Trial Read online

  Franco became friends with Hitler and Mussolini to secure arms for his fight during the Spanish Civil War. This made life even more dangerous for Jews.

  So we moved. We started life over. We eventually settled in Charleston, with all of its Southern trappings, with my great-uncle and my maternal great-grandmother Maria, who was a Jew converted to Catholicism.

  The day I met my beloved would be one that I would never forget. We met at a wedding reception that we were attending. She was from Charleston; born and raised here. She was unlike anyone I had ever met. I had only dated several times, and only women in my religious circle.

  And yet, here I was, a Jew at a wedding attracted to this light-haired, bronze-skinned Caucasian Southern girl. Her Southern charm was the least of my worries—the first glance did it all. I kept thinking to myself, “I am a Jew, attracted to a goy, a Gentile.” We would talk briefly that day, then I would see her again through mutual friends. My father didn’t know for a long time that I had developed feelings for this Southern Christian woman, but I was smitten!

  Religion and tradition; somehow, I was to transmit my beliefs to her. We dated for a little bit before I met her parents. Her father was not thrilled at all that she was going out with a Jew. It was okay for her father to believe in Jesus, but dating a Jew was something that he could not swallow. But she handled it with grace.

  Lisa was a college graduate and working as a teacher. I was starting law school, but we continued to correspond.

  We finally spoke with my family about the relationship. She came to a family dinner on Friday night. They got along amazingly well. My father was of the belief that if this was serious, she would have to convert to Judaism. She would also change her name from Lisa to Luisa. This was part of her adaptation to the Spanish-Jewish culture. Her love for God saw no obstacle in conversion. She was a woman after God’s heart.

  As I entered my last year in law school we decided to marry. But first, I had to pass the awful BAR exam. Then I had to find a job. Abuelo, my grandfather, a well-respected rabbi from Spain, saw no objection to us getting married. My father always looked to Abuelo for approval; he had learned to respect his father’s knowledge of the Torah and Talmud, but most of all he respected him.

  My beloved went to conversion classes; she learned the ways of Judaism. She learned the most from Abuelo; my father did not know of this, nor was he to learn. You see, Abuelo was what we called the “Living Torah.” These rabbis knew the Torah forward and backward.

  After she finished the conversion classes and I graduated from law school, we married. I was head over heels in love with this Southern woman. She had my heart and my love for eternity. We pledged our love for each other in front of many of our family and friends in a Jewish ceremony. It was a beautiful day, filled with love and laughter, and the promise of a future with lots of joy and blessings to come.

  We Spanish Jews are a funny lot. We speak Ladino, a form of Spanish, and are full of tradition, from our language to our many customs. There are two types of Jews I came to learn. Spanish Jews and Ashkenazi Jews (from Eastern Europe). They were Jews, but they were different in those multiple sects of Judaism emerged from the Ashkenazi , but we remained pure. Who we were never changed.

  Are we somewhat arrogant? Maybe yes, but we can thank the Spanish for the Inquisition and trying to destroy us over the centuries. But the reality was that they needed us. We were the civil servants of Spain, and without us the government and society would have collapsed. You may say no, but I say YES! Look back at history! The Inquisition of Jewish intelligence later on in history became the revolving door for acceptable murder by other cultures. Even to this day it still continues.

  I’m reminded of talks with my Abuelo as he quoted, “YESHA’ YAHU” (Isaiah 2.4). “He will judge between the nations and arbitrate for many peoples. Then they will hammer their swords in plow blades and spears into pruning knives; nations will not raise swords at each other, and they will no longer learn war.” It wasn’t until later that I understood who “He” was who would judge the nations. For us Jews, it was the coming Messiah, and for Christians, it was Jesus.

  That paradox. Is He the Messiah or not? As Abuelo would say, “Let your soul testifies if He is or not. For anyone can make an argument based on scripture to His authenticity or not. The Messiah will reveal Himself to your soul.” Here I was, learning the law and the Torah at the same time. How could I reconcile both and be a good Jew, a good husband, good father, and a good lawyer?

  CHAPTER 2

  ZEHUT

  IDENTITY, IDENTIDAD

  Our son came into our lives through adoption. Mi Esposa (my wife) could not have children. So through a friend of my wife’s, we considered adoption. She was a social worker and had knowledge on the matter. One night, over dinner at our house, Bernice talked with us about adoption. Our eyes and hearts opened at the thought of that being a possibility.

  Her name was Bernice Sanchez. She was a medium-build, sure-of-herself African-American woman from Monks Corner, South Carolina. She was bold when she needed to be, and gentle to those she deemed “true friends.” She was a Southern Geechee, descended from the Gullah a culture of the Sea Islands of Georgia. I never understood Geechee. I would fuss at Bernice when she visited our home not to “Geech” me, per se. She would just laugh. She and Luisa were “Southern buds” and there was no coming between them. My only weapon against her was to talk Ladino and tease her about marrying a Puerto Rican man who was ex-military. She would tell me that she was only a “Sanchez” by marriage. Poor Emilio Sanchez, he had married such a strong-willed Geechee woman.

  Geechee woman aside, Bernice now was gentle-hearted. This was her territory—social worker extraordinaire! As we discussed the options of adoption, my wife reached over and grabbed my hand. It was cool, although the ocean breeze of Charleston had not cooled things down yet in early May. The pollen was almost over, but I still had to blow my nose often. A runny nose around Bernice was like being on trial. She demanded full attention. Her last scowl left me perplexed and my wife just blurted out to her, “Bernice, leave him alone. He really is trying to listen.”

  Bernice winked at her in response and then I knew I had been played.

  “I have a two-week old baby boy,” Bernice told us. “His mother had him out of wedlock and neither she nor her family can take care of him. But there is one thing. He’s African-American.”

  Immediately I told her, “We’ll take him!!”

  My wife burst into tears of joy. But Bernice interrupted. “You have to see him first, then we can talk about his mother and father.”

  Luisa asked, “How does tomorrow sound?”

  Her response was quick. “It’s the Sabbath and you know how your husband is about Saturday.”

  “Bernice, if it’s about family. The Lord God will more than understand,” I retorted.

  “Wow. That’s a change, Mr. Attorney.” Bernice then turned to Luisa. “You know, Luisa, I like your husband, but there are some things about him that I just can’t figure out.”

  “Bernice, that’s why I love him through and through. He touches me with God every day. I truly am blessed.”

  “Boss man, I need you to pray for Emilio then,” Bernice informed me.

  True to our relationship, I teased her in response. “Bernice, you married him and now he’s your responsibility. But, yes, I will pray for him.” She stuck her tongue out at me as I said this.

  “I knew you’d stick your tongue out at me.”

  “You two are like flies on a stick! You hear and watch everything!”

  “Flies on a stick? Where in the world did you get that?” asked Luisa.

  “When you are around strong-willed women, you never know what is going to come out of their mouths.”

  “That is true,” agreed Bernice.

  Luisa interrupted our teasing. “All right, you two, play time is over.”

  “How does three o’clock sound to go look at the baby?” Social Worker Bernice was ba
ck now.

  “Sounds good to us,” we both agreed.

  “Okay, I will come and get Y’all then.” Then Bernice looked over at me and said, “Remember, I’m watching you!”

  “Bernice, you’re just a fly on a stick that happens to be stuck there for a time.”

  She turned to Luisa in response. “You got him!”

  Luisa just laughed and said, “I sure do!”

  We said our good-byes to Bernice and turned toward each other. “You know, you really like to rattle Bernice’s chain.”

  “It’s the Ladino in me. If you come in peace, I will give you peace. If you come at me, I’ll let you know—quit laughing!”

  “You’re too much! But that’s one of the reasons that I love you so!” said Luisa.

  “God has been so gracious to us today, to possibly have a child of our own… I’m so overwhelmed. To be a father finally and have a great wife as a mother. You overwhelm me, God!” I replied.

  “Yes, He is good! I am beside myself!” Luisa agreed.

  “Look at you, my dear. You are blushing,” I told her.

  “Blushing from what you call Alegria (joy).”

  “Now you’re speaking my language!”

  She looked at me and smiled and laughed. “After hearing you talk all of these years, I have picked up a few words.”

  “You never told me! Que Mujer! (What a woman!)”

  The next day, we awoke with a spirit of excitement in the air. We worked together around the house until lunchtime.

  “We have a few hours before we are supposed to leave. Would you like me to fix some lunch?” Luisa stopped her cleaning to ask me.

  “No, thanks. I think I am going for a walk to digest all of this.”

  “Okay, some sweet talking with God! Yes, okay, I understand.”

  Walking out of the house, I realize that I had never been happier. “I have a lovely wife, crazy friend, and you, God! The possibility of becoming a father overwhelms me! There are so many ‘how’s’ going through my head right now. The excitement is just too much! I just want to thank you, God! Thank you, thank you, thank you!” I soon realized that I needed to get back home. I did not want to leave Luisa any longer.

  As I walked back in the house, I look around for my wife. “Luisa, I’m back! Oh, there you are!

  “Mi Amor (My love).” Luisa asked, “How was your talk with God?”

  “Wouldn’t you like to know?”

  She countered back at me with a wink. “I can only imagine what it was like! I can only imagine…” she trailed off.

  “See, that’s another reason that I love you, dear. You can imagine.”

  “Jose, I think I’m going to lie down for a bit. But please, don’t let me sleep too long, okay?”

  “I won’t. Do you think that we can leave around two o’clock?”

  “Yes, that sounds like a plan to me.”

  “You go rest, Luisa. I will call Bernice to work out the details on where we are going to meet her.”

  “Please, dear, don’t get into it with her,” Luisa begged as she went toward the bedroom.

  “It can’t be helped! You laugh, but now you’re the fly on the stick! Now, please go rest, dear!”

  “Okay,” Luisa replied as she went into the bedroom.

  I walked back into the kitchen and picked up the phone to call Bernice. “Bernice, this is your best friend’s husband. How are you today?”

  “You know, it never ceases to amaze me why I put up with you!” She answered my question in her own way.

  “Because you love me.” I laughed inwardly as I said this.

  “Let’s not go that far!”

  “I told Luisa that I would call you while she was resting. Where would you like to meet this afternoon?”

  “Is she okay?” I could hear the concern in her voice.

  “Oh yeah. She’s fine. She’s just been a little tired lately.”

  “Okay, good that she is fine.” Her voice now sounded relieved. “The baby boy is at a foster care home for newborn babies. We don’t give out the addresses for their protection. Can you meet me at the park in front of the Francis Marion hotel around 2:45? We can go to the home from there. Oh, and don’t be late!”

  “Please tell Emilio that I empathize with him!”

  “You better quit while you are ahead,” she warned me with a smile in her voice.

  “Bernice…”

  “Yes?”

  “Thank you!”

  “See you at 2:45. And, Jose, thank you.”

  Half an hour later, I went to the bedroom to wake Luisa. She looked so refreshed! Little did I know that this was the first warning signs that something was not right inside of her body.

  “Mi Cariño (my love), did you rest well?”

  “Yes, dear. I did. Did you call Bernice?”

  “Yes, we talked.”

  “Did you two get into it?” Luisa was always concerned about Bernice and me getting along.

  “You know it’s inevitable.”

  “You’re impossible!” she said with a half smirk, half smile.

  “But you still love me!” I replied back. “Do you think Bernice likes me?”

  “No,” Luisa said simply.

  “Why not?”

  “Because you stand up to her. She is not used to men getting in her face,” Luisa explained.

  “But she seems to take it in stride. Do you think that I should be nicer to her?” I really wanted to get along with my wife’s best friend. I was willing to back off if I need to.

  “You two just continue to be yourselves. I’m happy with that if you are.” Luisa glanced at the clock and realized what time it was. “I’m going to freshen up. Are you going to change?”

  “Yes, I want to impress Bernice and our future son,” I said half joking, half serious.

  “You are too much!”

  “Anything for you, Cariño, my dear. By the way, Bernice mentioned for us not to be late when we meet her at the park in front of the Francis Marion.”

  “Did she say what side of the park?” Luisa asked me.

  “Of course not!” I realized as I said this that I had forgotten to ask an obvious question.

  Several minutes later, Luisa came into the bathroom to check on me. “Are you ready to go?”

  “Not yet. I am finishing up shaving”

  “Estos Hombres! (these men!) You’re worse than women!”

  “But that’s why you women love us men. We primp, but you ladies pamper,” I retorted playfully.

  “You’re impossible! I really don’t want to be late.” Luisa tapped her watch and foot at the same time with playful impatience.

  “We won’t be late. And besides, Bernice won’t say anything when she sees you. You know she only likes you and God Almighty! Only Heaven knows why!” I started laughing as I finished cleaning the shaving cream from my face.

  “Jose! Let’s go!” She seemed to be getting more impatient with me now.

  “I’m sorry. I just like messing with you!”

  “That’s yet another reason that I love you, even if Bernice thinks that I’m crazy about it.”

  “You mean she’s crazy, right?”

  “Oh man! Let’s Go! I’ll wait for you by the door.”

  “Okay, Mi Negrita (my dear).”

  “You better not call me that around Bernice. You know that she thinks that you are calling me black instead of ‘dear,’” Luisa said with a warning tone in her voice.

  “I’ve tried to explain that to her, but she just can’t get around the language and understand that it doesn’t mean black.”

  “Well, you two can deal with it. I’m going to stay out of that conversation, Mi Negrito!” Luisa couldn’t contain her laughter at this point.

  “I love your laugh! It fills my soul with such a joy,” I said emphatically.

  “It’s only for you, dear.”

  Later, I would miss Luisa’s laugh and the sound of it echoing through the house that we shared. It never got lonely or boring w
ith Luisa here.

  “Okay, I’m ready,” I announced as I walked down the hallway.

  “Let’s go!”

  As we got into the car, I looked around at the beautiful day. “What a beautiful, sunny day. There’s a nice light breeze, no gnats, and I have you! And, yes, you have me, too, Luisa!”

  “It is a beautiful day!” she replied as she looked out of the window of the car. “Are you going to go down King’s Street?”

  “Yes, just a little bit. You know the streets are crowded with tourists this time of the day.”

  “You are right. A smart decision.” Luisa turned back to look out of the window.

  A few minutes later, we arrived at the park entrance.

  “Wow, we got here quick!” Luisa said.

  “And over there on the north side of the park is your crazy friend Bernice.”

  “Please, my dear, don’t mess with her this afternoon.”

  “Okay, I will try to be on my best behavior.”

  “Pull over there behind Bernice’s car,” Luisa advised me

  I drove over and pulled up behind Bernice. As we got out of the car, she and Bernice exchange hellos.

  “Hello, Bernice,” I said, walking toward her.

  “Hey yourself. You’re not going to say something smart to me?” She sounded puzzled.

  “Nope. Luisa has me under wraps this afternoon.”

  “Good for her!” Bernice exclaimed.

  “Good for you,” I whispered under my breath.

  “Did you say something, Jose?” They both asked.

  “Nada (Nothing).”

  Bernice looked at both of us and I could see a small smile starting on her lips. “Jose, I know that you are going to be a great father. And you, Luisa, I can see in your eyes that you are going to be a great mother.”

  We reached for each other with tears in our eyes as Bernice started talking about going to see this baby boy.

  “Now, the place we are going to has no address so that strangers and parents of the foster children can’t go in and take them. They must go through the legal process if they want to get their child back. Remember, he is only two weeks old. The mother still has rights to take him back until he is six months old. Then, if the adoption goes through, she has up to one year to contest the adoption. I know that sounds like a lot and may be hard to digest, but it is the law. We have so many mothers that can’t take care of their children at first, then they get straightened out and want to get their babies back.”