Book Review: In The Bosom of the Seventh Seal by Zeridah Ra’Chel Yehudah

 Book Reviews

In The Bosom of the Seventh Seal. Zeridah Ra’Chel Yehudah

New York City: Poetstatic Corporation

Published, 2021. 74 pp.

Reviewed by S.B. Levy

September 2, 2021

We are pleased to announce the publication of In the Bosom of the Seventh Seal by Zeridah Ra’Chel Yehudah. The book reminded me of The Color Purple by Alice Walker in the sense that Walk’s novel was composed of a series of  “Dear God” letters. Through these prayers, Walker revealed the pain and hopes of her protagonist. In like manner, Zeridah presents much of the material in this beautiful volume as a series of prayers that she wrote over a number of years. Some pages take the form of daily affirmations, and others are clearly poetic works or modern psalms.

Almost every page is adorned by artwork created by the author or by the illustrator, Yoshiah Fleming, who designed the front cover. In this regard, the physical layout of the text and the quality of its printing are all first-class. The interplay between words and art is reminiscent of The Prophet by Khalil Gibran and other works that appeal to multiple senses simultaneously.

While many of the concepts can be considered “universal” or “Afro-Centric,” Zeridah’s approach is unique from either genre by proudly proclaiming an Israelite perspective. As she stated in the introduction, “The now knowing Yisraelites have been awakened from a deep dark sleep and we reclaim our heritage in the Spirit of God.”  In the epilogue, Zeridah provides valuable information about her artistic career and the specific Israelite community that she is affiliated with in New York City. She graciously acknowledged her husband, Rav Nasi Prince Hezekiah Yehudah and their leadership roles within congregation Temple Beth Ab Shalom and Shaare Shamayim Knesset.

The eclectic structure of the book enhances the journey. Unlike a traditional text written in a linear narrative form, In the Bosom of the Seventh Seal is a sublime odyssey of prose, history, art, scripture, lyrics, and liturgy. You never know what you are going to find when you turn the next page. The book is so engaging that most readers will read it in one sitting because you will not be able to put it down until you reach the end.  Fortunately, at seventy-five pages in length, it is possible to consume the slender volume at once—though you will have to ponder its message for a much longer period of time before you can fully fathom its meaning.

In a passage of the book entitled “Messiah Man,” one of Zeridah’s signature poems that stands out for its distinctly romantic theme and artwork showing a young Black woman being caressed by a bear-chested, muscle-bond Black man.  She began the piece with these words, “As I laid awake, my subconscious mind placed my soul in a sphere of total ecstasy.” The poem reached its climax with this stanza, “The mist of the jungle awaits you. The wildfire adores you..don’t stop now. Keep on going down..down…down down…Into a glorious domain of ecstasy.” The poem can be appreciated as a celebration of Black love and the joys of intimacy. I think this is its most obvious intention. However, because so much of the book uses spiritual symbols and metaphors, the poem can also be read as the relationship between the Creator and a faithful servant. For centuries biblical scholars have debated whether King Solomon’s  verses in Song of Songs  1:5 describe his romantic love of a Black women who says, “I am Black and beautiful” (  שְׁחֹורָ֤ה אֲנִי֙ וְֽנָאוָ֔ה )  expresses the relationship between the Creator and the people of Israel in the metaphoric terms of a man and a woman. Certainly, there are many passages of scripture where the latter is the case—particularly with the psalmist David.  Our reference to the bread on Shabbat as Challah (which means bride in Hebrew) is itself suggestive of the union of the Creator with his people that takes place on the sabbath.  In either case, many of the passages in this fascinating book force the reader to think about deeper meanings and possible interpretations. Fortunately, there is a  glossary at the end of the book to help the uninitiated define the montage of Hebrew and English terminology used through the volume.

There is an aura of mysticism that runs through this book.  It seems to borrow from many different sources and traditions. Indeed, the meaning of the  “Seventh Seal” is never explicitly explained. The photograph on the back cover depicts Zeridah as a shrouded priestess with candles, incense, and a shofar. For this reason, the book can appeal to a variety of audiences.  Everyone who reads it will surely find something of value. It can be purchased from Israelite book vendors and is available through Amazon. On behalf of the International Israelite Board of Rabbis, we enthusiastically endorse this book and encourage Zeridah to continue writing and performing.