Baptized as a Christian 80 Years Ago, Returns to Judaism: The Story That Moves the Venice Community

A moving story that reached Rabbi Daniel Twito of the Venice community left us with tears of emotion.

A 94-year-old woman has returned to Judaism in an incredibly touching manner, after her 60-year-old daughter emailed Rabbi Twito, recounting her mother's experiences during the pre-Holocaust period.

Rabbi Twito first shared the story in an interview with Moshe Weisbuch from 'Israel Hayom,' describing how it unfolded. "Eighty years ago, in her childhood, my mother was baptized as a Christian, and she wants to return to being a Jew," wrote the daughter, who, like her mother, seemingly was unaware that in Judaism, the mother's status had not really changed halachically.

Evidently, the Jewish spark was ignited in the elderly woman, named Paula, and although her daughter was born and raised as a Christian, she fully supported her mother even when she wanted to affix a mezuzah in her home. The two came to the rabbi, who volunteered to send an emissary to install a mezuzah. Afterwards, the three headed to the community registry, where they discovered that the great-grandmother had married in 1844. "The excitement is immense, and it is amazing to see how the Jewish soul burns at every moment."