Later that afternoon, Sabrina came by to visit. We always had a very open relationship. She was one of Jeremiah’s best friends but had come to be almost like a daughter to me. She had no problem with telling me what was on her heart. Today was no different. “Papa Jose, do you even know what you’re doing to Jeremiah?”
“You don’t understand what’s at stake with this, Sabrina.”
She got very upset now. Her voice was getting louder. “You don’t understand your own son!”
I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt. She was a caring friend, but she didn’t know all of the Jewish ways and beliefs, nor does she know what would happen to him making this decision. “You might want to be careful; you just don’t understand these things.”
“I’m not a little kid. I’ve known you for a while. I understand exactly what’s going on. You are so stuck in tradition that you can’t see the present or the future!”
“Look, Sabrina, I have to make sure that Jeremiah doesn’t lose his identity.” I was getting frustrated with her. She was trying to be a good friend, but she just didn’t understand the consequences.
“As a Jew? I do understand his identity of being Jewish, but I think that you are out of line for treating him this way.”
“You think that you understand what it means to be Jewish. But you are too young and influenced by the ‘modern world’ to truly understand.”
“Well, why don’t you just tell me then?”
I could see the defiance in her eyes now. She was not only defending Jeremiah, she was defending her Jesus. “It’s who we are inside and out. It’s about preserving Judaism.”
“No, that’s wrong. It’s about FAITH!” Sabrina was emphatically trying to reason with me. But I would have nothing of it.
“We are Jews, Sabrina! Wake up! These modern Jews have it all mixed up!”
“Papa Jose, look inside of yourself. Then you’ll understand that being a Jew is more than what you’ve been taught and experienced.” Her voice softened, and she was almost begging me to listen and understand.
“I don’t want to hear this!”
“As a people, it was never about being or living as a Jew; it was about faith! Simply having faith!”
“Well, it’s too bad. I’m taking Jeremiah to Rabbinical Court. Maybe he will change his mind then!” I walked off before she had a chance to respond. I went outside to walk. Walking had always calmed me down, and I was hoping that today would be no different. As I started walking I noticed that one of the rabbis 
was walking by. I walked over to him and asked if he had a minute to talk. I told him what was going on with Jeremiah and me. “I’m losing my son!”
He put his hands on my shoulders. “Calma, Calma (calm down). You know these young people get excited about something new. Just let this phase pass. It will all work out.”
“No! I don’t think this is just a phase. I am taking him to court. I would like for you to question him. I just don’t want to lose him to this ‘Jesus’ thing.”
“Okay, I will help schedule the hearing. Please try to calm down. Just remember, adopted or not, he is still your son.”
After he walked off, I felt more conflicted than ever! But I did know that there was no going back now. I had to put a stop to this.