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In 1939, I was born into a family of Bukharan Jews in sunny
Uzbekistan. My generation experienced great hardships during and after the Second War. My father was killed at the start
of the war, leaving my mother with four small children. My two sisters passed away at young ages, and my brother and I had
to start working in a factory at age 14. We grew up with a spirit of deep respect for our mother, and for her example of
love and hard work.
From childhood, I heard about the Jewish God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I also heard about the
Russian God, Jesus Christ. I was not religious, only going to synagogue on major holidays. My countrymen were very zealous
for the traditions in the Talmud, and said that Jews who accept Jesus are betraying their own nation.
At age 40, I
moved with my family to Moscow. There we immediately felt much more persecution as Jews. Our internal passports, which we
always had to show, identified us as Jews. People mocked us, it was hard to find good jobs, and our children were not allowed
to go to better schools.
In Moscow, I visited a Russian Orthodox church to see the art, but I could not imagine Jesus
as my Savior. I never saw real Christians and never even considered this idea that had no connection to my Jewishness. Although
I was not religious, I knew I was a Jew by blood. I remembered my grandfather practicing Judaism and knowing much of the Torah
by heart.
After moving back and forth from Moscow to Uzbekistan for many years, I immigrated to America in 1995, following
my mother and my brother's family.
For a year, I lived with my mother and brother in a Bukharan Jewish section of Queens.
Often, Jehovah's Witnesses came to the home, and I heard information about Jesus. My family got involved with them, alas,
but God physically saved me from this teaching when I moved to Brooklyn.
There, I began to attend a synagogue regularly,
but did not find satisfaction. I did not know Hebrew or English, and did not understand any of the prayers. But I needed
God and had to find Him.
In Brooklyn, I was taking a secular English class, and another student kept asking me
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to come to her Messianic congregation. I told her a hundred
times that I would never come to church. Finally, she invited me to a Passover celebration, and I agreed!
There, the
bright eyes of people from the same country met me – eyes shining with joy and love for each other and for me. I heard the
messages that became to me a revelation that Jesus Christ is the Son of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. Our God and Messiah
came to be born from a young Jewish mother.
Hungering for spiritual food, I continued to attend and began to believe
in the living Messiah and Savior, sent not only to Jews but to all nations.
The more I heard, the more deeply I loved
Jesus, the Lamb of God, Who for our sake accepted torture and crucifixion, but Whom most Jewish people never recognized.
My Jewish people could not see the fact that this Jewish guy really is their Savior, Yeshua HaMashiach.
In 1998, I
was born from above and became a new creature in Him. I wanted to know Him more, and to receive His character quickly as I
grew in His likeness.
Because I trust the One Who saved me and gave me beautiful promises, I am stronger and more protected
from evil powers and various temptations. In His hand, I should not fear someone rejecting me. He made my heart more gentle,
and I want to share God's love with those who do not realize that the giver of this love is our Messiah, Jesus Christ.
A
couple of years ago, I visited my daughter in Israel and explained my new heart. She also gave her life to Jesus, and attends
a Messianic congregation despite many trials. Recently, she wrote the most beautiful, Spirit-led letter of love and encouragement
to me and our Russian Jewish congregation in Brooklyn.
I am thankful to the great and generous United States, but God
has now called me to make Israel my home on this earth. We will not be a nation at peace until Jesus returns, but we can
be individual people at peace right now as we trust in Him. May the Lord bless us and keep us, and may He grant me wisdom
and strength to be His witness in His land.
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