Former Model Abandons American Dream for Torah

Like many young people, Israel Levy dreamed of conquering America and becoming the idol of his peers. He spent months bodybuilding and got a recommendation from the Look modeling agency. Once there, he was accepted by a famous agency in Miami and achieved great material success.

It was then that the dream abruptly ended without warning. "At that time, I was modeling for high-end fashion shows, feeling the prestige and money in my hands," Levy recalls. "I bit into the Big Apple and tasted all the pleasures life had to offer without the slightest sense of guilt. Although I was raised in a traditional home, religion was never part of my future plans."

This lasted until the holiday season. "Anyone who has spent extended periods abroad without family knows the crushing emptiness when you find yourself alone during the holidays. It’s an awful feeling—especially when you don't belong to a community of Torah observant Jews. When you feel part of something, you just 'fit in' with a particular community and feel less isolated, but I didn’t belong to any community. That was also true for the environment I connected with and the friend I had come to the US with."

"Approaching Rosh Hashanah, I heard of a non-religious family that hosted young people for free holiday meals. We decided to go. The atmosphere was festive and uplifting, influencing me enough to agree to visit the synagogue for holiday prayers. Of course, it was out of respect, but undoubtedly it awakened something within me, the nature of which I hadn’t yet understood."

Former model Israel Levy

After Yom Kippur, one of the attendees suggested watching Rabbi Yossi Mizrachi's lecture 'Divine Information.' "Everyone objected, but I decided to see what it was about. The disc was broken on all sides, but with endless patience, I put the pieces together to watch the lecture.

"What I discovered at that time is still hard for me to explain. Some people need logical and scientific arguments, years of research, and complex questions to completely change their lifestyle. All I needed were a few sentences Rabbi Mizrachi spoke concerning the world to come, reward and punishment, and other such topics.

"Until then, I clearly state, I didn’t know what it meant to be a Jew, so for me, the discovery was quite thrilling. Suddenly, I realized that the whole point here is your world to come, and if you don’t observe the Torah and mitzvot and live your life as a religious person—you cause irreversible harm to yourself and all who follow you."

Israel Levy, today

What did you do with this revelation?

"First, that entire week, I found myself sitting and watching the film over and over. The things I heard penetrated my heart so deeply that I gradually added more commitment to my spiritual work. That happened one day when I returned from auditions at four thirty in the morning, driving a luxurious Mercedes with soothing music.

"It was Shabbat morning. Not a soul was visible on the street, and suddenly, out of nowhere, I saw an Orthodox Jew draped in a tallit, engrossed in holy thoughts—walking toward the synagogue. To this day, I can’t forget that. I remember focusing on the holiness reflected on his face, then shifting my gaze to my luxurious car and suitcase full of dollars, and that's when it hit me. Suddenly, I recognized that I was wasting my time. I pulled the car over and swore that from now on, I would not desecrate Shabbat. That was the beginning. Two weeks later, I found myself submitting my resignation from the modeling agency."

How did your boss react?

"He thought I'd gone crazy. He told me: 'Do you even understand what you're giving up here? Thousands come here every day, yearning wholeheartedly for this job—and you are throwing away what you have for God?'"

Levy did not heed his pleas. Although he knew he was about to face tough financial days, he did not despair. It was then that he met the woman who would become his wife. "From the start of our relationship, we were aware that we were getting married to spiritually strengthen each other." The two married in the US and stayed there for five more years before returning to Israel. "To my deep regret, my mother was in a serious car accident, after which my brother called me on a Friday evening in panic, informing me that my mother was in intensive care and her hours were critical. A blood clot was found in her brain, and the doctors were fighting for her life."

That must have been your catalyst to return to Israel. 

"Definitely. It goes without saying what an emotional turmoil I was in. I felt I had to return home before it was, Heaven forbid, too late. When I shared this with my wife, I was sure she would refuse—after all, it isn’t easy to leave a place you’ve lived in continuously for 14 years. Moreover, I knew that moving to Israel meant starting everything over, so it was clear to me I needed some mental preparation before making such a huge sacrifice. However, fortunately, she made it clear that she was with me no matter what, which gave me a lot of strength to believe it was the right step to take."

However, the arranger of all causes knew precisely why this situation required no mental preparation. Levy shares: "After the bad news, at the Shabbat table, in the presence of family and friends, I vowed that if Hashem performs a miracle and I receive good news about my mother’s health improvement by Saturday night, we will return to Israel."

The good news came quickly. "My brother called on Saturday night, joyfully announcing that repeated scans showed the blood clot had disappeared. After that call, I looked at my wife and said, 'Start packing.' Two months later, we found ourselves back in the land of Israel."

This is now their fourth year in Israel. Levy divides his time between working as an importer, learning at the 'Chalev Chittim' kollel, and inspiring many through his story of repentance. He convinces young people seeking his advice on leaving Israel for a better livelihood with one all-encompassing statement: "The life experience of one must be the ethical lesson of another. If you learn from what I’ve gone through, you’ll understand there’s truly nothing there. America, as its name suggests: empty. Don’t travel too far to realize it."

 Do you have a moving story you'd like to share with us? Contact the writer at shira@htv.co.il