By Yudit Uritsky, Shuvu Rishon L’Tzion
If I had thought the worst of it was over, I was wrong. Within a very small period, I lost my father, moved to Israel and had to adjust to a new school. With the support of my teachers and friends, I finally felt settled and starting leading a religious life. Suddenly, my mother decided to move to Canada with her new fiancée. The neighborhood they chose to move to had absolutely no Jewish infrastructure in the vicinity.
I resolutely refused to join them there. I was finally happy! I had found my niche in the Shuvu School in Rishon L’Tzion. I knew that Hashem and His Torah were the most important things to me and being such a newcomer to Torah and Mitzvot I could never move to a place without any Yiddishkeit. Although it meant that I would have to move in with my elderly grandmother, I knew that moving with my mother to Canada was not an option.
Two years later, during the cold month of Kislev, my grandmother was Nifter. Being the only family I had in Israel, Shuvu arranged the Levaya. Subsequently, I flew to Canada to spend some time with my mother. After about two months, I was eager to get back to Israel and to school. My mother was concerned about where I would live and who would be there to take care of me.
To be honest, I was nervous too! I had no relatives left in Israel and I had no idea what I would do. However, I felt that there was no alternative because remaining Frum in Canada was impossible for me. I flew back to Israel and was greeted in the airport by my principal, Mrs. Devorah Sofer, who was waiting for me with open arms, an open heart, and an open house. She took me to her house, where I lived until I got married. She is like a mother to me and a grandmother to my 3 children.
When people compliment me and tell me Kol Hakavod for becoming religious, I tell them that Hashem had just sent the right messengers to me. It is not just that I became Frum thanks to Shuvu, but everything I am today is thanks to them!
Shuvu is now celebrating its 25th Anniversary since its founding in 1990 by Horav Avrohom Pam zt”l. Over that period there have been many challenges to overcome, but, also a tremendous amount of nachas as we see Rav Pam’s dreams being fulfilled. Matzav.com is proud to present a series of nachas stories told in first person by the participant themselves so that you can see for yourself what Shuvu has been able to accomplish with your help.
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