A Matter of Faith

Joeseph parks his car down the street from the synagogue, pausing and closing his eyes, gripping the steering wheel hard enough his knuckles turned white. He was fighting down the urge to panic and run. The last time he had been in one was horrifying.

Joeseph was in his late 20's, sitting beside his father, head bent down and eyes closed as he listened to the prayer. He looked up with a small smile. He enjoyed spending time in the synagogue. He enjoyed the Shabbat services. It filled him with a sense of happiness and peace. He watched the rabbi, determined to be that man himself someday. He was already well on his way through his studies.

The doors flew open with a loud bang, startling everyone who was praying peacefully. Many uniformed and armed men came in, shouting loudly in German. Joeseph's stomach dropped. He knew what this meant, it was only a matter of time before they came for them. He gripped his father's arm, his father just as terrified, leaping to his feet. A few young men rose up and ran at the armed invaders, only to be shot down.

Screams and panic filled the synagogue, Joeseph starts to push his father towards the back exit, turning around to run to find his mother. He is pretty sure he wouldn't get yelled at by the rabbi for entering the woman's area at this current moment. He grabbed his mother's arm, guiding the terrified woman along.

Hands roughly grab Joeseph, tearing him away from his mother. He screams and kicks out, trying to lash out and hit his assailant, trying to lunge away to get to his mother after hearing her scream as someone grabs her. A pistol hitting the back of his head quickly made Joeseph fall limp in submission, dazed. He couldn't do anything but watch as all his friends and family were dragged out and thrown into livestock trucks, him among them.

Joeseph slowly lets go of the steering wheel, "I'm... sorry Wesley, bad memories... It's taking a lot of willpower to go to a synagogue again." Wesley smiles, squeezing Joeseph's shoulder gently. Joeseph sighs, rubbing his arm where his number as tattooed into his skin. As a vampire, there were no tools that could penetrate his skin to remove it. He was stuck with it forever. He makes sure his kippah is on before stepping out, walking beside the other man to the synagogue, fighting down the urge to run and break down into a panic attack.

The men stepped into the synagogue. Wesley leads him through the building, approaching a rabbi talking to someone. The men keep their distance till the rabbi is done. Joeseph kept looking over his shoulder, half expecting  men in uniforms to rush in at any moment. He rubs his arm absently, nearly jumping out of his skin as the rabbi greets them.

Wesley smiles, "Rabbi Daniel, maybe you can help a friend of mine..." He gives Joeseph a concerned look at how jumpy he was. He looked even more concerned seeing the usually stoic man about to burst into tears. Rabbi Daniel notices this as well, reaching to gently take Joeseph's arm, guiding him back towards some administration offices, "Come, let's get you out away from the public eye..." Wesley takes his cue, going elsewhere to study some.

As soon as they get into the office, Joeseph sinks into a chair, starting to sob uncontrollably. Rabbi Daniel looks concerned, grabbing a box of tissues and some water for Joeseph. he sits beside the man, rubbing his back in a comforting manner. After a while, Joeseph gets a hold of himself enough to mumble his thanks in Yiddish. He speaks again in English, "T-Thank you... I.. I haven't been in a synagogue since..." He hesitates, struggling for words, trying to figure out how much he should tell Rabbi Daniel.

Joeseph caves and decides to pour himself out for the Rabbi, "I haven't been in a synagogue since they came for us.." With shaking hands, he rolls up his sleeve to show Rabbi Daniel the number embedded into his skin. He takes a breath, "It is real and genuine, I was born in 1912. Me and my family were taken from the synagogue during a Shabbat morning service by the Nazis... We were held in a concentration. I witnessed the death of everyone I loved dearly. I was pulled aside and used for medical experiments..." He pauses, gauging Rabbi Daniel's reaction. So far the man was listening with a non-judgmental look. He continues, "One of the men, I... He... He raped me many times, and did many other foul things to me..." Joeseph choked up here.

Rabbi Daniel hands him the water, Joeseph takes it and drinks a bit, calming down a bit, "He was a true monster... He was a vampire. He turned me into one as well..." Joeseph hesitates opening his mouth, his fangs sliding out of his upper jaw, showing the Rabbi the proof for his words. Joeseph closes his mouth quickly, "I.. I know drawing blood and such are... forbidden, but my family and I would starve without it... I can't live without it... I am an awful man... I am not worthy to walk in here. I became one of them... A Nazi... I killed, I tortured, I did unethical things. I... I still do, I need to feed my family, there is no other way."

Rabbi Daniel gently grips Joeseph's hands, "I believe you... I am honored to be sitting beside one who knows how it was before the Holocaust. I cannot judge you. It is a tricky line, yes. We can forget the laws to preserve a human life; though some things like murder and rape and a few other crimes are inexcusable..." Rabbi Daniel falls silent for a moment, "Do you want my honest opinion?" Joeseph hesitates, then nods.

Rabbi Daniel continues, "My personal thoughts would be unpopular, I know that, I know HaShem is frowning deeply at me. You are preserving the life of your family. I can look past that. You are welcome here. I will keep your secret safe. I would love for you to be a part of our community."

Joeseph starts to cry again, happy tears this time, "If... If only it was not so far... I live a few hours away." Rabbi Daniel nods slowly, "I figured as such when you came in with Wesley. Whenever you are able to..." He stands up, offering a hand up to Joeseph. Joeseph rises up with his help, offering him a faint smile, "Thank you, Rabbi... I... have one more question..." Rabbi Daniel waits patiently with a nod.

Joeseph stutters, "I... I'm gay, will that be a problem?" Rabbi Daniel look startled, then shakes his head quickly, "Love is love..." Joeseph looked relieved, murmuring, "Thank you again Rabbi." Rabbi Daniel laughs, "Just call me Daniel. Let's find Wesley, I'm eager to have a discussion with you two."