Maria moved to Israel with her family when she was 7 years old.
“Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, my parents experienced a lot of instability in Kazakhstan and they were scared of what might happened next. There was a lot of crime on the streets and a sense of general chaos,” Maria says. “My uncle was already in Israel at that time and he used to tell my parents how good it was in Israel, how many opportunities there were, and how you could really nurture and invest in your children. Against that background, my parents immigrated to Israel with their three kids and my dad’s parents. After several years in Netanya, the whole family moved to Hadera, where we still live today.”
How did your family react when they realized you wanted to take your relationship with Judaism one step further?
“My dad wasn’t a man of many words, but the look in his eyes when I started the process told me everything. I knew he was very happy I was choosing this path, without him having to say a single word about it. On my mother’s side, it was a little more complicated. She kept telling me that I should be proud of who I am and my religion. She knew that I had a special connection to God and understood that I wanted to become even closer to Him. At the same time, she told me that religion isn’t something you can change every day. It’s a lifelong commitment that I’ll pass on to my children, so I have to be completely, wholeheartedly sure about converting. She talked to me about how the Jews have always, over the years, been persecuted and faced countless challenges, and she said: ‘If you have any doubts, don’t do that to yourself or to the people you’re going to represent.’”
Maria joined her first Nativ course while she was still doing her military service.
“My commander suggested it to me, and at first I viewed it as an opportunity to shake up my routine and make some new friends. As a child, I attended a religious school, so I already knew a bit about the Torah and the commandments, but I still felt that the course taught me a lot more and strengthened my connection with God.”
“The whole idea of conversion was confusing to me,” Maria admits. “On the one hand, I felt like I was already a citizen and equal to any other citizen of Israel. On the other, something snapped inside me. Even though I took the process seriously, when I appeared before the Conversion Court and was asked if I was taking on the burden of fulfilling the commandments, I wasn’t at peace with the answer. It took me another four years before I was ready to appear before the court again, but I still didn’t pass. I decided I had to put some distance between me and the whole topic of conversion and religion, and take a break. I traveled, studied, moved to Tel Aviv. I got to know myself better and understand what really mattered to me.”
“In the end, I decided to give it another try and I came back to Nativ. I found a thoughtful team and an inclusive, engaged, caring teacher who managed to help our class overcome all the challenges we faced and prepare us in the best possible way. I feel like the Nativ course expanded and refined my knowledge, adding new layers on top of everything I already knew. The result of this wonderful process came on March 6, 2018, when I stood before the court, passed the hearing, and officially joined the Jewish religion. I began my journey to Judaism in the army and finally reached my destination 13 years later.”
What is the biggest thing you’ve taken from the Nativ course?
“Nativ helped me learn how to give without expecting anything in return. This is one of the biggest things for me. Throughout the year of studying, I felt like I was giving of myself to the class and other students, contributing my knowledge without wanting any recognition or appreciation. For me, as a Jew and as a human being, giving has become one of my top priorities. I have no doubt that the friends I made at Nativ will be my friends for life. My dad passed away six weeks ago, and my Nativ friends helped, supported, and looked after me, all in their own ways, however they could. It was just incredible to know I was being embraced by these women. I really cherish my friendships with them and plan to nurture them well.”
