"In 2017, I Was Reborn": From a Christian Life in Peru to an Observant Home in Israel

Bat-Sheva Menachem (31) was born into a Christian family and was given the name Pierina. She strengthened her study of Christianity but felt it wasn't the right path. When she met Oz, a Jewish Israeli man who traveled to Peru, she asked him probing questions about Judaism. He won, and they both gained: Bat-Sheva converted, Oz strengthened his faith, they got married, and now they are parents to three daughters and observe Torah and mitzvot.

To understand the depth of personal providence in Bat-Sheva's life, we go back 20 years: When Bat-Sheva, then Pierina, was 12, her parents divorced, and her father grew closer to Christianity. "Initially, I followed my father's path without questioning. At 18, we visited the holy sites in Israel. Upon returning home, I constantly felt I needed to return to Israel," she recounts.

"I approached Christianity, studied Christian theology and biblical stories, and began to pray. I saw that prayers were answered. When my father became ill, it was incredibly tough, and I thought, 'How can I help my father? I'm not a doctor.' I decided to pray each night with determination," she recalls. "My father was about to undergo strong treatments, but before that, he went for a routine check. The results stunned us: Nothing. No disease. My father was healthy and whole. We were in shock. I realized it was a miracle from the prayers, and I made praying a habit. Sometimes I lost track of time from speaking with Hashem, and it brought peace."

Bat-Sheva continued to pray for all her desires, and almost all her prayers were answered. She frequently prayed for the merit to establish a family: "I was afraid to marry and divorce with children. My childhood home situation affected me, so I prayed to find a good person and a lifelong marriage. Then I met Oz, my future husband."

Oz Menachem was traveling in Peru. He arrived at a restaurant where Bat-Sheva, then Pierina, was sitting. He was a young man wearing a kippah, unsure whether to strengthen his Judaism and go to yeshiva or abandon it all and live secularly. He approached her and asked if they could talk. Here began his Jewish strengthening studies by Bat-Sheva, and she began her unofficial conversion studies through these phone conversations. "We talked a lot. The day after our meeting, he had to go to Mexico. We had only one day to meet, but it was enough to maintain contact by phone. We talked about religion. I thought I was a Christian firm in my beliefs. Just thought, but I realized I knew nothing. My knowledge base shattered to pieces after talking."

Bat-Sheva asked questions that Christian clerics couldn't answer, but Oz gave her an answer. For example, why observe Shabbat? Hashem created the world in six days, and we keep the day of Shabbat as a symbol of faith in Hashem. So why don't Christians observe Shabbat?

Additionally, the question of food kashrut. The Torah lists prohibitions on eating certain animals. Christians are aware of this, read the Bible, but do not observe. For them, it's just a story. Bat-Sheva turned to her father with questions. "He told me that after the founder of Christianity appeared, everything changed. It was unclear because the Torah doesn't change. I felt I was going crazy. I knew nothing, Oz knew a lot, and he was right. I couldn't defeat him with my knowledge, and he also wanted to show me he was right. Both of us invested energy to find the truth. Now that I understood I was on the wrong path, I wanted to explore Judaism, and unknowingly, I was doing my internship in Judaism through these phone conversations. We studied with books. He was in Israel, and I was in Peru. Later he returned to Peru. We met and continued talking about Judaism. He visited my home and met my family," Bat-Sheva shares.

I Believed Christianity Wasn't My Religion

Following the discussions and debates he had with Bat-Sheva, Oz deeply understood his Judaism and began to strengthen his practice. Despite this, he never imposed any condition for Bat-Sheva to continue the relationship: "He didn't say I had to convert for him, even though in retrospect, I understood it was risky for him. For me, these were knowledge discussions. I was serious about exploring Judaism, as I believed Christianity wasn't my religion."

When did you start the conversion process?

"I checked what places in Peru could give me information about Judaism. I watched lectures and wanted to try," recounts Bat-Sheva. "I went to a synagogue in Peru, and they turned me down. They said they don't convert: 'Sorry, goodbye.' They didn't offer information. I sent messages, called, emailed, and got the same response. I became more persistent and curious. Later I realized I couldn't convert in Peru. I thought, 'Maybe it's not for me?' and then Oz returned to Israel. After seven months of continued phone conversations, I had theoretical knowledge I wanted to apply. Oz guided me, and I wanted to see how I felt about it. I tried keeping Shabbat at home as best as I could, started observing meat and milk separation, and tried to celebrate Chanukah."

Her family, for their part, laughed at Bat-Sheva's attempts: "They claimed it was because I had feelings for Oz, but I told them that if I were in love, I would have fled to Israel. Then they understood I was serious. When I changed my clothing, it was a big step. I worked in a big company, Peru is a hot country, and suddenly I'm wearing long clothes. At work, they were amazed because they didn't see the internal process I went through at home."

Bat-Sheva's father, a devout Christian, accepted the change with understanding: "He asked me how I felt and if I was sure about it. He was calm. Maybe because I was very clear. After behaving like a Jew for a while, I wanted to become a Jew."

Bat-Sheva had two options: conversion in the USA or in Israel. She wanted to come to Israel because there are conversions in the USA that aren't recognized in Israel, but her manager at work was fired, and there was a chance she would be promoted. She prayed for a promotion. But Hashem had different plans. The higher boss decided not to promote her, and this fact helped Bat-Sheva decide to undergo the conversion in Israel.

In 2016, Bat-Sheva arrived in Israel, knowing Oz's family about her plan, and they welcomed her warmly.

The rabbinate is not quick to help a girl with conversion if she is in a relationship with a Jewish boy because she might have ulterior motives and not love Judaism.

"I thought they might say I want to convert to gain citizenship," explains Bat-Sheva, "but I met with a conversion rabbi, and she knew our story, and knew Oz wanted to strengthen, and so did I. She met me to check how serious I was. I gave up everything: job, car, family, homeland, friends. I finished the meeting with her and cried like crazy. She asked difficult questions. I was tense and really wanted it, and felt I needed to show her seriousness, and to convince her with strength, unnaturally. I felt the meeting wasn't good. She did her job and asked the probing questions. I wanted to meet again. But the rabbi was convinced. She gave us a chance."

The conversion studies were supposed to last over a year, but Bat-Sheva completed them in nine months. "I studied seriously, wrote and recorded the lessons, and then went to the court. In 2017, I was reborn. I became Jewish, and it was amazing. I felt something in my heart and soul," she describes emotionally.

Bat-Sheva didn't waste time, and within less than two weeks of converting, she married Oz, who strongly embraced Torah and mitzvot. Her family came to the country for her wedding, happy for her that the process was complete and she was joyful.

Bat-Sheva's parents

Oz and Bat-Sheva have three daughters, and she is a full-time mom today. Her favorite mitzvah is family purity: "Each time I immerse, I have the same feeling. The immersion reminds me of my first immersion as a Jew. It's like closing a circle every month."