Sid: You understand that from Biblical law when you reach out to the Jew first it opens up a supernatural door of evangelism to all people. I can tell you that I know, that I know, that I know there is a fresh move of God’s Spirit coming across the United States, actually it is probably starting right now in Israel but it’s going to be all over the United States and there will be on Jewish people coming to the Lord. It’s God’s mercy before tremendous anti-Semitism breaks out worldwide. That’s why this week I want you to understand my Jewish people. I have on the telephone Suzy Harbinson, I’m speaking to her at her home in Derry, New Hampshire. Suzy tell me about your upbringing I’m going to start out like the rabbi’s, were both of your parents Jewish?
Suzy: Yes they were.
Sid: Oh no!!! That’s what they say to me anyway (laughing).
Suzy: (Laughing)
Sid: But tell me a bit about your upbringing.
Suzy: Well I was raised in upstate New York in a town called Schenectady. Went to Hebrew School and had a bat mitzvah at 13; I was raised in a predominantly conservative area, most of our friends were conservative Jews. We attended synagogue regularly, and…
Sid: But there was something very different about you, you were a child prodigy. How old were you when you first started playing the piano?
Suzy: I was 2 years old. I come from a very musical background…
Sid: Wait a second, 2 years old? I’m trying to figure out how big your fingers were. How did you do it (laughing)?
Suzy: Well my mother was a music teacher, a very very talented woman she sang opera on the radio back in the late 50’s, early 60’s. She was a piano teacher and she taught me at very early age. I had a desire to play music, I would try to mimic her. She sat me down at the piano one day and started me off. As I grew older I started to play the violin and other instruments. I just had a…
Sid: But you were really good at the violin, I mean you actually played for the New Hampshire Philharmonic.
Suzy: Yes I did. I had a gift that was given to me. Early on I recognized I could play anything I heard, I could also read music, but I was able to imitate songs on the radio or songs that I heard people singing with my violin. And…
Sid: That is such a wonderful gift. I mean I have problems just humming something that I’ve heard, let alone play it on an instrument.
Suzy: Yes I feel very special that growing up I was able to do that.
Sid: Tell me a little bit about, I mean just the 2 of us… obviously you’re Jewish, obviously you’re part of conservative home in upstate New York, but God… did you believe there as a God? Did you think about God growing up?
Suzy: I did, however to me I always thought that God was unattainable, unapproachable, He was clear on the other side of the universe that I didn’t feel that I could ever really be in the same room with Him.
Sid: Out of curiosity Suzy, if back then you had seen our television show, It’s Supernatural, where we interview people that have had miracles and talk about intimacy with God, hearing His voice, having Him answer prayers. Do you think that would have intrigued you?
Suzy: Oh definitely. I think it would intrigue anyone. I think God, from the time we’re born God puts a desire in our heart to search Him. How we come to know Him is up to the individual, there’s different ways.
Sid: Okay, I’m going to take you to January 1982 everything is going fine in your life or was it?
Suzy: Well I was working part-time while I was going to college in a hotel. I was carrying a rack of champagne glasses one day and I slipped on the floor and I cut the tendons and the nerves to my left index finger and thumb. Leaving me partially paralyzed in that part of my hand with no feeling.
Sid: What were your first thoughts when you realized what had occurred?
Suzy: I was in shock. I couldn’t feel anything in my hand. I was devastated because that basically ended any hopes of a career in music, or just continue on playing my violin.
Sid: What did the doctor say?
Suzy: They said that they would try micro surgery on me and physical therapy, and within 2 years the nerves didn’t grow back. I was pretty much left with whatever I had, which was at that point after going through therapy and another surgery, no feeling absolutely no…
Sid: If would have, back then if would have taken a pin and touched your finger what would have happened?
Suzy: I wouldn’t have felt anything, I had no sensation in that portion of my hand. Even to the degree that I had to actually concentrate on lifting a glass of water. If I didn’t concentrate the glass would fall out of my hand to the floor.
Sid: So the 2 years go by you still have no feeling, so what did the doctors tell you?
Suzy: Well the doctors told me that was as good as it was going to get and I would never play the violin again.
Sid: How did you accept that?
Suzy: I was very angry and I put my violin in the closet and didn’t touch it for 15 years.
Sid: Well you were angry… I’m wondering I know about Jewish mothers. How did you Jewish mother take this? I mean she probably put all of her aspirations into you.
Suzy: Well I was already 19 almost 20 years old by that time so I was a young woman, and of course it devastated both my parents. They had seen me in performances previously and they did have high hopes for me, but they said “Well you just have to press on and find something else in life.”
Sid: Was there… going back to your hand, I mean this really intrigues me. 15 years ago by medically speaking was there any chance you’d get your feelings back? Did they give you a 1% chance?
Suzy: They didn’t give any percentage rate all they said was “Within 2 – 5 years tops, if you’re going to have any feeling in your hand it would return because that’s the amount of time the nerves would grow back.” Sid I tell you as I’m sitting here I had no absolutely no feeling whatsoever in that portion of my hand.
Sid: Okay your married, you have 2 children, your life is shattered, there’s a divorce because of unfaithfulness on your husband’s side. Then in 1993 you have this friend who’s telling you about Jesus. I don’t think you took to it to well, did you?
Suzy: (Laughing) No actually this girl she’s a very dear friend of mine. I actually used to take care of her 2 boys while I was at home with my own daughters. One day she sent her sister to come and pick up the 2 boys and bring them home. Well when her sister arrived at the door, she’s a zealous Christian, and she said “You need to be saved.” Saved? I didn’t know what that meant. Saved from what?
Sid: Did you really… I mean I would think back before I understood things if someone said “Saved” I would say “I’m not lost.”
Suzy: (Laughing) Right, right! She just started talking about Jesus that He was the Christ that He was the Messiah, and she knew I was Jewish. So she came from it at that angle. That He was the true Messiah and she said “You need to say the sinner’s prayer. You need to be saved.” I said “Sinner? I’m not a sinner, I’m a good person…”
Sid: You know I’m amazed at the number of people that don’t know the Messiah that say exactly what you said. It’s to tell someone that they are a sinner, if they don’t have ears to hear they think you’re nuts. You mean a sinner is someone that robs a bank and murders someone.
Suzy: Yes exactly, I didn’t understand. So she kept on me and she kept saying “You need to be saved or else you’ll go to hell.”
Sid: Suzy, did you believe in hell at that point?
Suzy: Not really.
Sid: So what difference did it make (laughing)?
Suzy: (Laughing) Didn’t make much difference, but basically I said the sinners prayer. She led me in this prayer. I truly believe when you’re even willing to even say certain words…
Sid: But why did you even say it?
Suzy: I just said it to her to get her off my back.
Sid: That’s what I thought (laughing).
Suzy: To get her out of my house to say you know “I don’t want to talk to this person anymore.” But I believe that the words I spoke that day were so significant, and it doesn’t mean that all your problems go away. In fact in my case things got a little rough…
Sid: I tell you what hold that thought. Mishpocha they may have gotten rough but did they get good. Come on back on tomorrow’s broadcast.
