Henry Hellyer 1880-*
Hellyer was destined to become a rabbi. His widowed mother desired that he should bring spiritual benefit to his people and his family, and sacrificed a great deal to enable him to study rather than work to support the family. God’s hand was on him from a young age – he sought to live as holy and God-fearing a life as possible, to bring honour to his mother and please his God. His search for God’s truth led him to the Messiah. His only contact with Christians was with bullies who claimed to be doing a divine deed when they beat up Jewish boys; and the more he learned of Christianity and as he heard the stories of the Talmud about Jesus, the more he despised that false religion.
He was delighted to go to Yeshiva at the age of 14, convinced that here at last he would find answers to all his questions and the cry of his soul. ”
With bated breath I began the study of the Law, expecting to see heaven open and the whole mysterious truth of Judaism burst upon me in all its radiance and glory.
But he soon became disillusioned with the arrogance and worldliness of his teachers and fellow students, and eventually left in frustration and despair.
His search for the truth took him to England, where he came into contact with Jews who believed in Yeshua. He was horrified that fellow Jews could be so deceived! In an attempt to set them straight, he was drawn again and again to study the Bible for himself, and eventually came to the amazing truth: this Jesus, who had been so misrepresented to him by the Russian Orthodox neighbours at home, was really the Messiah of his own people.
Henry eventually became the director of Christian Testimony to the Jews in the UK.
For the full story, click here. A Russian Jew’s story of his soul struggle for light and peace
To read the actual book on-line, click here.
Sources
Ariel, Yaakov. Evangelizing the Chosen People: Missions to the Jews in America, 1880-2000. University of North Carolina Press, 2000
Hellyer, Henry. A Russian Jew’s Story of His Soul Struggle for Light and Peace. Philadelphia, The Sunday School Times Company, 1911.
MINUTES of the first Hebrew-Christian Conference of the United States; held at Mountain Lake Park, MD. July 28-30, 1903