A Heart Lifted by Torah: Paulina Ovis’s Story

Paulina Ovis radiates life. From the very first moment we began speaking, her warm, vibrant energy shone through. It’s hard to believe she’s 73, she has the spark and spirit of someone much younger. What’s the secret to her joyful presence? Some might say it comes from overcoming many hardships. Others might credit good genes. But Paulina herself gives one answer, and she gives it with a smile: “It’s all thanks to Judaism,” she says. “It’s what brings me this pure joy and the uplifting feeling that fills my heart.”

And so, it's no surprise that Paulina has made it her mission to share this joy with others. She’s currently volunteering to translate Journey to Truth, a book by Rabbi Zamir Cohen, into Russian, her native language so that more Jews can access Torah and grow from it.

“I pray that we learn to love each other”

Paulina grew up in a home where Judaism was quietly present. “I was raised by a grandmother who deeply respected everything Jewish. She always told us that we were part of the chosen people. She made sure we grew up with pride in our Jewish identity and a strong feeling that certain things just weren’t for us like copying non-Jewish culture or getting too close to it.”

Her parents spoke less about Judaism, until a turning point in 1979, when the family made aliyah (immigrated) to Israel. “After we moved, my dear mother began to return to her roots. She started learning more about Torah and mitzvot, and slowly grew stronger in her observance.”

Over the years, Paulina’s connection to Judaism continued to grow, but everything changed when her only son decided to take a major step, he married a religious woman and became fully observant. For many families, that kind of shift can cause tension, and Paulina’s family was no exception. But instead of reacting with anger or fear, Paulina chose love.

“There were definitely challenges,” she admits. “We had some arguments and emotional moments. But little by little, we found common ground. We were able to adapt to his new lifestyle without giving up our own completely. I supported him because I knew it made him happy. And in the end, that was what mattered most to me.”

She pauses thoughtfully, then adds, “I think it’s possible to stay close even when you live differently. But it takes a lot of patience and understanding. I always insisted that love and unity in the family come first. Children are children. We have to love them as they are.”

A passion for translating Torah

Paulina began translating at age 37, but her work really took off after she retired about 13 years ago. “It started with translations for my mother, may her memory be a blessing,” she recalls. “Then I began translating things that spoke to me, lectures by Rabbi Zamir Cohen and Rabbi Yitzchak Fanger, whom I discovered on the Hidabroot channel.”

As her love for these teachings grew, she asked the editors at Hidabroot for permission to share her translations. With their blessing, she began distributing the material to friends and acquaintances, many of whom were also searching for deeper meaning in life. “Thank Hashem,” she says, “there was so much thirst, and the response was really positive.”

Today, Paulina continues to translate Torah content purely l’shem Shamayim, for the sake of Heaven. Her growing collection includes lectures from rabbis such as Rabbi Yosef Ben Porat, Rabbi Dudi Braverman, Rabbi Fanger, and of course, Rabbi Zamir Cohen. Most recently, she began translating Journey to Truth, which she describes as a deeply spiritual and meaningful book.

“At first, I translated just for myself. The ideas lifted my heart to the heavens. They brought me to a spiritual place I had never reached before. But after a while, I couldn’t keep it to myself. I had to share the truth I had discovered with others. And thank G-d, the people around me are also growing, each person at her own pace.”

A dream for all of us

When asked what she dreams of most, Paulina’s voice softens. “I don’t know if I’m allowed to dream of something so big,” she says, “but my greatest hope is that every single Jew will live in love and unity with one another. No judgments. No divisions. Just pure love. I wish for myself and for all of us that we merit to love every Jew, just because they are a Jew.”