The Star and the Cross: A Journey of Two Faiths

By Leonard Traines

This book is a love story that relates how two young people of different religions came together, and overcame the differences to enter a happy and loving marriage.

When I first conceived the idea of writing, it was to expound on the subject of anti-Semitism. I soon learned the amount of books on this old subject was monumental, and so I decided to turn it into fiction. However, within the context of the book, I endeavor to bring out the messages I wish to express to anyone willing to read this.

Hatred has become vogue, and it has spread across the modern world with a vengeance not seen in many a year. I have been astounded at the gullibility of people who subscribe to hate, and the injustices they are able to commit in its name.

My primary focus, although on anti-Semitism, has been embellished by knowledge of modern day genocide in many more countries than one would imagine. I have included some of this information in the text.

Some of the killing, especially in Africa, has subsided, but hatreds are popping up anew in other areas. In Russia, for example, ethnic people of darker skin are being attacked, and in some cases murdered by thugs who have nothing better to do with their lives.

The most visible, and the largest hate group appears to be the militant Muslims who see the entire world under Islam. The lies being taught to their young will be a very long time in dying, if ever.

As usual, it is America (America the beautiful) who is leading the fight against terrorism throughout the world, but it is an uphill battle. Politics here at home as well as world politics and greed make the task more difficult.

One would think as the world grows smaller and becomes more global in the relationships of the worlds countries to each other that there would be more enlightenment. However, it seems we keep making the same mistakes over and over again.

I want to believe in the All Mighty; that there is a whatever watching over us, and interceding when man goes too far with evil actions. Perhaps God is very present, and doing His thing, but we dont recognize or understand it. Perhaps the Lord moves in mysterious ways his wonders to perform.

Until I am convinced he is not there, Ill go on believing because I want him to be there for us. No one religion is all right or all wrong. Consequently, we must not harbor (in our hearts) hatred for those who are different from us for they are our brothers.

My wish (my prayer) is to bring the world to its senses, and I only wish I could live to see the day when man will accept man as his brother, and when they will beat their swords into pruning hooks and plowshares. Then, and then only, hatred will die, and there will be no more wars.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: Jul 27, 2005
• ISBN: 9781469100111

Book preview

Copyright © 2005 by Leonard Traines.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

This book was printed in the United States of America.

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Contents

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

Dedication

This book is dedicated to:

My dear wife and three sons

Who have always given me the

Best days of my life.

Special Dedication to the memory of:

Monsignor Thomas P. Craven

A man for all people through his love for the human race.

A special thanks to my friend John Back for his

Patience and computer knowledge in enabling me

To write this book.

WRITTEN BY: MARK TWAIN - HARPER’S,

SEPTEMBER 1899

If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jew ought hardly be heard of, but he is heard of, has always been heard of.

He is as prominent on the planet as any other people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world’s list of great names in literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and obtuse learning are also way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers.

He has made a marvelous fight in this world in all the ages, and has done it with his hands tied behind him. He could be vain of himself and be excused for it. The Egyptians, the Babylonians, and the Persians rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, and faded to dream stuff and passed away. The Greeks and the Romans followed and made a vast noise and they are gone. Other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time. But it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished.

The Jew saw them all. Beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind.

All things are mortal but the Jew. All other forces pass, but he remains

CHAPTER 1

LOVE

Love is not visible, not a tangible object to be held in the

hand. It is not a switch that can be turned off and on to control an electrical impulse at the whim of the user. It is, a powerful emotion responsible for many unexpected and unanticipated turns in the journey of life.

To truly love is one of the greatest experiences a human can encounter whether it is love of God, humanity, country, or another being. This book is about love between two young people of vastly different backgrounds. It is also about hate and bigotry, and those who perpetrate and perpetuate it. It raises the question as to what causes bigotry, and what is there in the human psyche that makes one a bigot, and a person filled with hate. At no time in human history has this question been more significant before the world than now in 2004 as Americans continue to strive to heal from deep psychological wounds. The sensational and dastardly destruction of the twin towers of theWorld Trade Center in New York September 11, 2001, killing nominally 3000 innocent people is an event never to be forgotten by the American people.

Additional loss of American lives was caused by a bombing of the Pentagon in Washington. In the Pennsylvania countryside a high-jacked passenger plane, purportedly on its way to bomb the White House was overtaken by its passengers. In their struggle against the assailing militant Muslims to gain control of the plane, it crashed in Pennsylvania. How many lives these passengers saved by their heroic fight will never be known.

However, they number enough to murder with no conscience as they commit their crimes in the name of jihad, religious war. The carnage they cause is almost universal.

This is a beautiful world in which we live. It is a testimonial to God’s handiwork. We, His children through so many questionable and thoughtless acts are guilty of the damage done to our planet. War is as old as the planet itself, and it seems there will never be an end to it.

The Pennsylvania State University campus is nestled among the beautiful mountain range referred to as the Nittany Mountains in central Pennsylvania. The university permeates the lovely town of University Park, and on any given day, the streets are crowded with students going and coming.

On a gray October day with the hint of snow in the air, two unacquainted students, male and female, stand side by side on State St. at Allen St. across from the Penn State campus waiting for the signal’s red light to turn to green. As it does, the young woman quickly steps one foot to the street as an overanxious driver decides to run the red light. Instantly perceiving the danger, the young man grabs her by the arm. She falls into him and away from the path of the oncoming car that misses her by mere inches. She is quite shaken at the near miss and pale with emotion. She leans against her rescuer for a few seconds. Realizing what she is doing, she quickly pulls herself away. Haltingly, she thanks the young man, and takes a deep breath to gain her composure. In response to his urging as to her mental state, she assures him she is okay, and thanks him once again for his quick action. As they separate, and he walks ahead, he chances to look back, and notices her now very slow uneasy gait. He cannot help but notice her attractiveness, and as any young red-blooded American college man might do, he walks back to her to inquire if he might not buy her a cup of coffee at the Corner, a popular student eatery. She demures stating she is on her way to meet someone. Together, they appear to make a handsome couple, and little do they know how momentous this chance meeting will turn out to be.

Ari Kramer is haunted by the image of this lovely coed whose very life he may have saved. One evening, some weeks later, he takes a date to dinner at the Hummingbird Inn, some twelve miles from State College. As they are ushered to their table he doesn’t notice the student he saved until she calls out to him. Excuse me, but remember you rescued me weeks ago from that crazy driver, and I didn’t even ask your name to thank you properly.

Flushing a bit at the unexpected surprise, Ari replies, Oh, hi! My name is Ari, Ari Kramer, and this is my friend, Evelyn Rosenberg. Evelyn smiles but does not speak.

This is my friend, Marc Petrie. Incidentally, my name is Katharine Nolan, but everyone calls me Kate.

Marc is a huge frame of a man, quite striking with dark skin and jet black hair. Ari extends his hand. Ari is rather tall with curly brown hair and hazel eyes. He is lean in stature, but exhibits a man who takes care of his body. He is strikingly handsome, and a bit on the shy side.

Are you a fraternity man ?asks Marc as he shakes Ari’s hand.

Yes, Marc. I’m a Phi Ep.

Well, whataya know, we’re neighbors. I’m a DU across the street. I’ll look for you some time when I’m out.

With that, Ari and Evelyn continue to their table. After they order their meal, Ari notices Kate walking to the ladies room. Waiting a respectable time, he excuses himself to go to the men’s room. However, he pauses outside the ladies room for Kate to exit, and when she does, he walks over to her. The rest rooms are out of view of the tables.

Kate, it’s really good to see you again. I was hoping this would happen. Tell me, is Marc your steady, he asks haltingly?

We have been dating for quite a while, she replies, but we still date others as well. Marc is not happy about it, but that’s the way I want it. I’m not ready to make a commitment yet.

May I call you soon? To be honest, you have been on my mind quite a bit!

Kate is rather taken aback, and replies, I don’t see why not, Ari. You know we better get back to our tables or it’s going to look suspicious. She hurriedly gives him her phone number and returns to Marc.

Ari, delays a couple minutes more, and then returns to Evelyn. During the evening, Evelyn cannot help but notice Ari glancing in Kate’s direction quite a bit. It becomes apparent his interest is more than casual.

At Kate’s table, Marc remarks, You know Phi Ep is a Jewish fraternity.

So, what does that mean? Kate asks showing annoyance.

Nothing except I don’t want you getting too friendly with a Jew! Marc is quick to shoot back.

Wait a minute, Marc, this particular Jew might have saved my life, and you are telling me not to be friendly to him? I’m afraid I don’t agree with your thinking! So what if he is Jewish? What does that make him?

Now, somewhat irritated, Marc is again quick to replyIt makes him different from us, and between you and me, I’ve never had much use for those people.

You know, I’ve never seen this side of you, and I don’t think I like it. So. let’s get on another subject. Kate remarks, exasperated.

Shortly after that they finish their meal, pay the check, and leave without saying good bye to Ari and Evelyn. Inside, Kate is seething because she never saw this side of Marc before, and begins to wonder just what is he all about.

The weekend passes, and Ari can hardly contain himself from calling Kate early Monday morning. He waits until after class in the evening and then makes his call. He is told that Kate returned home unexpectedly because a call came telling her of her father’s illness. He was suddenly taken ill, and rushed to a hospital in their home city of Harrisburg. Ari is advised they will forward his message with his phone number when she returns. He waits in sheer torture for the entire week, and is finally rewarded by her return call the following Monday evening.

Hi Ari, I’m sorry to be so late in getting back to you, but my dad was quite ill, and I had to go to him. He is much better now, but did need a transfusion. He is type O negative, and that sometimes presents a problem.

Seeing an opportunity to get closer to her, Ari exclaims, Kate, I happen to have that blood type too. If your dad ever needs another transfusion, I’d be more than glad to donate blood for him.

Oh, Ari, that’s wonderful of you to offer. I hope he won’t need more, but if such a thing were to happen, I’ll remember your offer. You know, Ari, you’re turning out to be my white knight. First you came to my rescue, and now you offer to help my dad.

Well, in that case, Ari quickly asks, how about having dinner with your white knight?

I’d love to, but you know, I just missed a week of school, and I’m really going to have to work hard to catch up. When do you have in mind?

I was going to suggest tonight, but are you busy Saturday night?

Well, I have a tentative date with Marc, but I believe I can probably beg off. Under the circumstances of what you did for me, I think he’ll understand. However, I must say he’s really not the most understanding person, and has a tendency to be rather possessive. But for now, I’ll say okay! Unless you hear from me, I’ll be ready Saturday night.

So then, I’ll pick you up Saturday about seven o’clock. Okay?

That’s a date, she says, See you then.

Not too long after their conversation, Marc calls, and as has been their understanding, he reminds Kate of their tentative arrangement.

Marc, I hope you’ll understand, but I have made other arrangements for this Saturday. I am sorry to do this, but something has come up that I sorta feel is an obligation.

Surprised, and immediately short-tempered, he replies: What about our date?

Calm down Marc! I can tell you’re angry, and you have no need to be! After all, we did agree we could date others, and that we are not at the stage of going steady.

I know that, but we have practically been going steady. Haven’t we?

I guess it seems that, but only because I haven’t been asked out by other guys, and that’s probably why it seems as if we are going steady. You didn’t by any chance tell others we were, did you?

Of course not, but people do have eyes, and they can see how crazy we are for each other. By the way, I hope your date isn’t with that Jew. Is it?

Look, you have got to understand he saved my life, she quickly and defensively replies, and if he asks me for one dinner date, how could I turn him down?

That’s easy, Kate. You’re a Catholic and he’s a Jew. That’s like oil and water, and the two don’t mix. They’re not like us. They come from a lower class of people, and are not to be trusted in any way.

"Marc, you’re really upsetting me. I was not raised with prejudice, and I think what you’re saying about the Jewish people is what you want to believe. It has no foundation. Did you learn this hatred at home for if you did, I’m shocked?. I have always liked your parents, and can’t