Last March, Wolf Schubach, my very good friend and
mentor of over 25 years, passed away after a grueling battle with cancer. In
honor of his yartseit (anniversary of his death) I want to once again reflect
on Wolf’s life and his passion for the Word of G-d. Wolf loved the Scriptures
and the Hebrew Language, down to their very jot and tittle. Though a biologist
by education and a business man by vocation, his passion for the last 15 years
was in meticulously translating the Hebrew Old Testament. Four separate times
he painstakingly translated through the entire text, working as he went to
understand the unique meaning of each Hebrew word so he could express this
unique meaning in an accurate English translation. Translating the Scriptures
for Wolf was an expression of his worship of G-d!
Is it possible that for
some of us, the Scriptures are too familiar? Could it be that we take them for
granted, treating them as nice literature but not what they really are: G-d’s miraculous Word! Paul challenges us in 2 Timothy 3:16-17 with
the miraculous and supernaturally unique nature and purpose of the Scriptures:
“All
Scripture is breathed out by G-d and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for
correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of G-d may be
complete, equipped for every good work.”
Wolf appreciated Paul’s
challenge, and spent the latter years of his life maximizing his ability to
understand the Scriptures for himself. He challenged me to do the same.
Consider for yourself: do you take the Scriptures for granted or are you
maximizing the Power of G-d’s Word?
Forward for Messiah,
Kirk Gliebe
Rabbi & Director
