Special Treat ??“ From Me!

Sept 18, 2005? 

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The Shores Of Galilee

Carol Roach

Before I had actually met Matt, we talked on the phone to determine if there was a connection at least on an intellectual level.?  Both of us had been alone for a while, middle aged, and completely disgusted with the whole dating scene. We were not into the meat market. We were not into a few hours of pleasure and then onto the next sordid affair.? 

Our initial questions brought out the usual demographic fare.?  I was divorced, one grown child, he was separated waiting on his divorce, and the father of two children still living at home with their mother.?  I had just graduated from McGill University with my masters degree in Counselling Psychology.?  Matt owned his own accounting business.?  I rented my apartment. He owned his own home.?  As if those differences were not enough, I was a Christian, and he was a Jew, complicated by the fact that his father, may he rest in peace, was Muslim.

For all of you who know me, I was not frightened by the fact that this man was so different from me. I was intrigued by it.?  I wanted to know everything about his Middle Eastern heritage. ? I found out rather quickly although he would share is life with me; the question of religious was not an acceptable topic for discussion.?  I could not understand why, as I am so eager to learn about other cultures and religions.?  He on the other hand, had too many experiences where discussing the differences in Christian and Judaic belief did not create a broader understanding. It provided more fuel to separate and denigrate.

I respected his wishes, knowing that in time as we grew to know more and more about each other, and the subject would come up again.?  It was inevitable that we would become a Judeo-Christian couple. I attended church every Sunday with a good friend of mine and Matt was quite aware of it.?  Yet I never knew if he attended synagogue or not. He simply would not talk about it.

I knew Matt was guarding himself against the hurts of the past. Before he married he had Christian girlfriends. The relationships were fraught with too many complications and he married a Jewish woman instead.

Imagine my surprise and exquisite delight when one day, out of the blue, he said to me ???Carol, I would like to invite you to the synagogue Friday night.?  There is a cantor I want you to hear.????  She is magnificent.???

I jumped at the opportunity. Matt now trusted me enough to invite me into his world. He was finally willing to show me who he really was. We had reached the turning point in our fledgling relationship. We would either become closer because of it or forever drift apart.

Of course I was worried about making a fool of myself. I did not know the proper protocol to follow in a Jewish synagogue.?  He assured me it would not be a problem. Temple Emmanuel Beth Sholom was a reform synagogue therefore; he would be sitting beside me. I did not have to do a thing if I didn??™t want to.?  All I had to do was listen to the sweet voice of the cantor. If at any point I did not feel comfortable, we would leave.

Friday night arrived and we entered the temple.?  I was uncomfortable yet, curious at the same time.?  Matt placed a yarmulke on his head.?  It was the first time I saw him wear one.?  It was strange but wonderful.?  I was entering a world I had only heard about before.?  I had never been inside a Synagogue. I had never worshiped with Jewish people.?  This for me was a dream come true.?  All through my life I had wanted to experience the bible as it was written for the people of Mount Sinai. These were the people who held the covenant with almighty Jehovah, their God and mine.? 

I reveled in the beauty of the ceremony.?  I marveled as they lighted the Shabbat candles. I remarked how this part of the ceremony was very similar to my own church practices.?  Dean Sheppard of the Anglican Church I attended explained to us how the first portion of the Anglican service was in fact the tradition handed down by our Hebrew brothers; complete with the Old Testament portions read.?  He was correct to a certain extent but there were still differences and a new world opened up for me.

My heart fluttered when I saw the ancient torah scrolls.?  The rabbis brought the scrolls down the isle in their beautiful blue velvet and gold capped casing.?  The congregation had the opportunity to touch the sacred holy book.?  It was not secluded and out of reach especially from woman, as I had previously thought.?  And when the covering was taken off and the rabbi held the scroll about his head, the magnificent Torah, the sacred word of the Jews, my heart felt as if it would explode.?  There are no words to explain what I felt as this ancient pig skin parchment was displayed before my eyes. I had the privilege of watching history unfold before me.? ? 

I don??™t know if Matt understood how I felt by all of this. He invited me to hear the cantor, and that I did.?  He had no idea how the whole experience of the synagogue had moved me. I listened to the cantor. Her voice was even more angelic than Matt had explained.?  The melodies she sang were enthralling though I did not understand a word of it. She sang in Hebrew.?  Yet the captivating sound entered my soul, and found a home within.?  ???Baruch ata adonai eloheinu mele ka o??™lam??¦,??? she sang on and I was transposed into another place and time.?  I saw myself among the ancient Hebrews on the shores of Galilee singing these arias in front of a bond fire; honouring the most holy one.?  I felt one with these people, one with Matt, and one with my God.?  I knew that I had come home. The connection with my forefathers became complete.

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Carol Roach

winterose@videotron.ca

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A Native of Montreal, Quebec, Carol is a graduate of Concordia, and McGill University.?  She holds a bachelor in psychology and a Masters in counselling psychology.?  Carol Roach is a published writer and newsletter editor.?  You can purchase her book: Picking up the Pieces: A Woman's Journey at www.publishamerica.com, or www.amazon.com.?  You can also go to your local bookstore and order it there as well.?  Carol??™s second book: Angels Watching Over is currently looking for a home. Stay tuned for details. ? 

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If you are interested in other stories feel free to join her newsletter: Storytime Tapestry at: http://subs.zinester.com/98907 , or email her directly at winterose@videotron.ca and she will be glad to accommodate you.?  Carol enjoys email and responds to every inquiry.

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