From Chernobyl to Jerusalem: A Journey to Roots and Rediscovery

"I was a blank slate, knowing nothing," describes Ella Kauffman about her childhood in distant Belarus, where she was unaware of her Jewish heritage. "The only Jewish memories I have are from my grandmother, who held onto a bit of tradition. During Passover, she bought matzah and put it in a special cabinet, but my parents and I didn't even know the word 'matzah'; she called them 'ladushki.' Of course, we ate bread and other chametz foods along with them. Grandma never told us about Judaism, and it wasn't surprising. The streets were hostile, and it was dangerous to reveal you were Jewish."

Despite this, Ella notes that antisemitism surrounded them and made it impossible to forget her heritage. "I attended school with many non-Jews, and whenever our teacher left her notebook behind, the students would sneak a peek at the page listing everyone's nationality. They would tease anyone who was Jewish. I couldn't escape this because my name was listed as 'Ella,' and alongside it was my father’s name, 'Isaac'—a typical Jewish name—making denial impossible."

Ella Kauffman. 'Since I was born, my mother dreamed that I would become a professional musician in a major orchestra.'

A Life of Music

Ella, an only child, was raised by her mother after her parents divorced when she was two and a half. "My mom invested everything in me," Ella shares. "She was a music teacher and had a vision that I would become a musician in a major orchestra. She was devoted to this goal, enrolling me in both regular school and a special music school."

"At first, I wasn't fond of music lessons," Ella recalls. "My mom pushed me, and I resisted. I found practicing hard and didn't like giving up my playtime to practice. But after my school principal, along with my mom, announced they were putting my studies on hold, I enjoyed a month of freedom before begging to return. This made us all realize music was part of me. I sang and played at all school events—both piano and cello. Music became inseparable from my life and, as you can see, it became my profession."

In the early 1990s, with the Soviet Union's collapse, Jews felt less afraid and began exploring their Jewish identity more openly. As Ella notes, "A group of 'Chernobyl Children' was formed – kids exposed to harmful radiation due to the nuclear disaster were taken for recuperation in distant places. Some organizations decided to take them to Israel, and they needed a guide. They reached out to me."

Ella was 20, young and curious, feeling the task suited her. "The plan was for me to accompany the children during the flight, stay with them for ten days to see they adjusted, and then return home," she says. "We embarked on the journey, knowing only that 'Israel was hot,' so we packed light clothing without realizing it might be inappropriate. We were taken to a yeshiva building in the Negev, where they immediately bought us full clothing as our attire wasn't suitable. We were like 'infants captured,' not understanding why shorts were a problem."

The ten days with her group quickly turned into a full year. "I loved being in Israel. When they offered me to stay as a guide for a year, I accepted without hesitation," Ella explains.

During that year in Netivot, Ella learned about concepts like a "tzadik's grave." "I heard many stories about the holy Baba Sali and even prayed at his grave. When told I could ask for anything I wanted, I purely wished for a good match. Years later, upon meeting my husband, we discovered his birthday fell exactly on Baba Sali's memorial day..."

From Belarus to Israel. 'It was clear I wanted to live here; there was no other way.'

From Belarus to Israel

After her time in Netivot, Ella decided to immigrate officially to Israel. "I wanted to live here; there was no other way," she explains.

How did your mother react to you leaving?

"It was hard for my mom, and I felt guilty, but she was amazing and didn’t stop me from making aliyah. Her life was centered around me, and she wanted only the best for me. She knew my heart was set on living in Israel and let me go."

Knowing she'd be alone in Israel, Ella sought a place with a supportive environment, leaning toward either a kibbutz or a Jerusalem seminary. "I knew from the start I didn't want a kibbutz, it wasn’t for me," she recounts, "but the word 'Jerusalem' gave me strength. Neve Jerusalem was suggested for its dorm facilities, and without the intention of becoming religious, I went there."

Ella discovered a new world at Neve Jerusalem, transforming over six months of studies to catch up on years of missed Jewish education. "I suddenly understood our purpose in the world, a Jewish woman’s role, the essence of Shabbat and keeping kosher. At some point, I backslid briefly—not ceasing to believe, but regressing in dress and appearance. Then I met my husband, who initially was distant from Judaism, but together, we advanced to places neither of us imagined."

'I suddenly understood our purpose and a Jewish woman’s role, the essence of Shabbat and kosher.'

Just like Ella, her husband dreamed of living in Jerusalem, and they settled in the Pisgat Ze’ev neighborhood, where they live today. "Around that time, a Chabad house was established in our area, and we grew closer to Chabad Hasidism," she shares. "I was enchanted by Chabad melodies, deeply moved by the outreach of Chabad women, and my husband enjoyed the learning and gatherings. We both had set aside our former lives, knowing we couldn’t continue them. For example, I stopped playing music for years, thinking there was no place for female musicians in the Orthodox community. Yet, seeing so many private divine interventions made me ready to relinquish my profession for closeness to Hashem. Step by step, we moved forward."

And your mom?

"Two years after I moved to Israel, my mom also made aliyah to join us. She lives with me and my husband today in Givat Ze’ev, Jerusalem, with much joy from five healthy grandchildren from her only child. When we light Shabbat candles, she often says, 'See how we came from nothing, from zero, and how much it has grown and flourished.'"