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At home, the women bathed the children in order, beginning with the youngest to the eldest, dressing them in their best clothing.
The children played quietly while the adults took their turns in the bath, then dressed.
Arlana emerged, hair wet, yet wearing a simple black dress.
Sheila raised an eyebrow, "Is that what you're wearing?"
Arlana didn't know how to tell her mother they weren't getting married quite yet...in fact, this ceremony was taking place so she could give up everything she was. What was she supposed to say?
Rivkah came to her rescue.
"The wedding will not be taking place tonight," she explained to Sheila, leaving more questions than answers, as she turned to Arlana, "How are you feeling?"
"Nervous," Arlana admitted the truth.
"You will be fine," Rivkah hugged the younger woman, "Shaul will be there and you know him. It is well."
****
THEY PULLED IN FRONT of a narrow building. Josiah stepped out of the car first, reaching for Arlana's hand.
Shaul and three other rabbis welcomed Arlana's family to the ceremony, before taking a seat at the front of the room. Shaul already knew how she would answer their questions, but she wasn't prepared for what came next as he asked her the standard questions posed to those seeking to join the Jewish faith.
"Why do you want to convert?" Shaul's rabbinical friend asked first.
Arlana did not go into detail about her family's shame, the stain upon Christians and the laughing stock Christianity had become, but Jaira was aware of all these things in her sister's answer, each stacking up to this point where Arlana turned her back on Christianity and being a Gentile forever. She cut ties with her faith, her bloodline and everything in her past, turning completely toward Judaism and the Jews.
The man with warm hazel eyes nodded, continuing. He didn't need to ask what her previous religion was, Arlana clearly covering that.
Shaul was taken aback that she had not mentioned Josiah or their baby as the reason she wanted to convert, a pleasant surprise.
"What do you know about Judaism?"
"Judaism demands a commitment of the total person. It holds the Jew accountable for thought and action at home and abroad, in the house of worship and in the marketplace. As Orthodox Jews, we are protected by a strong spiritual bulwark against a hostile world and uplifted by the awareness that we dwell within God's presence."
Shaul's celestial blue eyes sparkled, his pleasure with her answer unmistakable to all those who gathered.
Standing with Arlana's family, Josiah smiled with pride.
"Were you pressured to convert?" The next rabbi asked, his brow furrowed as he looked down at her large stomach, clearly heavily pregnant.
Shaul had explained his brother's error in defining the scriptures and his subsequent repentance, but their mistake had born fruit.
Josiah was well aware if she didn't convert before the baby's birth, his child would be born a Gentile. Had he told her? Pressured her even in a small amount to convert?
Shaul looked again at her womb, wondering if she was converting because of the passion she had shared with Josiah, their chemistry clearly strong. A woman had baser instincts and couldn't be blamed, but were her motives pure?
"No, I was not pressured. I tried to raise my son Jewish before I met Josiah and his family but stumbled a lot with my limited knowledge. I feel it was a blessing they entered my life and I was able to see where I was lacking."
Arlana wasn't sure if those were the right words, her palms damp.
"Have you spent the necessary time studying to become Jewish?"
Arlana's face paled, remembering the months she had spent on the road, her head covering tossed onto the back seat. She had meant well in her own way, but much time had been wasted that could have been spent learning more.
She hung her head, Josiah watching her sorrow with a clenched heart wishing he could be by her side. This was, however, something she must face alone without him.
"I believe I have spent time studying but will continue to learn and grow as there is great depth to Judaism that can only be mined with time."
The rabbi questioning her smiled broadly at her answer, satisfied.
"Would you like a drink of water?" He suddenly asked, wanting to make her comfortable.
"Thank you, but I am fine."
Arlana was worried her nerves would make her choke on the liquid her body craved.
Shaul nodded, taking over the questioning period, "Do you of your own free will, choose to enter in with the people of G-d and become a Jew?"
"Yes, that is my desire," she looked into her brother-in-law's eyes.
"Do you accept Judaism to the exclusion of all other religious faiths?"
Arlana didn't hesitate, even for a moment. "Yes."
She could feel the barbed glares at her back but stood straighter, determined to follow through with her choice, come hell or high water.
"Do you promise to have a Jewish home and raise Aziel and all other children you will bring forth as Jewish?"
Arlana flushed, but replied, "I promise."
Shaul stood, "You will be joining the Jewish people forever."
The Mikvah guide stepped out of the crowd gathered, leading Arlana to the preparation room.
Rivkah discretely motioned Arlana's family to follow her eldest son to the Mikvah as well.
Josiah held Aziel in his arms while they waited for Arlana. There was no rush for her to emerge. This would be her last moments as a Gentile Christian. These moments were hers alone, after this, she would never get them back.
Moments later, Arlana emerged with the guide, a white towel draped around her naked figure. Adelaide instinctively brought her hand to her mouth, stifling a gasp.
The men turned their backs on the pool as the guide removed the towel, covering her eyes with it as Arlana stepped down the seven steps into the water.
"There is no rush, take your time," the guide spoke in a soft voice.
Arlana stood with the water up to her shoulders, not looking into the faces of her family who watched from just above. She focused completely on what she was about to do. Her past, her heritage, everything she had ever thought she was - all those things she was about to leave beneath the water.
She dipped her head beneath the water, clear liquid pouring down her hair and face as she emerged, then spoke the Hebrew blessing with a hushed voice, "Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam she-heche-yanu, ve-ki-y'manu, ve-higi-yanu la-z'man ha-zeh."
Rivkah stood beside Sheila, whispering the translation, "Blessed are You, Source of all Life, Who has kept us alive and sustained us, and enabled us to reach this day."
"Amein" all the witnesses spoke at once.
Arlana prepared to dip under the water again, realizing now that she was no longer herself, but a Jewess.
The water swirled over her head a moment before she recited the blessing again, "Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam she-heche-yanu, ve-ki-y'manu, ve-higi-yanu la-z'man ha-zeh."
Arlana thought of her future with Josiah, raising their children as observant Orthodox Jews. She pushed out all thoughts of Lachlan from her mind. That life was over, a new one had begun.
She let herself sink beneath the water a third and last time, "Baruch ata adonai eloheinu melech ha-olam she-heche-yanu, ve-ki-y'manu, ve-higi-yanu la-z'man ha-zeh."
Rivkah ushered the family out of the room while Arlana dressed, winding her tichel around her head, dressed in a simple white dress.
Flushed with happiness, she joined her family, Josiah the first to be at her side. "I love you so much," his eyes spoke volumes as he led his family back up to stand before the rabbis, carrying Aziel in his arms.