When Jana Prigozhin received her first summons from the IDF at the age of 16, she didn’t understand why it included an invitation to attend Nativ’s Military Program.
“We moved to Israel when I was one and a half,” Jana says, “and I grew up in a Jewish, Zionist home. We celebrated all the holidays and we went to synagogue on Yom Kippur. I always felt just like everyone else. I didn’t even experience any bullying at school for being Russian.” It was only when she received the invitation that her mom explained that she was not considered Jewish under religious law. Despite this surprising news, Jana was undeterred. She decided that she’d simply attend the program and everything would work out. So when she enlisted, she immediately signed up for the Nativ Military Program. “It was really interesting,” she says. “I enjoyed the classes and continued to the seminars without hesitation. But then everything went sideways.”
What happened?
“I was living with my parents in Netanya at the time and the host family that Nativ found for me was in Kibbutz Be’erot Yitzhak, a half-hour drive away. I’d spend the whole of Shabbat with them – arriving at the kibbutz on Friday afternoon, and going home the next evening. But the distance between my house and the host family’s house aroused suspicion among the judges at the Conversion Court. That’s why I didn’t pass. They said I had to find a host family in Netanya and start over again. It felt like such a setback. I was really hurt. Suddenly, for the first time in my life, I felt like I didn’t belong.”
Did you try to find a host family in Netanya?
“It didn’t work out because of one thing after another. About a month after the court, while I was on duty, I was in a serious accident. I was driving a patrol car and crashed into a vehicle that had made an illegal turn out of a gas station. The front passenger was killed. It was a very traumatic experience. There was an investigation, then a trial.”
How did the trial end?
“I was convicted of a secondary offense, because I was speeding at the time. I was given community service and had my license suspended for eight years. The investigation and trial took two years. It was exhausting.”
What did you do after you completed your military service?
“Pretty much the same as everyone else. I went to Thailand and lived in Eilat for a year. Then I studied Marketing & Communications at Netanya Academic College, and two years later I took a personal development course. It taught me a lot about myself and the world around me. It meant a lot to me. At a certain point, I realized it was very important for me to complete the conversion process. I felt like I was missing out.”
When did you start the process again?
“A year and a half ago, with the Civilian Program. By then I was living in Ramat Gan and found a class there that suited me. I took it very seriously, understanding that it would require time and effort. I really enjoyed the course. It was like being back in my natural habitat. The teacher was great – a very attentive, broad-minded, and knowledgeable person. He talked a lot about personal development, and at that time I’d already qualified as a personal development coach so he was really speaking my language. During my studies, I was able to refresh my knowledge of everything I learned before, but also discover new things. It was fascinating.”
Did you get along well with your host family?
“This time I actually had two host families, both from Ramat Gan. I’d go to one family on Friday evenings for Kabbalat Shabbat. Then I’d go to the other family around noon on Saturday, and usually stay with them until Havdalah. We developed a great relationship and got really close. So I became even closer to Judaism, which was a huge help when my grandfather and grandmother both passed away, one after another, during the course.”
How did it help?
“I found myself in the synagogue, praying. We sat shiva properly. It really helped me process everything and move on with my life.”
Were you nervous, going back to the Conversion Court?
“I was really nervous. I couldn’t sleep for three weeks before the hearing. It took me back ten years, to the time I failed while I was in the army. But everyone around me helped me to calm down – my parents, my friends, my host families. And in the end, the court hearing went very well. My teacher came with me and his support was so important to me. And when I was immersed in the mikveh, that was very moving. Now all of that is behind me, but actually it’s part of daily life. I keep in touch with my host families and still visit them on almost every Shabbat.”
