New York, Prologue
As always, not a single star could be seen in the sky. It was the result of light and air pollution. All the artificial lights man had created and lit up on the island of Manhattan drowned out the beauty and natural light of the stars. As Theodore walked along the sidewalk of the George Washington Bridge, these are the things he thought about. He considered how fitting it was that as every light seemed dimmed in his own life, he would also live in a place that restricts it. How fitting it will be that his dark life would end in the waters below.
Theodore had lived a very difficult life in the City. He moved there when he was young looking for opportunity and love. Instead, he had been mugged three times, had two bikes stolen, lost four jobs, and the only girlfriend he had in five years of living in the Big Apple left him, took his dog, Mac, and left a note that said, “It’s not me, it’s you”.
“What does that even mean?” he wondered. That was last night. Of course, it was also the day before that he had lost his fourth job driving a taxi. Six months on the job and his termination was the result of a very angry woman who claimed he had been vulgar and “handsy”. To make matters worse, that day of all days, the dash camera went on the fritz and his boss had no choice to believe her story over his. The only thing he had said to her was, “Where to, sweety?” An unfortunate thing to say in a society where people believe words are equivalent to violence.
Theodore had finally arrived at the center of the bridge and was looking over the railing at the water. He was at his lowest point about to take the leap to end it all. He simply couldn’t see any reason to keep trying anymore. Closing his eyes, he took a deep breath. A thought flashed for a moment in his mind, “I wonder if there’s anything on the other side…” Bothered by the idea, he prayed under his breath, “God, if you are there, please have mercy on my soul.” He wasn’t even religious, but it seemed like a good idea “just in case”.
Then, he heard a strange sound. Thud-thud-thud. He opened his eyes and looked to his left to find a man that looked very out of place. His appearance was in light brown and tan robed attire with a white and blue scarf-looking cloth around his neck, tassels on the borders of his garments, and had a walking stick in his right hand. He looked to be about 40-years-old and had a beard Theodore considered to be well-groomed with peppered gray streaks here and there.
“Shalom!” the man exclaimed. Theodore had heard the phrase before when walking by the Synagogue on his way to one of his former jobs. “Uh… shalom,” he replied. The man in robes and tassels excitedly approached and patted his hand on Theodore’s shoulder, “Ken! Shalom aleichem,” he said with a smile. Theodore, confused, said, “I’m sorry, I don’t know what you’re saying. Do you speak English?” He thought that he was possibly lost and needed directions. The man let out deep belly-laugh, “Lo, lo, lo, aval atah tabin Ivrit!”
Theodore was still very confused, but he felt a strange easiness about the him that he couldn’t comprehend. The robed man kept his hand on Theodore’s shoulder and gestured for Theodore to bow his head. As Theodore complied, the man placed his other hand on Theodore’s head and as though reciting something familiar, he said:
“Yevare’che’cha Yehovah veyeesh’mere’cha.
Numbers/Bamidbar 6:24-26
Yaeir Yehovah panaiv eley’cha vee’chuneh’cha.
Yeesa Yehovah panahv aley’cha veyaseim le’cha shalom. Amein.”
They both lifted their heads and looked at each other. The man smiled and said, “There, how’s that?” Theodore replied, “Oh, you do speak English.” The man said, “No, but you can now understand Hebrew. I have things you need to hear that is for your benefit.” Theodore wasn’t quite sure he accepted that explanation, but he didn’t really press the matter. However, he did recognize some Hebrew words – especially “shalom”. He at least accepted the man knew Hebrew, but why would he hide that he knew English?
“Now,” said the man, “your purpose in life is not to be a taxi-driver, Theodore; and your journey does not end here or in the waters below. Come, follow me!”
Theodore was stunned. How could this man possibly know, not only about the taxi job, but that he was about to jump off the bridge? And his name; how did he know his name? What was happening?
The man in robes and tassels began to walk back into the City with his staff thudding along the way. Theodore, dumbfounded, began to follow behind him without even understanding why. Then the man stopped and turned, “Oh, and I am Nathaniel, but you may call me Nathan if you wish. Very pleased to meet you.” And along they walked back into New York City where the next stage of Theodore’s life would continue with Nathaniel – the man in robes and tassels.