Two and a half months of apprenticeship are too short for the assessment of my “apprenticeship”. Nevertheless, at the end of the first Israeli period, I would like to venture a conclusion. The question arises as to how far I have lived up to my promise of August 1980, i.e. whether I continued or stopped by the hand of Heavenly Father. Two events have become particularly important to me:

1.
The detour via Kibbutz Jawne to Abraham’s vineyard (the area where the retirement home is near Mea Shearim is called that). Abraham’s vineyard reminded me of my dream “lech-lecha” (curriculum vitae). I increasingly see myself as a Hebrew (Ivri, crossover). Avram (Abram, Abraham) was the first Ivri. An essay by Erich Lubahn (God thinks differently *) spoke to me very much. In it he juxtaposes Hebrew and Greek thinking. In the following, I limit myself to key words, what, according to Lubahn, defines Hebrew thinking:
– God acts in history through deeds.
– God’s actions in history are situation and time related.
– Relationship of trust to the God of the Bible means: “nevertheless believe”.
– Hebrews are interested in God’s actions in history and revelation
a) in historical events
b) in the related revelations.
– God used the Hebrew language.
– The way in which the Hebrews deal with his God has the structure of dialogue.
– Dialogue involves the consistency of obedience and faith.
– The Hebrew’s relationship with God encompasses heaven and earth.
– When God speaks, heaven and earth connect.
– The Hebrew understanding of God does not fit into any human scheme
grasp.
– God is infinitely greater and different than us in a human
Dogma.
– Hebrew thought sees everything from the point of view of the goal (from top to bottom).
– The Hebrew lives with God.
– For the Hebrew, it is primarily a matter of doing.
– The Hebrew interest in the truth is practical and life related.
– Revelation aims at obedience.
– Knowledge and teaching are means to an end.
– The Hebrew is interested in God’s relationship with man.
– Hebrew thinking without faith is an impossibility.
– Believing in God means having connection with the highest realm.
– Heaven and earth are one creation.
– Heaven and earth together is the work that HE did.
– Heaven and earth are connected by a vertical line.
– Man is a citizen of both worlds.
– Everything that is good and perfect comes from God.
– Learning is something typical in the Hebrew tradition; To understand step by step the otherness of God.

2.
The dream of the bench collapsing in the cable car cabin has brought me further. It is important for me to know that daydreams are harmful. Daydreams stand out from reality (read: are non-Hebrew). In this context, a conversation I had with Prof. Dr. med. Daniel Hell, Director of the Burghölzli Psychiatric University Clinic in Zurich, came to mind. I told him about my calling to the Jews and the associated psychological challenge for me. Above all, he recommended that I be careful to stay “grounded” (read: Hebrew). I have now understood what that means specifically for me.

I am grateful that I can do an “apprenticeship” on the Jewish side. I am grateful in general for the first few months here in Jerusalem. I experience it as God’s guidance that I feel accepted and quite comfortable in the retirement home, in the Jewish-Orthodox environment. Only the lack of linguistic Hebrew practice offends me.

* Erich Lubahn, Otto Rodenberg: Von Gott erkannt, Gotteserkenntnis im hebräischen und griechischen Denken; Christliches Verlagshaus Stuttgart, 1990.