Below is the story of a young secular Israeli woman Ayala Somech whose strong Zionist fervor led her to take her first steps towards Judaism.
Twenty years ago, my father started to recite Kaddish (the prayer for a deceased person) in memory of my grandfather. From that time, my father became more devoted to keeping the Torah and its commandments. My mother was respectful of his new ways in some respects, but she did not join him.
Five years ago my mother started to watch the Torah lectures of Rabbi Mordechai Elon on the "Tchelet" TV channel and loved them. As a result, she started observing the Torah commandments.
Rabbi Mordechai Elon delivering a lecture (photo: tsmicha.com)
At that time, I was on a long trip in South America. Although, I was not religiously observant, I still was very Zionistic. I heard about the 2005 Gaza Disengagement proposal which was, in my eyes, a calamity.
Somebody asked me, "Do you believe in G-d?" I replied, "Yes." Then she probed further. "If so, then who makes the decision to pullout from Gaza - the Prime Minister or G-d?" I felt that I had to do something, even something symbolic, to convince G-d to rescind the decree of destroying the Jewish towns in Gaza. I decided to start observing the laws of the Jewish Sabbath (Shabbat). Afterwards, I couldn't stop.
By the time I returned to Israel, I had stopped keeping Shabbat and returned as a secular Jew. My mother persuaded me to go with her to the lectures of Rabbi Elon at Bar Ilan University. Although it was hard for me to understand him, I realized that I gained a lot.
When Rabbi Elon stopped teaching there, my mother looked for another rabbi from whom she could learn Torah. She found Rabbi Frank from Jerusalem who taught in Tel Aviv once a week. She asked me to listen to him. After awhile, I attended a lecture.
This lecture touched me deeply, implanting a strong faith in me. Not only did I internalize that G-d exists, but also I began to feel that it is necessary to act on that belief. I started again keeping Shabbat. But this time, my observance emanated from study of G-d and Judaism, including Jewish law.
Once I started observing Shabbat, my shirt sleeves lengthened, and I only wore dresses. One Shabbat, my mother brought me the "Rosh Yehudi" newsletter. I loved the content and looked forward to the forthcoming issues. I always would read the stories on the back page and noticed that everyone wrote about "the Shabbat experience at the Rosh Yehudi center." I wanted to know about the special Shabbat that everyone related to. What was the great joy that had no bounds?
I gave them a call and a girl invited me to attend a lecture by Rabbi Yehoshua Wieder on the classic work "The Path of the Just." I went to the lecture, and it was amazing. I was impressed by the Rabbi's modesty, by his love for G-d and by the rays of light on his face. He connected me to a passage on faith and love.
He taught me the meaning of the blessing "everything evolves according to His will." Nothing just happens. Everything comes from G-d." I started to recite the blessings with meaning. I started attending the lectures of Rabbi Uzi Binenfeld on the classic book "The Kuzari." The rabbi's love of G-d and his deep rooted connection to the Land of Israel did not leave any room for doubt. I felt that I was in the right place.
Rabbi Uzi Binenfeld at a Rosh Yehudi seminar
At the Rosh Yehudi center, the volunteer National Service girls, Tehila and Shlomit, received me with open arms. Within a fortnight, they invited me for Shabbat at the center, something that I had longed for. I accepted and felt that this was a welcoming home that was pulling me in. At midnight, Yair Mormorstein gave an incredible lecture on the Scroll of Esther. I continued to participate in the subsequent Shabbat programs.
The Purim holiday at "Rosh Yehudi" was a festival that lasted for four days. Now from experience, I know that when people drink, they become imbeciles. But when Rabbi Eitan HaCohen drank much wine on Purim as is the custom, he spoke about the message of G-d, and I saw his love of G-d. I thought, "That is the essence of Judaism. Even when you are not entirely sober, you speak naturally about the love of G-d and the love of the People of Israel.
After the attack in the Merkaz Harav Yeshiva, the volunteer National Service girls at Rosh Yehudi were totally heart broken. Somebody asked them whether they knew anyone there. They answered that it is irrelevant if they personally know anyone since the boys were like their own brothers. I felt a shiver go down my spine. Suddenly, I understood the meaning of love for the People of Israel.
A blood-stained book from the Merkaz HaRav terrorist attack.
"Suddenly, I understood the meaning of love for the People of Israel."
Today, I am 24 and studying psychology with the intention of working in psychiatric treatment. In the Shabbat newsletters that are distributed, I have began paying attention to matters relating to Jewish psychology. The study of Judaism has given me another perspective on the psyche of man. I am debating whether to continue my present style of life or in addition to weekly lectures, to transfer to a Midrasha, where girls study Jewish spirituality intensively.
Teshuva (returning to Torah), in my view, is the path to G-d, to the truth. His choice of us is the greatest gift in the world. Upholding the Torah and observing the commandments brings us to a position that we would never have reached. When we study the Torah, we feel G-d's great love and discover our real purpose.
All the stories in the Journey to Judaism series are true and were originally published on the Rosh Yehudi website.