Jake couldn’t get to the river fast enough. It was almost 1.30 p.m. and he wondered if Tim would be there before him. He was wondering if Tim would really be his friend even though he wasn’t Jewish? Most of the boys at school thought he was strange because of being different to them. Jake sometimes wished he wasn’t so different, and he even wished sometimes that he wasn’t Jewish, but when Shabbat came and the Festivals and the brilliant family times came around, he never thought such things, and he loved his family and friends at Shul and his life.
Jake rounded the bend in the road and came to the wide, fast-flowing river, and there, as he had promised, was Tim. He was already fiddling with his rod, attaching some kind of bait to the end when Jake arrived.
“Hi Tim!” he called happily “Have you caught the big one yet?” he continued with a laugh.
“Hi Jake, no, not yet, but I will!” Tim called, his voice slightly muffled as his head was pressed against his shoulder, holding the rod against himself as he attached his bait. “He’s come!” thought Tim happily. He didn’t mind fishing on his own, he had done so many times, but it was always more enjoyable with someone else.
Jake was soon organised, and his line was quickly in the river. The two boys chatted happily together as they began their afternoon of fishing. They talked about this and that, but then Tim remembered what he had learned in Sunday School.
“We learned about Passover yesterday in Sunday School!” he blurted out. “We learned all about how Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, about the plagues and the lamb and everything! Do you keep Passover Jake?” Jake was shocked. He didn’t know that other people heard about their special Feast days.
“That’s amazing!” he retorted, shock registering in his voice “I didn’t know that Christians learned about the Jewish faith”
“Well, we did yesterday. Do you keep Passover Jake? What’s it like?”
“Oh, it’s brilliant” Jake replied. “We have a fabulous time, all the family come together and have a special meal to remember when our ancestors came out of Egypt, how they killed a lamb and put the blood over the doorway so the angel of death wouldn’t kill the firstborn” Tim was very interested in what Jake was saying and listened intently as he went on to explain about the special meal they ate at Passover, with bitter herbs to remember how hard it had been in Egypt for their ancestors.
“I wish I had special ancestors whom I could remember” thought Tim. He didn’t even know where his family had come from originally, it wasn’t something their family discussed.
“It must be so special to have such a history in your family” said Tim. “Yes, it is” replied his friend with a smile. “Perhaps you could come to our Passover meal next year” he said, then wished he hadn’t because he hadn’t talked about it to Dad and he might not like it. “Anyway, “ he went on quickly “You could come to Shul!”
“What’s that?” asked Tim with a puzzled expression on his face. “Well, I suppose it’s like your church, only Jewish. It’s a name we call our Synagogue for short.” Tim didn’t answer straight away, he wondered if it would be strange going to a different kind of church to the one he was used to, but it would be interesting, and Tim had always liked to try new and different things in his life.
“I think I would like that” he replied, looking at his new friend with the little cap on the back of his head. “Yes, I really would like to come Jake.” “O.K. I’ll ask Dad if you can come next Shabbat”
“Is that Saturday?” asked Tim, remembering their conversation the week before.
“Yes, that’s right. I could come and call for you or you could come to our house and we could take you with us. Are you sure your parents wouldn’t mind, after all, it is a different religion to yours?”
Tim thought about it and said to his friend that he was sure that his Dad wouldn’t mind, because he had been telling Tim all about the Jews and that they were special to God, and that we should care about them.
Well, the afternoon wore on and the two boys chatted amicably while they each caught two fish, ate their snacks and generally enjoyed themselves. During ‘waiting times’ they climbed Tim’s favourite tree which overhung the water. At one point they sat happily on a branch, swinging their legs over the river. What a great time they had. They learned a little bit more about each other as they shared their thoughts on films, books, T.V. programmes and school.
All too soon it was time to go home, so they packed away their rods, each pleased with his catch, and began the walk home. As Jake lived further away, he accompanied his friend to his house where he met Tim’s Mum and Dad and of course little Freddie who was covered in chocolate as Tim’s Mum was baking delicious smelling cakes.
“Perhaps you could invite Jake’s Mum and Dad over sometime Tim, they could come for tea next week-end if they are free” said his Mum.
“Well, they could come on Sunday” replied Tim “But not Saturday because that day is Shabbat and they go to Shul!”
“Oh, that would be fine” went on Tim’s Mum with a smile, “Tell them we would love them to come for tea Jake, you as well of course!”
“Oh, thanks Mrs. er…sorry!” Jake felt terrible, he didn’t even know his friend’s second name!
“Oh that’s O.K. just call me Ann, but our surname is Knight. You could all come around four o’clock. Would that be a good time Jake?” “Yes, I am sure they could come then. Our name is Jacobs by the way. Thank you again for the invitation, I will tell them when I get home. I know they would love to come!” and with that, and a wave, Jake was gone.
Tim showed his Mum his fish and she said that he could have them for his tea later if he wanted to. He said that he did, and that he would share them with everyone. He told his Mum about Jake’s invitation to his church and how he wanted to learn more about what his friend believed, him being Jewish….Suddenly, a thought struck him. “Mum, was Jesus Jewish?”
“As a matter of fact, He was Tim. He was not at all like the films show him to be, with blonde hair and blue eyes, He was probably quite dark skinned and would most likely have had black hair and very dark brown eyes. It’s funny how Christian books show Him to be blonde, isn’t it.”
Tim thought some more about this and realised that Jesus was born in Israel and would be of a completely different culture than him, too. He decided to find out some more about Him and His life in Israel. He wondered idly if Jake believed in Jesus. He had never asked him, perhaps he would next time.
Tim felt really happy about Jake, he wouldn’t pass by on the other side just because his friend was different, and wore a little cap and went to somewhere called ‘Shul’ and kept Saturday special. He felt very pleased with himself, especially as he had really enjoyed his afternoon with Jake, and looked forward to meeting his Mum and Dad and for them all to become friends. He would make an effort to find out more about Jewish people, and he would tell Mr. Johnson at Sunday School about Jake being Jewish, and how they had talked about Passover.

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