A Double Life in Israel

When I walked into Sarah’s* home in Israel, she was so excited to meet me. She was an elderly woman in poor health, and I had come to see her and to help and support her. From our first visit, it seemed like we had known each other for much longer–like we were family. After I tended to some of her immediate needs, she wanted to sit down and learn with me. And then she told me some of her story.

Sarah shared with me that several years ago, her husband had been coming home with forbidden books and literature about Yeshua (Jesus). Whenever she would find these pamphlets, Sarah tore them up into pieces, cursed and spit on them, and then threw them forcefully into the trash bin. Then after a few years, overcome by curiosity, she started to peek at the literature content before destroying it. Over time, it piqued her interest, and Sarah began to read what was in the pamphlets. Soon enough, she began to believe what she was reading. She told her husband what was happening, and like the talmid chacham he was, he simply nodded his head sagely.

Sarah had a strong belief that Yeshua was the Mashiach promised to Klal Yisroel, but she knew very little about him.

Sarah told me that she had a strong belief that Yeshua was the Mashiach promised to Klal Yisroel, but she knew very little about him. With 9 children, 53 grandchildren, and now failing health, she was not able to read on her own or get out to meet others who might share her newfound faith. She was a hidden believer in Yeshua right in the middle of the Haredi community–surrounded by people, yet very much alone; surrounded by books, but too weak to read them. I felt privileged to help her learn.

As we read the Gospel of John, Sarah would nod her head in agreement and smile when the text brought her pleasure. Sometimes, she would stop the reading to interject questions. One time, we read in chapter two about Yeshua’s mother telling him about the hosts of a big wedding running out of wine. Yeshua’s response to Miriam baffled Sarah. She exclaimed, “How could a good Jewish boy talk to his mother like that?” I explained that he was using a polite and respectful term for his mother that was appropriate in the first century, and Sarah understood. I was enlightened by her fresh perspective as she learned and benefitted from my Bible knowledge and education. I wish that I could continue my studies with Sarah, but she succumbed to her illness and is now in eternity with her King. May her name and memory be a blessing; her heritage and legacy will live on.

For those of us who await Olam HaBah, I know Sarah would tell us to seek the truth, and that the truth will set us free.

I think Sarah is still learning, but she is ageless now–in perfect health–sitting at the feet of the Ribono Shel Olam–the perfect teacher. For those of us who await Olam HaBah, I know Sarah would tell us to seek the truth, and that the truth will set us free. She was free even when trapped in an immobile body because she knew Yeshua.

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If you would like to read the stories of Yeshua on your own, like Sarah did, you can find them at yiddishnewtestament.org.

*Name has been changed to protect privacy.