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I remember to this day what an impact they made on me. 
I do not remember exchanging any words; it was as though my eyes were seeing a replay of something  so very familiar to me.  Unexplainable.
I began my search for G-d just after the birth of my son.  I found, at that time, Fundamental Christianity and became very involved in church, politics and community. 

My involvement in the Right wing political Christian movement was the highlight of those 20 years.   I became a lobbyist to the state capital and the U.S. Congress.  I worked for a Moral Right organization that fought the political system on legalizing homosexuality (Aids) and abortion.  I was being groomed to either be in state politics or in the U.S. Congress.

Homeward Bound
THEN CAME ISRAEL.  After my divorce I decided to take a trip to Israel with a friend of mine and her children.  My 10 days in the LAND was filled with tears.  I was confused, disoriented, and bewildered.  I knew only one thing clearly.  I WAS HOME.  Please understand that I have traveled all my life.  In a way coming to Israel was just another trip . 

But this trip turned out to change my life forever.  I had been seeking my path continuously all my life.  I often felt like a bloodhound sniffing for the scent to follow.  AT LAST!  I was on to something ~ a direction. HaShem was making that crooked path straight.

When I returned home, I spent 2 years studying the Jewish Roots of Christianity.  I had no idea in my head that I would ever convert.  Although a deeply committed Christian for twenty years, serving in various lay and leadership positions, unavoidable questions and desires surfaced.  I saw in the Scriptures the wonderful promises G-d had given the Jewish people, the intimate and eternal relationship between G-d and His people ~ and I longed to have this relationship too.

As I studied, I discovered that much of what Jesus taught was also taught by other rabbis of the time.  This shocked me.  I had been taught that Jesus and his teachings were original and revolutionary.   This increased my desire to study Jewish roots and, ultimately, Judaism.  Once I knew the source was Judaism, my journey home was inevitable. 

I came back 3 more times, once assisting in bringing a tour group to the ICEJ event during Succot, once on a trip to Russia, and finally a visit to decide whether I should make Aliyah. 

After my 3^rd trip I decided to convert.  It was a Conservative Conversion in Los Angeles.

While working in a dental office one day (I am also a time management consultant in dentistry), I had a phone call from Senator Gordon's office in D.C.  They wanted me to take a position in the Senator's office to represent their Christian Right constituency.  It was the BIG STEP politically.  I was soooo tempted.  I had spent years hoping for this break.  I talked to HaShem a lot those next days.  But it always came up the same.  It was not my path.  I called them back and said no.  I closed that gate and chose the path less traveled.

My 4^th trip to Israel was supposed to be a pilot trip.  I stayed with the encouragement of only one family.  They housed me for 3 months.  I knew no one else in this amazing land.  After 3 months they encouraged me to go to Jerusalem to make Aliyah.  I picked up my 2 bags and $750 and went to seek out the whereabouts of a woman that these people knew, but I had never met.  She took me in and I slept on the floor of her very tiny apartment for a month.  I made Aliyah and started Ulpan.

My life as a Jew began.  My new friend was an Orthodox Jew and she started to teach me how to begin this new life.  After months of learning the basics of Kashrut, modesty and Torah, I converted to Orthodox Judaism.  From that day forward, I committed my life to the One G-d of Israel and the Jewish people ~ now my  people.  The Rabbi who encouraged me and the one man who stood with me before the Beit Din, here in Jerusalem, will always be a part of my destiny.  I will be eternally grateful.

As I have learned and grown in the ways of the Torah, Tanach, these past 8 years, I reflect back to the days before I went into the Mikvah, before making that life commitment.  I was full of fear that I might not be able to keep the laws that HaShem has given His people.  I poured over Devarim (Deuteronomy) 30 for days until it sunk into my head, then heart that He promises that He has put in our hearts the ability to keep these commandments.  And that we have a choice to make.  HaShem gives us the two choices  ~ and urges us to CHOOSE LIFE ~ which is leveling the crooked path and putting you into the Castle.                                                                                                               Continue