I have been called a jerk, someone said having e as sister was punishment enough because I asked about a very old Jewish tradition of when people recited the prayer for the dead when a Jew willingly converted to Christianity. It was a knee jerk question asked of tremendous sorrow. I accept those perceptons. But I have been crying all week since my brother told me of his conversion months before. I hear my parents and grandparents crying from the grave over what I feel is a horrendous decision. It is indeed his life and he has a right to live
it how he sees fit, but I have felt and acted like I have been sitting shiva all week. He is fairly prominent and something in me tells me that this very public conversion has caused him to write his own death warrant. I cry for the conversion and I cry for my fears for his life. As I said to him and others, the pain in my heart is continual, the tears keep flowing, the anger never ceases. I am trying to get pastoral help both from a rabbi and perhaps a priest to get thru this. I have an elderly uncle who is not only heartbroken, but nauseous as I when we both read the extensive congratulations on line for my brother being embraced by the Catholic religion. Intolerant yes, I accept that as well. But to you Christians out there, despite what some think, Anti Semitism still is alive and well. Think of Mel Gibson. My cousin’s 13 year old son was a recent victim at soccer camps in both Indiana and Wisconsin. So it is hard for me to accept this decision I need help from people who have faced this dilemma.