The Journey of Faith and Finding Love

Rachel Noa had been single for a long time when she decided to switch up her approach to finding her soulmate. "I really wanted to get married. My siblings got married before me, and even though there was no obvious reason, there was still a delay for me. How much I wanted to get married... There was not a single grave of a righteous person I hadn't visited, nor a charity organization I hadn't donated to. But I felt that Hashem wanted something different from me. I knew I had prayed, I had given charity—but I also knew that I hadn't truly done teshuvah the way I should. I began to pray to Hashem to enlighten me so I would know what to do. I stopped praying for a partner. I realized that if I had prayed so much and still wasn't answered, there must be something else. I started to strengthen my modesty, wore less conspicuous clothes, and lengthened my skirts.

"I always felt a special connection to our matriarch Rachel. So, on Sukkot, I decided to host an evening in honor of Rachel's yahrtzeit. Working as a kindergarten teacher, I organized an evening for hafrashat challah and public merit, and invited all the mothers of my kindergarten students, including those from a nearby secular kindergarten. I debated a bit about which female rabbinic leader to invite, someone who would attract as many women as possible, and in the end, I chose Rabbi Hagit Shira."

The special evening took place on the eve of Rachel's yahrtzeit, the 11th of Cheshvan, and Rabbi Hagit Shira came directly from Rachel's Tomb.

"The rabbi moved the mothers tremendously with stories about family purity and more. Suddenly, in the middle of the event, she told the mothers from the kindergarten: 'Prepare yourselves, soon your kindergarten teacher will be absent. She will be amidst wedding preparations.' It surprised me, since at that point, there wasn’t even anyone in mind.

"The parents left the evening feeling very uplifted. Even the secular kindergarten teacher told me that the mothers from her kindergarten were greatly impressed. I received amazing feedback and stories—mothers who were considering divorce remained happily married and even conceived. One mother even shared that this was her first Torah lesson. It was very moving.

"During Chanukah, I met my husband. Everything flowed so easily, and by Purim, I was married. I truly feel that the greater the challenge and dedication, the greater the salvation."

Home Group and Challah Separations Department—For inquiries on home group and challah separation: Tel. 073-2221290, Email aviva@htv.co.il