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Marlene D. Gelfand (Hotchkiss)
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Last Updated: |
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September 1, 2010 |
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Residing In: |
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Cleveland Heights, OH USA |
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Occupation: |
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Spiritual Leader in G-d and/or Judaism/Chaplain |
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Children: |
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Katherine Elizabeth (Hotckiss) Fox July 4, 1976
Jeremy Michael Fox November 2, 2004
Aaron Sebastian Fox February 10, 2007
Regina Norrell (Hotchkiss) Krieger August 23,1977
Reuben Elliott Krieger March 5, 2008
Mallory Rose Krieger August 7,2010
Paul Martin (Hotchkiss Jr.) Gelfand April 28, 1979
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Birthday: |
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December 13, 1952 |
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Comments: |
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1970 went to Kent State University. I wanted to become an elementary school teacher. After my freshman year, I decided that was not what I wanted for the rest of my life, and dropped out of KSU. I did not know what I wanted to be when I grew up, however I did want to get married and have children. For the next 5 yrs., I took on minimal jobs. At 22, I had 22 jobs.
In 1975, I got married. My husband was in the Air Force we lived in Biloxi Miss. and Victorville Calif. In the first 4yrs. of our marriage, I was barefoot and pregnant.
In 1979, when I was pregnant with my third child, I had active Crohn's Disease. My son and I, got very close to death because my intestine perforated causing peritonitis and septicemia. I was very scared that we were going to die, and not only did I ask G-d to help me, I asked Jesus to help me also. Even though I understood the concept of Jesus, I never ever was a "Christian" in a sense of turning away Judaism. I did study Messianic Judaism.
For those who do not know the difference, I follow the Old Testament, and practice Biblical Judaism. I use the New Testament to study and learn. I use the NT on ways to understand G-d better. And to learn about Christianity, for I am Biblical Scholar. I started to take G-d and religion very seriously. In my heart, one would say I got "The Calling" Now I knew what I wanted I wanted to be a Jewish Spiritual Leader speaking all over the world on the Love of G-d, and How G-d loves us.
My husband was not a Jew. Back in the 70's and early 80's mixed marriages were not encouraged to go to synagogues, and were refused on financial assistance for membership and children education. Messianic Jew Congregations were free, and gave a very good education for Jews in Hebrew, History and Mitzvah lessons. I also was starting to study about Christianity and The Born Again Movement. I was fully understanding what G-d and religion is all about. The most important thing that was calling me inside my heart was to know who G-d is. Why are we as humans screwing up so much? When we have a G-d who is so loving, giving, caring, along with being truth and just. To believe in Him can really bring on pure joy and happiness. Why as Jews are we screwing up? Christians why are you all acting your way?
In 1984 we moved back to Cleveland, my children were in elementary school, and they were old enough where they should be with the extended family. I went back to school and became a nurse.
For the next 15 yrs. I was working in and out of jobs, but my priority was always for my family. If I saw my family was having problems, I would quit work and be home to whom ever needed my assistance.
My husband was not in the position where he dreamed. Being in his mid forties he became depressed, a true form of midlife crisis. He was making life hard for me and the children. We got divorced after 25 yrs. of marriage, in 2000.
In 2000, my children were in and finishing college, and I decided to go back to school to get my degree in Jewish Studies. I moved down to Columbus, went to OSU, I became a Buckeye. I even lived in a dorm. I majored in Jewish Studies, minoring in Theology, and Biblical Studies. Graduating in 2006. It took me 36 yrs. to get my degrees.
I am now back in the house I grew-up in, in Cleveland Heights, taking care of my 92yr. old mother.
I am putting together two Web Pages. reachpreacteach.com and specialtogod.com. RPT is a study through the Bible. STG are stories and lessons mostly mine, it is my web page, on the miracles of how G-d loves us, helps us, and works with us. These two Web Pages will be out hopefully by Simcha Torah. 2010
I do free lance work, and I was the Chaplain for the Ohio Branch of The Jewish War Veterans Auxilary.
If anyone needs any help Biblically or Spiritually in Judaism and/or G-d, or to Marry, Bury or Baby Naming. Notify me. |
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School Story: |
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This is not a funny story but it is for my 6th grade class at Boulevard Elementary School. If you read my long history since 1970, you will see in 1979 my son and I almost died from Crohn's Disease. For the damage that was in my body, it was not a disease that started immediately, to look back I was born with it. The reason I am telling you this, is because at school camp at Red Raider I had the first exacerbation period of Crohns. At camp on the first day, I was popular and had many friends. After that week, I became the class loner!
I drank milk, because I was thirsty at dinner. That night and for the whole week, I had all the signs and symptoms of IBS, Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I was nauseaus, and had very bad stomach pains which were about 7 on a pain scale for today. I also was very bloaty and unfortunately gas comes with this problem. Many times I tried to go to the restrooms and one female classmate or another would make nasty comments. Every time I went to the rest room. I tried not to be obvious, but that was to no avail. Mrs. Stern was such a great wonderful teacher that when I asked her if I can go to the restroom not on a rest time, she would say NO! I even tried to sit away from people because I never tried to let go of the gas, it just left. Thank G-d I had enough control so I would not have an accident. My classmates, the ones who have been with me, since K, 1,2, and up which we have played together over each others houses, going to birthday parties and sleepovers were saying the worst comments, stories, and calling me names. I never felt so alone. I was treated like a leper.
Mrs. Stern who was supposed to be an educated woman instead of helping me, and letting me go to the restroom, was making slide and even open nasty comments on me and my personal hygiene. I just had my 11th birthday and I was young, naive, and did not know what to do! If Mrs Stern was any way of a good teacher, she would of helped me somehow or someway! Unfortunately she did not. One would think an educated woman who was a teacher for many years would help a student and not hinder them. If she had somewhat of a brain, she could of said to all of you, that I was having problems, and to be helpful. NO! Not her!
To finish Mrs. Sterns story, I was a school camp counselor and one night I told her off. She never apologized. She said, "I am sorry you feel that way." When my nephew had her for a teacher she was very nice to him. She died a year later.
From that week in school, I never felt the same, I was scared, paranoid, and I felt friendless and was ostracized . None of you were my friends anymore, and some of you not only made me the untouchable of Boulevard, You made my reputation from that week Go To Hell! Other schools where I had friends, especially Taylor where everyone on my street went except me and the few children who went to parochial schools, knew about me. I even lost friends in Sunday School, at The Bureaus of Jewish Education and Heights Temple and these children lived in University Hts., Beechwood and Shaker. My best friend to whom I thought was my BEST FRIEND IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD, my next door neighbor now obviously wasn't best freind, did not even invite me to his 12th Birthday and Graduation Party. Many of you were their and I was not. This whole thing devastated me! Because of that week, I did not like school anymore.
Children with Crohn's Disease stop growing in their preteen years so I gained weight and got a little fat. That year, Twiggy changed fashion which did not help me either. My grades dropped. I felt embarrassed all the time. 1964 felt like a night mare, that I could not wake up from. The best thing for me was we were now going to Jr. High.
Thank-G-d in Roosevelt, I met children who were open minded from Coventry, Taylor and who moved into our school system who were nice and became my friends. The feelings I had were never the same. I lost a lot of you, that I really thought were my friends, and I lost friends from other schools too.
I know we were young, and all of us did mean things to others. I am sorry for being nasty to some students also.
Now some of us are parents, grandparents, or our close to some young children. My story does not make a difference for us, for we are grown and we already did our stupid antics. What about if we see our children, grandchildren or close children hurting others? Do we encourage them to be nasty and hurt others? We should know that there always is a story behind why someone is off. Just because of a bad day, week, month or even year, could or should we have the power to let them be scarred or could or should we help that person who could be scarred to heal properly.
You may think this is all in the past, to look back at that week and that time in my life is insignificant, however that is not true. That week scarred me for a long time. As we all grow up, we may move on, but these occurrences are still there in our minds, coming up now and then to haunt us, and remind us of the horrors that we faced when we were young and not ready for the situations we were in.
After all these years, for whatever thoughts you have of me, I just wanted my story to finally be "Aired"out. |
Classmate Comments:
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