NM In Focus: Story of the Jews

The  poem in this video made me cry.  See link below.  In the Jewish Awakening you find the missing key after 500 years of secrecy.  In this video they read a poem and even discuss the emotional side of finding out you are a grandchild of Crypto Jews.  I know I have felt the fear part, it takes courage to go to a Temple.  It takes courage to even park in a Jewish parking lot.  I know that sounds strange, especially since I live in a free country.  Judaism is frightening somehow?  I have told people about my heritage and have gotten different responses.  I know better now not to tell Christians. 

Its hard, I live with a controlling relative who told me if I go to church I have to go to HIS church.  He doesn't know that I have sneaked out to the temple.  He doesn't know that I have taken Hebrew classes.  He doesn't know that I have this blog and wrote that poem e-book.  He knows that I light the Shabbat candles and he put me down telling me that I am acting Catholic.  I have to live here due to my finances, because of my health.  I sleep with my homemade tallit at night now, and it seems to help my health, lets see what G-d does?

My cousin is secretly lighting the Shabbat candles on and off for about 9 months now.  Her husband is controlling and Catholic, so why tell him?  Since she has been lighting the Shabbat candles her life has changed.  She had a financial breakthrough, G-d broke off a friendship that was unhealthy, and G-d did something with a text message to reassure her.  She has decided to always light the Shabbat candles from now on, no matter what!  She feels much closer to G-d and is spiritually awakened.  She goes to a Catholic church Sunday mornings with her husband, she told me she likes it because its relaxing. 

I have gotten memories of my grandmother lighting the Shabbat candles.  I have gotten memories, visions, dreams, and supernatural experiences.  I have an oral confirmation and DNA tests.  When Barzilai went to the temple the first time, there were two flames on one of my Shabbat candles!  I thought the house caught on fire.  I prayed and got the answer, "Someone is having Shabbat with you".  I was alone in my room, I have no close Jewish friends, I didn't understand until the next morning.  I had  gotten an email from Barzilai, he wrote that he was never happier in his life!  He went to the temple for the first time and prayed with Jewish people!  He never had an experience like this before!  I wrote to him that night and told him one of my Shabbat candles had two burning flames!  He told me that the candle's extra flame is a sign that was meant for him from G-d.  Then after receiving his email I figured it out the two flames were for him.  Barzilai has decided to convert to Orthodox Judaism when he can go to Israel.  His rabbi is waiting for him.  

I'm glad that I saw the two flames, because I need to know that G-d is behind Barzilai's conversion, since I have been raised Christian and don't want him to go to hell.  I really love my distant cousin Barzilai.  He has been very supportive to me in his emails, while I have been very ill at times.

Please see the video link below.

Shalom,

Liviya

Here is the video link from NM in Focus:

https://youtu.be/odbFN5L9Ee0

Published on Apr 3, 2014This week we present a companion piece to the national program "The Story of the Jews," which airs beginning March 25th. This segment features an interview with Dr. Isabelle Medina Sandoval, poet and descendant of crypto-Jews.

NMiF Producer Megan Kamerick focuses on the experience of conversos or "crypto-Jews" in New Mexico. In 1492, the Edict of Expulsion launched the diaspora of Sephardic Jews from Spain. Many found their way to the New World, including New Mexico, although they could not openly practice their religion.  Dr. Frances Levine, director of the New Mexico History Museum, and historian Roger Martínez-Dávila flesh out the history of these people and their role in New Mexico heritage and identity. Sonya Loya, an artisan and educator who has recovered her family's secret Jewish past, discusses her personal journey and conversion to Judaism.