Eliyahu Haliwa, who turned out to be a Lebanese Muslim after marrying a frum Syrian girl from Brooklyn, NY, and now says that he has undergone a “giyur lechumrah” and is a full-fledged Jew, is currently visiting Eretz Yisroel.
As first reported by Matzav.com, Rabbi Avrohom Reich, founder of Kehillas Hatzolas Yisroel, one of the first kiruv organizations in Brooklyn for Russian Jews, says that after speaking to Haliwa’s mother, who lives in Texas, who said she was Jewish, Haliwa underwent a giyur lechumrah.
Rabbi Reich, as we reported, did not conduct the conversion himself, but witnessed the conversion being made by a bais din, confirming this in a letter seen below.
Haliwa is currently visiting Israel with the intention of settling there. He told Bechadrei Chareidim that he will try in every way to get back together with his wife. Haliwa is being accompanied and hosted by Chezky Sibek, deputy and acting head of the Emek Chefer Council.
In the interview with Bechadrei Charedim, which took place at the Kosel, Haliwa said that leaders and rabbis from the Syrian community are trying to persuade his wife to cut ties with him.
Haliwa says that people in the Syrian community took his tallis and tefillin from him, and he currently uses tefillin loaned to him by fellow Jews. After his current visit to the Holy Land, he plans to return to Brooklyn to tie up some loose ends and take care of some matters, and then return to Eretz Yisroel to live out his life.
“I want everyone to know, including the Syrian community, that they will not be able to cut me off from my wife,” he said. “Next year I will be here with my wife, no matter how much they try to cut us off.” As for her family, and whether they will one day accept him, he said, “I hope that one day they will accept me. I have nothing against them.”
He added, “I am happy to be here in the Land of Israel, in the Holy Land. This is my home, this is my place. I am surrounded by good people. I am surrounded by the army and police who protect me. I am happy here. The air here is different. This is where I belong. With the help of Hashem, I will live here, I will die here, and I will be buried here, and soon I will be reunited here with my wife.”
WATCH:
{Matzav.com Israel}
“Eliyahu Haliwa, who turned out to be a Lebanese Muslim” who turned out to be a Jew from birth after all.
“to live out his life” a term used for elderly people
He is a dangerous man
Why do you say that? Maybe you’re the dangerous one…
If he did to your daughter what he did to his wife, what would you say? Too bad he didnt do the gayrus first. First rule of marriage – honesty and trust. He will probably end us giving his wife a divorce and there will be a line of girls waiting to date him, while his first wife will be in therapy.
Please use correct spelling of his name not haliwa Eliya Hawila
Did he have a Bris Lechumrah done as well? Or hatofas Dam Bris. Don’t mean to go there, just that it’s important to know before people start redding him shiduchim.
Wow. This is more exciting than “Days of our lives” or “General Hospital”
I can’t wait to watch the next episode.
In my opinion, let this couple get together again and ride off into the sunset. Move to Israel and live happily ever after. We don’t need Matzav, Zev Brenner, or any other media outlet naysayer dictating how this nice young couple should live their lives. Concentrate better on those mishugoyim flying off to Orlando, Dubai, Croatia, Cancun, Arizona, etc…for Pesach.
Why are those flying to vacation over Pesach called mishugoyim? Sefiras HaOmer is all about sholom between us, lets fargin and concentrate on our own kesher with Hashem and our people.
No. Pesach is the zman to STAY HOME with ones mishpacha and orchim, not using such a heiligeh opportunity to vacation like a goy. If you “need” a kosher vacation, the summer is the time for that, not Pesach!
Perhaps someone from Matzav can come out and actually say what the reason is that they are following this I can’t tell if the reason is because as someone else noted they are very apprehensive or if they are finding this to be as a story of interest.
I am wondering however, if he has undergone a גירות לחומרה, why the constant reminding him / us of his potential non-Jewish past? Isn’t that something that goes against ואהבת את הגר?
It is well known that the Syrian Community does not accept any geirim. This was a takanah of theirs which has been reaffirmed by several generations of leaders of the community. Copies of the takanah can be found hanging in their Batei Kenessiot.
i was not aware that we have the option of ignoring an actual Asey in the Torah.
Which Asey?
to love the ger and to allow geirim as the gemara says the whole reason for galus is that Yidden pick up geirim.
Takanas Rabbanim actually do. Lo BaShamayim Hee. An exception can be made if Mrs Hawila wants to terminate her connection with her immediate community. I doubt she will. Can a marriage based on lies work? As forgiving as the Jewish community can be, we have to remember the betrayal she experienced.
Welcome to The Jewish People, my friend!! I wish you much hatzlacha!!
Welcome to The Jewish People, my friend!! I wish you much success!!
the guy is a menace and sounds like he is willing to resort to violence to get his “wife”.
The name on the letter is chvilla and on the sight it’s haliwa. Two very different names. This whole story from beginning to end sounds soooooooo fishy and not reliable or consistent. Things don’t happen SUDDENLY!!!!!!!everyone is crazy for falling into his trap!!!!
So sorry, but I don’t trust him. Just because his mother said she is Jewish…………..anyone can say anything they want. Talk is cheap. If she did not have to prove it, who said SHE says the truth? Very strange and nebachdike situation for his former wife. Still do not trust him………….never would.
The fact that he is not offering the option of a גט speaks volumes, considering how he has been dishonest with her. Even if in the end he was Jewish, which is a very big stretch, he married her thinking otherwise.
The Nets got swept in 4 to the Celtics. Not good. Pathetic.
The mother saying that she is Jewish after all this episode , could only be believed only after a deep investigation
Sounds as not true
Now he became a ger or complete jew
At the weddings time he was not a jew
She should not
Need a get A Beis Din can make
That investigation and gave her a letter that she is married and free
Eliya can live happy in Israel
And marry a nice woman there
The girl can marry a nice boy in USA
End of story
And Shalom Al Ysroel
That was great. Can you repeat that?
The mother saying that she is Jewish after all this episode , could only be believed only after a deep investigation
Sounds as not true
Now he became a ger or complete jew
At the weddings time he was not a jew
She should not
Need a get A Beis Din can make
That investigation and gave her a letter that she is married and free
Eliya can live happy in Israel
And marry a nice woman there
The girl can marry a nice boy in USA
End of story
And Shalom Al Ysroel