"The Rabbi Told Me Something That Made Me Cry"

About 12 years ago, when Roi Menashe stood at the entrance of a hotel in Netanya on the eve of Shabbat, he wanted to turn around and leave. He was attending a spiritual retreat to which he was invited but felt that his appearance was entirely different from the hotel guests. He was afraid of his own thoughts, but one thing Rabbi Yaron Itzhakov said brought him back to the hotel and, ultimately, back to Judaism.

"I was what you'd call a very secular person, not close to the ways of Judaism and observance of mitzvot. I was involved in music, and I loved traveling from place to place with my guitar. At some point in my life, I moved to live in Safed."

It turns out that the unique atmosphere of Safed affected Roi, and he began to undergo a change toward embracing Judaism. The change was accompanied by a great thirst for a life of true spiritual content but also a huge resistance stemming from fears.

"I don’t remember exactly how, but somehow a connection was made with Rabbi Yaron Itzhakov, head of the 'Guidance and Direction Department for Beginners.' I felt that perhaps Rabbi Itzhakov heard a hidden message in my voice and understood that I needed guidance in finding my way in the world. The rabbi suggested that I attend a retreat at a hotel in Netanya as part of a seminar for beginners. I refused, because at the time I mistakenly thought that returning to Judaism was not good. In my mind, I constantly heard sentences from those who oppose returning to Judaism, although it was really a resistance based on rumors. In fact, I had never been to any Jewish seminar and I had no basis for my claims. Today I know that this is the way that the evil inclination tries to prevent a Jew from knowing his creator".

"The Rabbi Did Not Give Up. He Offered to Drive to Me"

Days passed, and the date for that Shabbat seminar arrived. On Friday, Roi was in the center of the country, and once again received a phone call from Rabbi Itzhakov. Roi’s heart was fighting from several directions between the desire to experience something new, versus the comfort of his "comfort zone" – which was not comfortable at all.

"The rabbi did not give up. He called again, but I told him I didn't have a way to get there. On the other hand, inside, there was an internal voice pushing me there, yet again the other voices were louder. The rabbi offered to drive to pick me up from Tel Aviv and drive back to the hotel in Netanya."

What were you thinking at that moment?

"I thought that if a person is willing to leave the seminar, get in his car, and come from Netanya to Tel Aviv and back all just for me – it's convincing. I still told myself I was coming just to see the hotel, to see if the accommodations suited me, and to enjoy Shabbat at such a hotel at a reasonable cost."

Roi firmly decided that he was entering the hotel knowing that he wouldn’t attend any lecture or listen to any religious person talking to him about mitzvot, about strengthening faith, about what’s allowed and what’s not. Thus, with great si’ata dishmaya (heavenly help), he made an effort to travel by public transportation and some hitchhiking to reach the seminar retreat in Netanya.

"At Most, I'll Run to the Sea"

With a mixed appearance of a tzitzit, sleeveless shirt, cap, earrings, and tattoos on his arms, Roi stood at the entrance of the hotel, knowing he had an unusual appearance compared to the other seminar participants.

"Behind me was the sea. I comforted myself and said that if I felt uncomfortable at the seminar, I’d run to the sea and sleep on the beach. I looked right, then left, and saw religious and orthodox people sitting in the lobby with all sorts of young people having conversations. I thought to myself that I’d walk around just as I came. I hadn’t even finished the thought when Rabbi Itzhakov appeared before me, asking my name with a broad smile and hugging me, and I replied that yes, I am Roi. The rabbi said he was happy I came. Against my will, I was brought into the lobby."

Roi scanned the people in front of him and saw only one guy who was dressed similarly to him.

"The rabbi suggested I sit with someone to start a conversation. I sat opposite an orthodox man who began trying to talk to me, but I was not listening, and was trying to find an opportunity to finally escape the hotel."

"Something Inside Me Wanted to Receive From the Torah That the Rabbi Was So Dedicated to Invest in Me"

Roi found the opportunity to step outside, and told himself that he would visit the beach in Netanya before leaving the area, at which time to his surprise, he encountered another emissary of divine providence: Roi saw the guy from the hotel who was dressed like him.

"We were at the beach where I played guitar, and then the guy said that he was going back to the hotel. I told him that I was going home, but as I parted from him, I felt that something inside me desperately wanted to receive from the Torah which the rabbi had such dedication to invest in me. I wondered why this guy, who seemed to be like me, wanted to enter the hotel, and I didn’t? Why was I hesitant?"

Roi defeated the voices that frightened him at this stage. He stood at the entrance for a few brief moments but again got cold feet. He said to himself, 'Shabbat Shalom to everyone, and I'll see you next time,' but then, a hand of providence literally touched him.

"I was surprised to feel suddenly a hand resting on my shoulder. It was Rabbi Itzhakov again, who told me this sentence: 'If you turn around now and leave, you are turning your back on all the truth you can discover about yourself and about this path you are seeking.' At that moment, I started to cry. It struck a chord with me, to the smallest fibers of my soul. Something in that sentence was so real and true, because I had already come, I made the effort, and others had made the effort for me, and I was only leaving due to lack of knowledge and fear of the unknown."

Roi stayed at the hotel with Rabbi Itzhakov that Shabbat. He began an inspiring mentoring process, and today he observes Torah and mitzvot, adhering to even the smallest details. He is married and has four children who are educated in religious institutions.

"Hashem blessed me to study Torah, finish tractates, and become familiar with the Shulchan Aruch. Thank G-d, today I give classes in Talmud and Halacha in my community. I've had the privilege to write a book on Torah innovations that, G-d willing, will be published, and I also had the privilege to write a treatise on understanding the marital relationship through the ten Sefirot in Kabbalah."

"See what laying a hand on a shoulder can do for a person- it’s a miracle beyond nature. I could have been in an entirely different place if not for that hand being placed on my shoulder which was the moment that made me stay to experience a Shabbat full of meaning that proved to be the opposite of all the fears I had."

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