"Four Times Hashem Saved Me from Death, Yet I Haven't Returned to Him"

"My story proves that every Jew has a chance," Mireav Katzav tells us excitedly. She is an energetic woman in her late thirties. Her name might not be familiar to you, but the fashion brand she produces - 'Monirage' - is well known to many fashion retailers.

"I come from a secular home," she describes herself, "and over the last nine years, I have been in the process of returning to faith. By the grace of Heaven, I was saved from certain death four times in my life. Once, I drowned in the sea in Costa Rica, being underwater and unable to breathe, but miraculously survived; another time, abroad, I entered a wrong way on a five-lane highway. Cars traveled at 180 km/h, and I didn't understand why they were coming at me from the opposite direction until I realized I needed to turn and escape. It took time to make the turn, and during that time, no cars hit me; it was a heavenly miracle.

"In the third incident, I entered a very dangerous area in the USA late at night, with no choice. I encountered some gentiles who recognized me as Jewish and tried to harm me. I was saved from their attacks; my fourth miracle was surviving a car accident a fraction of a second before colliding with a huge truck. In all these cases, I thanked Hashem and appreciated that my life was given to me as a gift, but I continued my routine without understanding they were meant to send me a message".

The Path to Truth

Mireav discovered Judaism for the first time during her military service. "During my service, there were religious soldiers around me, and I saw them praying every day. I also felt a strong need to pray, so I stood beside them, trying to mimic their steps forward and backward in the Amidah prayer... bowing... I was drawn there, without understanding why.

"After the army, I flew to the USA for several months, where I experienced the miracles I described, but although I had some background about Hashem's existence and understood divine providence, something in my heart resisted grasping the messages. So I returned to Israel and resumed my routine".

Mireav's routine was very demanding. "I was very active, and even in those days, that's what I did most of the time. My car was always on the move, constantly going out and coming back. I invested in fashion studies, and my days were busy. I had no time to stop and think about the meaning of life".

What eventually brought you closer?

"It was about three months after returning from the USA - on a Friday morning. I hadn't slept, just dozed off a bit. I don't remember anything I saw, but I do remember my voice repeatedly telling myself that I need to take on Shabbat observance. Thus, I said these words in my dream. It was such a vivid dream that I immediately decided to keep the upcoming Shabbat, but how? Of course, at the time, I didn't know what keeping Shabbat meant, but I tried very hard. I made Kiddush, ate challah, used the phone a little, and only turned the light switch on, not off... Later, I decided to strengthen further, so I found out what keeping Shabbat really means and slowly, step by step, I let go of the phones and TV, and everything else. I was left with the pure Shabbat".

"I Felt My Soul Getting Dirty"

Mireav maintained her lifestyle, the only change being Shabbat observance. Then, after about four years, a friend invited her to join a Torah class with Rabbanit Ruti Elbaz, who lived in her city - Or Yehuda. Mireav gladly accepted.

"I visited the classes several times and was greatly impressed," she says. "One day, Rabbanit Elbaz suggested, 'Come to Rav Zamir's class in Ramat Aviv.' I remember wanting very much to attend, but Rav Zamir's lessons were on Thursdays, exactly when I had a regular hangout at some bar. I didn't want to miss the Rav, but I also didn't want to skip the bar".

So what did you do?

"I decided to go to the class first and then continue to the bar. And indeed, that's what I did several times. I'd go to the lesson while my friends waited for me at the bar and join them afterward. But after a few weeks, I felt it was inappropriate. This was a feeling that during the lessons, I'd be filled with holiness; how could I continue to the bar? I felt my soul was getting dirty. So I started bailing on my friends one time after another, and eventually, I completely stopped going out with them".

Through the lessons Mireav says she grew stronger. It happened slowly, over nine years, but she was always progressing, never once regressing.

At the same time, she advanced professionally, but despite specializing in fashion design, she worked in various unrelated jobs to make a living. "As a secular girl, I was a very colorful character," she admits. "I made sure to be very chic and fashionable, sometimes in a really crazy way. Every time I reached work with a different look, they just couldn't recognize me - sometimes with straight hair, sometimes curly, once with gathered hair, other times with jewelry or sporty, with a hat and hairstyle, etc. The problem was that when I started becoming stronger, I suddenly couldn't find myself. I didn't know what to wear when going to work. Everything seemed immodest and inappropriate.

"I used to cover myself with jackets and layers so they wouldn't see the clothes I had underneath, but then I'd see people with kippot on the street and simply flee, because I felt I wasn't modest enough".

Why didn't you consult someone who could guide you on what to wear?

"The truth is I had no connection with religious people throughout, I did everything alone and dealt with everything by myself. I had no one to ask or consult".

The only guidance she had was Rav Zamir's lesson. "I continued every week to attend the Rav's class without missing once. There I was exposed to topics that became meaningful in my life. I understood the importance of modesty and the purity of the Jewish home. It changed my entire perspective - from a single girl who never thought of marrying someone before living with him, I understood the great significance of a shidduch conducted properly and purely. Sadly, after years of searching, I still haven't found my match, but I maintain myself and believe it will happen with the help of Hashem very soon. In the lessons, I also learned about other mitzvot, blessings, prayers. That's how I found myself, suddenly, without any definition, becoming a religious girl believing in the Creator wholeheartedly and genuinely wanting to do only good".

The Decision: Modest Fashion

But still, the daily struggle continued with modesty. "As a stylist, my heart was torn. I dressed modestly, but I didn't like how I looked. I felt that I didn't just want to be modest, I also wanted to dress beautifully and respect myself".

Then came the great revelation: "It happened right after returning from one of Rav Zamir's Torah classes. I remember looking up at the sky and suddenly saying to Hashem, 'Master of the Universe, I understand what You want from me. If there are no modest and beautiful clothes, I'll become a fashion designer who creates such clothes".

And right then, she continued: "Master of the Universe, You know that until today, I've worked as an employee, I have no savings to start a fashion line. But I'm sure You will provide all the money I need".

From that moment, Mireav began her journey as a fashion designer with a modest and conservative line. Initially, it wasn't easy financially. "It involved huge investments; I'd cry and pray endlessly to receive the money and cover the investment. There were moments when I thought of giving it all up because 'why do I need this anyway?' But then I'd remind myself how much I longed for modest and respectable clothing. I knew there were many women and girls seeking such clothes like me, and maybe this was my opportunity to show them the beauty in modesty? So I didn't give up.

"The first item I designed was a maxi skirt with a very flattering cut. I initially produced only thirty skirts and brought them to my customer who owns a clothing store for religious women. She was thrilled with them, and within two days, ordered thirty more. I can hardly describe how I felt. I literally jumped for joy. By the way, I call these skirts '1980 Skirts' - the year I was born, and in a sense, I feel that with the creation of modest fashion, I was born anew".

The greatest satisfaction, she says, is when women and girls who are not from the religious sector come to her. "They too enjoy the clothes I design because they are respectable and beautiful. Many women around the age of 40 feel they want to look more dignified, and with me, they find what they are looking for. Some have even said, 'If this is how religious women dress, I want to look like that too'".

Lastly, Mireav has a message to convey: "I think everyone should delve into what they're going through and try to understand why things happen to them, and if it's a sequence of events. It's worth looking up and starting to do some soul-searching. Life isn't easy for anyone; they're accompanied by ups and downs. But with faith, you know everything is from Above, and it makes it easier for you. So let's seek Hashem before He seeks us".