Meet Oprah's Favorite: A 13-Year-Old Jewish Boy

Nearly 35 believers from various religions participated in the docu-reality series 'Belief,' produced by American TV icon Oprah Winfrey. According to Winfrey, the main goal of the series is to create a connection among believers. "My purpose is to share ideas through the stories featured in the series," she stated. The participants are challenged to ponder questions of faith and its integration into their daily lives.

Among them was a standout 13-year-old Hasidic Jewish boy from Budapest, Hungary, named Mendy Horowitz. He gave the audience a sneak peek into a special day in his life—his Bar Mitzvah. The camera follows Mendy into his room, along with a group of children, likely his siblings, early in the morning. "Mazel tov, mazel tov," they cheer joyously.

Then the narrator begins to explain to millions of viewers—most of whom are not Jewish—why this day is so significant for Mendy. "A Bar Mitzvah is a ceremony marking the transition from childhood to adulthood," says Mendy, while the narrator adds, "According to Judaism, this is Mendy's time to think more deeply about life's meaning and his place in it."

Mendy Horowitz (Photo: Belief from Own)

"Now that I have become an adult, I need to ask questions about all sorts of things I encounter," Mendy mentions with a smile. "Why is the sky blue? Why is the grass green? Is Hashem an old man with a beard? And more." On the other side of the lens stands Mendy's father, who is also part of the series. "I love the way Mendy challenges the world with questions," his father says. "Asking questions is at the heart of Judaism."