My Great Grandmother

Torah Reading: Be'halot'cha

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Published: February 3, 2007

Visitor Comments: 11

(11) Diane, September 25, 2007 9:22 AM

Lori, thanks so much for this article

I am also in the process of Teshuva. I always questioned what I was taught about religion and the messiah thing. When I was around 17 I discovered Judaism and its teachings. I fell in love with it..I fell in love with the truth. It was then when I found out my great-grandmother was jewish and thus, I decided to do Teshuva. Since then, since 17 I've been trying, but the jewish community in Rio, Brazil is too small and they are ver closed. I'm 21 now and I still couldn't reach an orthodox sinagogue, or even talk to an orthodox person, imagine a Rabbi! However, I'm not giving up, and these things u just said about being here at aish.com reading about judaism, praying and learning Torah are a hint this is my mission, that I should come back to my jewish roots as I feel the need in my soul. In Brazil they say my roots are too far away and there's not way I can do teshuva. In theory it's very beautiful, you know, every jew should be encouraged once he/she decides to do teshuva, but in practice, that's not what happens, at least not in Rio, Brazil. I'll keep on trying and one day, b''H, I'll be allowed to pray and live among jews. Thanks a lot for your talks! They really encourage me.

(10) Lydia, May 24, 2007 6:57 PM

Lori, this is an amazing "coinsidence?"

Dear Lori,
I am in the process of Teshuva. It has actually/literally been 19 years in some degree of contemplation. Geography, life, demands, insecurities postponed my process. I have studied on and off on my own through the years and had popped in to a few shuls. The past five months I have been regularly attending an orthodox shul, keeping shomer shabbos and learning everything I can. Tonight, the end of the Shavout holiday, I was feeling a little worn out and leary. I was considering giving up. It is so challenging to work long hours, do my housework after work, spend 24 of the 48 hours I have to myself in observance. I was considering giving up the journey. Then, I played your story. It sent chills up my spine! It was tailor-made for me to hear tonight. You see, I was named after my paternal great-grandmother who raised my father. She immigrated from Jena Germany at age 12 or so. I feel compelled, I feel 'in love' with torah, the psalms, the observances. When I hear certain prayers sung, I have the eary feeling that I've heard them before. Particularly Shalom Alocheim, and Baruch Shaomar. Don't know why. It is such a strong compulsion for me, that if I didn't have to work, all I would do is study. When you mentioned the others pulling for us from another place, that made so much sense to me. Thank-you for your article! B"H

(9) Anonymous, February 14, 2007 8:32 PM

Dear Lori,
I became a Baalas T'shuva when I was 16, 40 years ago, yet I've always felt slightly disconnected. Your story of your great grandmother and the tears that I shed tonite have assured me of my real connection. Thank you.

(8) aliza, February 13, 2007 6:25 PM

love it

So beautiful. If even 1 child of each generation returns, what a blessing. Out of 10 kids in my family in my generation, 2 have returned, and 1 is currently studying. We have great hopes that the one who is studying will find their way back, too.

(7) Dvirah, February 6, 2007 12:08 PM

Lovely.

(6) Ephraim, February 4, 2007 11:25 PM

it's true

My family and I came from what used to be Soviet Union. I and many like me had the privilege to go to the Jewish day school, many became observant, and some even became Rabbis. Unfortunately not every parent felt that their children should go to a Yeshiva and sent them to public school. One of our first teachers said to us:" the reason you are here and not in public school is because your grandparents seeing the coming of the darkness of Soviet Atheistic regime cried and prayed to G-d that their grand children should find a way back, and here you are today."

(5) Anonymous, February 4, 2007 8:01 PM

My request

All I can say is, Lori, please please keep on speaking- you inspire me in a very unique way. Thank you for being here for us.

(4) Sarah, February 4, 2007 7:28 PM

Zchus Avos

How nice a testament to your namesake.
I have read that even children who are adopted and are converted may actually have a yiddishe neshoma that they originated from, hence their return. Every day we hear of cases where people learn they were really born from Jewish ancestors (remember the former UN embassador).
Just as there is a concept that the sins of the fathers are visited upon their offspring (only if they copy the same bad deeds), so too is there something to the "YICHUS" we derive from out ancestors. When we have pious ancestors, surely their nature is in our DNA too and we too have the potential traits to emulate them.
Never underestimate zchus imos and avos.

(3) Benjamin Israel, February 4, 2007 7:24 PM

Always Relevant

Once again, Lori Palatnik relates something from her life that should hit any BT right between the eyes. Thanks for sharing!

(2) Sorah Rosen, February 4, 2007 7:24 PM

Me, too...

In the merit of my great-grandfather, who
died in 1916, I became observant at age
44. Now, baruch Hashem, I'm learning with my grandchildren. My elterzaydeh's
prayers for his progeny bore fruit in
the 4th generation, as the Torah promises.

(1) Dexter B, February 4, 2007 3:45 PM

I am excited

I am yet learnig of the jewish religion and i believe so strongly
with you

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About the Author

Mrs. Lori Palatnik

More by this Author >

Lori Palatnik is a writer and Jewish educator who has appeared on television and radio, and is the author of "Friday Night and Beyond: The Shabbat Experience Step-By-Step," "Remember My Soul - What to do in Memory of a Loved One," and co-author of "Gossip: 10 Pathways to Eliminate It From Your Life and Transform Your Soul." She is a much sought-after international speaker, having lectured in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, U.K., Central America, South America, South Africa and Israel, including featured talks at Yale, Brown and Penn. She lives in the Washington D.C. area, with her husband, Rabbi Yaakov Palatnik. Lori is the Founder of The Jewish Women's Renaissance Project, an international initiative that brings over 1,000 women to Israel each year from ten different countries on highly subsidized programs to inspire them with the beauty and wisdom of their heritage. She is the busy mother of five children, ages 24 to 14; and her son, Zev, just finished serving as a sharpshooter in the IDF. Her weekly video blog, "Lori Almost Live" is a popular feature on aish.com, viewed by over 50,000 people each month.

Follow Lori on Twitter, @LoriAlmostLive

May 19, 2013 / 10 Sivan 5773

My Great Grandmother

Greatness leaves an imprint.

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