We wrote about the Bissato family, Yehoshua, 45, Chana, 36, and their daughter Leah, 10, when they arrived in Israel from Caxias do Sul, Brazil. The former pastors' unusual path actually led them away from the teachings they grew up on and onto a path towards...
Around the time of the holiday of Shavuot, we felt it is the perfect time to celebrate those who convert to Judaism. The Anaya family, from Colombia, made incredible efforts to be part of the Jewish people and are so happy to be living their...
Everyone at Shavei Israel rejoiced as longtime Shavei employee, Chaya, married our most recent addition, Eliav, earlier this week. But the celebration was more than just that of a wedding, and more than just that of the joy shared by coworkers. This love story has been...
This week, after five long years and many battles, we were blessed at last to bring our friend Eliav, from Cuba, before the Conversion Court in Jerusalem. Happily, he passed the test with flying colors! Eliav's ancestors were Spanish Jews who were forcibly converted to Catholicism,...
We're excited that past Shavei Israel emissary Eldad (Artem) Fedorchuk will be reprising his role as emissary for the Subbotnik Jews in Russia! The Subbotniks were peasants in southern Russia who embraced Jewish practice and converted to Judaism more than 200 years ago under the Czarist...
[caption id="attachment_149114" align="alignleft" width="141"] Ronit Treatman[/caption] Author Ronit Treatman grew up in Venezuela, only to discover, decades later, that many of the Catholic families she grew up with are actually descendants of Spanish and Portuguese Jewish communities forced to convert during the Inquisition. Ronit, who lives in...
The Bissato family, Yehoshua, 45, Chana, 36, and their daughter Leah, 7, came to Israel from Caxias do Sul, Brazil, but their journey was much more than a trip on a plane. As former pastors, their bible studies actually led them away from the teachings...
Aviel Manlun, is a 29 year-old DJ in Jerusalem. A member of the Bnei Menashe community, Aviel made aliyah with his family, from Manipur, India, in 1994, when he was just two years old. Aviel grew up with his family, his parents and older brother, in...
Where I Truly Belong Many people ask me why I emigrated to Israel...
When Efrat and Chaim Menjivar came to Israel two years ago from their native San Salvador, they couldn't imagine the joy they would be experiencing a mere two years later. Efrat and Chaim, students at our Machon Miriam, shared their exciting news with us: the...
