About

Robyn K. Hesley-Cowherd (Tzipporah)

My journey into the Hebraic understanding of scripture began with “Davidic Dance.” A “Michigan Girl,” I married a young man from Oklahoma (in 1975) and while visiting my in-laws in Oklahoma, my friends’ two young daughters, ages 8 and 10,  danced in their living room. My friend then invited me to “come and see the ladies dance.”  Together, my mother (Beatrice) and I went to a Chanukah service where we witnessed such beautiful “Davidic Worship” that, we have often remarked, “We cried through the whole service!”

The seeds were planted and two more dancers were born into the Kingdom of G-d! When arriving back in Michigan, I searched for a similar congregation, but found none. The passion to learn the dance, however, was not easily quenched. 

Being an integral part of an organization called Blossoming Rose, I approached my pastor, mentor and friend, DeWayne Coxon, and told him what I was looking for. He said, “I think I have someone in our constituency who might do that (dance).” A quick search produced a learning program on VHS tape and my mother and I set out to learn the dances; although, Robyn would say, “I wasn’t sure God had the right person because we weren’t even allowed to learn square dancing in gym class growing up!” Dancing was forbidden activity in the church where I spent many of my formative years.

But, G-d did have the right person! Two more dancers joined, along with a vocalist and accompanist. “Despise not the day of small beginnings,” certainly applied to this group. What was originally one or two hesitant dancers in the living room trying to figure out the steps became “Bat Tzion,” a performance dance troupe traveling with Blossoming Rose to banquets reaching the five-state area of the Midwest.

Not content with just knowing the dances, God further laid it on my heart to study Hebrew and to study the scriptures from a rabbinic perspective. Again, Blossoming Rose came to the rescue and a professor from Ferris State University whose specialty was racism and anti-semitism was located. This Jewish, yeshiva-trained scholar agreed to drive from Big Rapids to Cedar Springs, Michigan, once a month to teach Torah to a small group.

This was the beginning of many great scholars with whom I was privileged to study. Having been part of the Blossoming Rose “Times of the Messiah Forums,” I learned with Rabbis and scholars such as Shmueley Boteach, Chaim Richman, Mendel Kessin, Avraham Sutton, Gerald Schroeder as well as scholars from outside of the Jewish community such as David Bivin (of Blessed Memory) from the Jerusalem School of the Synoptic Gospels, Marvin Wilson of Gordon College and Brad Young from Oral Roberts University. 

Prior to relocating to Oklahoma City, I attended the Conservative Synagogue, Ahavas Israel, in Grand Rapids, Michigan, as well as “The Chapel” in Cedar Springs, Michigan. For many years I sang in the Shir Shalom choir, an organization in Grand Rapids, Michigan, funded by the Jewish Federation.

The Chapel had been part of Jordan College where I earned my B.A. Degree and then worked as an administrator. (I then attended Aquinas College in Grand Rapids, Michigan, where I earned a Master’s Degree in Management.) My work in Blossoming Rose involved educational programs, a short time of working in the office as well as teaching at the Blossoming Rose Symposia in the fall of the years before the advent of the internet.

I count it a great privilege to have been a teacher at Congregation Bet Ami since 2002. I also count it a great honor to have co-labored with the late Charles Stalsworth (of blessed memory) who founded the congregation. For many years we taught and “tag-teamed” together in Torah leadership in the community.

Having begun my studies of the Hebrew language while in Michigan, I further committed to fulfill the requirements for a Bat Mitzvah under the tutelage of a Hebrew teacher who has prepared many students for their bar and bat mitzvahs. In 2011 I chanted my haftarah in the Bet Ami community with my teacher and his wife in attendance. They gave me the Hebrew name Tzipporah, which means “bird” in Hebrew. I am affectionately referred to as “Tzippy.”

I don’t like to say I have retired. Rather, I have transitioned from my work with the Oklahoma County court system to more fully give my time and gifts to the work of the Kingdom of God. I am available to travel, speak, teach, dance and praise that Kingdom to this earth. May we soon see our Messiah! “Bo Moshiach!”