those from the pre-World War II days who
were still living on the islands. She was the last.
Originally, she had taken Sam under her
spiritual wing while he had given her a place to stay. Bethania already had a
little house only 3 kilometers south. According to Sam, it was too far and he
wanted to make her comfortable because she was old and she was wise and she was
Jewish like his own grandmother.
Sam’s lifestyle had been somewhat of an
embarrassment to his family even in this modern age of decadence. When it
crossed his mind to offer Bethania a room in the vast villa, Sam was being
pressed by guilt. Being both Greek and Jew, the double duty remorse pushed him
to the invitation and she accepted gladly. Afterward, Sam never regretted
including Bethania into his household. She was industrious and besides, the
villa owner never visited.
Sam was celibate but he hadn’t always been and
his ex was Jewish too. When vandals defaced some of the historic buildings in
the Jewish quarter, the Jews on the island took notice. One evening a week
later, a local lawyer with an obviously Judaic surname was severely beaten as
he walked from his office toward home.
Several ready-to-retire Kerkyrian Jews decided
to cut their losses by leaving for Israel . Their gentile friends reassured them that they
were safe on the island while Israel , on the other hand was daily threatened on every side... “ Israel is surrounded and at
war... Stay!” But like salmon swimming to return, Jews sensed the pull of their
motherland to which they must respond. The anti-Semitism was only the last
argument failing to keep them away. Nowhere was safe for the Jews and yet, Israel seemed the safest and
who knew but their God might intervene on their behalf.
Every Jew felt the salmon like tug including
Bethania. Still, she tarried. In the meanwhile, young Jews began to rally about
her. Not the new professionals in Kerkira the capital who had recently resettled on the
isle but a rag-tag group of outcasts. Sometimes there would be as many as
twenty Jews and none over the age of 30 congregated at the villa. She had never
seen such a mixed-up bunch of people, especially Jewish people in all her 80
plus years. They were a creative, smart crowd; fearful and immoral as if raised
by a troop of monkeys. Each one without exception had a dysfunctional moral compass.
The old woman connected their amoral behavior to the missing generation of old
wise people.
So many adults and elderly Jews killed during
the last war ! The elderly Jewess ruminated. Their wisdom and prophetic insight;
their perseverance and knowledge to survive, gone without the full fruition
passed on to the children and grandchildren.
Bethania never had children...
‘Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break
forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For
more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married
woman," says the LORD.’
Making the promise her own, the old woman had
quoted that scripture many a time but lately she wondered at the original
intent or true meaning. After all, it was a futuristic promise described by the
Jewish prophet Isaiah and yet, the Jews or rather Israel was counted as the wife
of God. Who then was this barren woman? Bethania sensed that her many
complaints and questions regarding the eternal God would be answered... eventually.
It had been three days since, Sam and Dale had
decided on a plan to travel north to the mountainous area of Avliotes. Sam
would take goods to trade and then leave Dale in Evangelos before returning.
The western shore of Kerkyra had not only lovely beaches but also,
vineyards, orchards and rare dyes that came from shells collected several times
a year when storms washed them ashore. Although a smallish island, Kerkyra’s
native specialities were regionally distinct. In the far past, seasonally the
islanders ventured to barter their region’s wares and to trade for what they
lacked locally.
were still living on the islands. She was the last.
Originally, she had taken Sam under her
spiritual wing while he had given her a place to stay. Bethania already had a
little house only 3 kilometers south. According to Sam, it was too far and he
wanted to make her comfortable because she was old and she was wise and she was
Jewish like his own grandmother.
Sam’s lifestyle had been somewhat of an
embarrassment to his family even in this modern age of decadence. When it
crossed his mind to offer Bethania a room in the vast villa, Sam was being
pressed by guilt. Being both Greek and Jew, the double duty remorse pushed him
to the invitation and she accepted gladly. Afterward, Sam never regretted
including Bethania into his household. She was industrious and besides, the
villa owner never visited.
Sam was celibate but he hadn’t always been and
his ex was Jewish too. When vandals defaced some of the historic buildings in
the Jewish quarter, the Jews on the island took notice. One evening a week
later, a local lawyer with an obviously Judaic surname was severely beaten as
he walked from his office toward home.
Several ready-to-retire Kerkyrian Jews decided
to cut their losses by leaving for Israel . Their gentile friends reassured them that they
were safe on the island while Israel , on the other hand was daily threatened on every side... “ Israel is surrounded and at
war... Stay!” But like salmon swimming to return, Jews sensed the pull of their
motherland to which they must respond. The anti-Semitism was only the last
argument failing to keep them away. Nowhere was safe for the Jews and yet, Israel seemed the safest and
who knew but their God might intervene on their behalf.
Every Jew felt the salmon like tug including
Bethania. Still, she tarried. In the meanwhile, young Jews began to rally about
her. Not the new professionals in Kerkira the capital who had recently resettled on the
isle but a rag-tag group of outcasts. Sometimes there would be as many as
twenty Jews and none over the age of 30 congregated at the villa. She had never
seen such a mixed-up bunch of people, especially Jewish people in all her 80
plus years. They were a creative, smart crowd; fearful and immoral as if raised
by a troop of monkeys. Each one without exception had a dysfunctional moral compass.
The old woman connected their amoral behavior to the missing generation of old
wise people.
So many adults and elderly Jews killed during
the last war ! The elderly Jewess ruminated. Their wisdom and prophetic insight;
their perseverance and knowledge to survive, gone without the full fruition
passed on to the children and grandchildren.
Bethania never had children...
‘Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break
forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child! For
more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married
woman," says the LORD.’
Making the promise her own, the old woman had
quoted that scripture many a time but lately she wondered at the original
intent or true meaning. After all, it was a futuristic promise described by the
Jewish prophet Isaiah and yet, the Jews or rather Israel was counted as the wife
of God. Who then was this barren woman? Bethania sensed that her many
complaints and questions regarding the eternal God would be answered... eventually.
It had been three days since, Sam and Dale had
decided on a plan to travel north to the mountainous area of Avliotes. Sam
would take goods to trade and then leave Dale in Evangelos before returning.
The western shore of Kerkyra had not only lovely beaches but also,
vineyards, orchards and rare dyes that came from shells collected several times
a year when storms washed them ashore. Although a smallish island, Kerkyra’s
native specialities were regionally distinct. In the far past, seasonally the
islanders ventured to barter their region’s wares and to trade for what they
lacked locally.
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