"The Most Difficult Year of My Life Was When I Started Driving on Shabbat Again"

The numerous patients visiting Rosie Finkelstein's Chinese medicine clinic in Givat Shmuel are surprised to encounter women from all over Israel's societal spectrum. "It's no coincidence my clientele is so diverse," she notes with a smile, "it reflects the many journeys I've been on in my life, since there's practically no sector I haven't passed through on my road to complete repentance."

Rosie is now in her late 40s, but until nearly age 34, she didn't know what prayer was. "I turned to Judaism only thanks to Hashem illuminating my path," she says passionately, and proceeds to share her life story, filled with personal guidance and divine closeness.

Being on the Right Side

"I grew up as a child in the 'Yad Eliyahu' neighborhood in southern Tel Aviv," Rosie explains, "I was a sensitive and very observant child, aware of what was happening to and around me. These days it's called 'hyper / over-sensitivity' or more commonly 'sensory over-responsiveness'. I had a very high awareness of my physical and emotional state, as well as those of others, and could read their problems. That's how I noticed my mother suffering from chronic, severe back pain. It hurt me so much for her, and even then, I decided I would heal her when I grew up."

"Back then we lived in a building in southern Tel Aviv where the apartment doors stayed open all day, which was very typical for the area. Every day after school, I could see exactly what was happening in our neighbors' flats and could freely come and go. I loved this lifestyle, and was especially close to one neighbor, an Iraqi woman who took care of me like a mother. I often visited her home and felt like family. I can't explain why it happened, but one day the neighbor and her family became religious, and not just religious, but very devout, nearly Charedi."

"The most interesting part is that from that moment, their doors never closed, and with childlike curiosity, I often peeked into their home, learning about customs and commandments, witnessing prayers, observing Shabbat, and giving tithes, and listening to Jewish lectures through tapes. It painted my life with new colors. Although my own family had some tradition, like occasional candle lighting, there wasn't much more. Suddenly my eyes were opened, and I began feeling from a very warm place in my heart that I wanted to be like that too. At just seven years old, I approached my mother and said: 'I have two dreams for when I grow up – to heal you and become religious.'"

"My mother's response still resonates with me. She simply said, 'You can't be religious, because to be religious, you have to be born that way.' I accepted her answer and moved on with my life, occasionally reflecting on it, whispering a silent prayer to Hashem – 'When will it be my turn?'"

Facing Forward

Rosie's official return to Judaism began around age 34 when she found a pamphlet titled 'Dvar Malchut' in her mailbox. "As soon as I opened it, I realized it was related to Chassidut, containing small-print articles and references to the Lubavitcher Rebbe."

"Although my initial instinct was to throw it away, as with any material arriving by mail that doesn't interest me, at the last minute, I decided to keep it. I took it home and tried to read it but couldn't understand a word. Eventually, I put it away in a cupboard for years, occasionally pulling it out on Tisha B'Av or other fasts, attempting to pray from it without knowing how, since I was never taught to pray, neither in high school nor elementary school. Now, I realize I sought a connection with Hashem and carried that feeling for decades, using the pamphlet as an occasional refuge to connect with the Creator."

Years passed since the pamphlet entered her home. In the meantime, Rosie began a four-year course in Chinese medicine while also studying at the Adler Institute of Parenting and Psychology. "I studied general psychology, not specifically Jewish, which made me uncomfortable," she says, "I felt the learning distanced me from my inner purpose, contrary to my desire to draw closer to the Creator and the purpose of creation. Secular psychology teaches creating 'healthy distance' from our parents, the trunk of our tree, to develop our self-identity, which conflicted greatly with me since I grew up in a loving home with wonderful parents who, though not observant, taught me to give and show kindness. I couldn't comprehend why psychology advocated abandoning what I learned. Only later did I discover Jewish and Chassidic psychology, embodying different principles. Today I'm happy to raise my children connected to familial values, Judaism, and not distancing from our strong, rooted heritage. Even if the trunk appears flawed, instead of focusing on its faults, we should seek its goodness."

A Mission Within the Clinic

"Over time, I've found myself gravitating more towards Judaism," Rosie continues. "I can't pinpoint an exact moment of change, but I was continually advancing. My acquaintances started calling me 'Rebbetzin,' and inside I felt deeply religious, although outwardly I continued dressing in jeans, short sleeves, and loose hair. Meanwhile, I married my husband; we lived in Givatayim and were part of the national-religious community there, but nothing was simple. We labeled ourselves as religious, yet observing Shabbat was exceptionally hard. At a certain point, after years of not driving on Shabbat, I felt suffocated, with two small daughters and no idea how to manage a full Shabbat at home. So one day, my husband and I decided to start driving on Shabbat again, and regrettably, we continued this for a year."

"It's important to mention that year was the hardest for me because after years of partially observing Shabbat, it was painful to visit malls and see people treating the day as any other. Ultimately, I couldn't handle it, and we returned to fully observing Shabbat, this time embracing more elements like the hotplate and other stringencies required."

During this period, Rosie gave birth to their third child, and about a decade later, they became deeply connected to Chabad Chassidut. "One day, I attended a Tanya class and afterwards was offered to study from a 'Dvar Malchut' pamphlet," she recalls, "To my surprise, it was the exact same type of pamphlet I had at home, and I felt it was a full circle moment."

The process then accelerated greatly. Rosie and her husband grew stronger in their faith daily, and she now regularly conducts Chassidut classes for neighborhood women on Shabbat.

"We've been blessed to have our home operate with holiness and purity," she expresses, "Before anything else I do, I'm a mother to my children, striving to give my family everything I can. Simultaneously, I practice acupuncture and reflexology, specializing in women's health, fertility, and IVF treatments. I feel it's a mission to alleviate pain and encourage bodily processes. In my role, I frequently converse with women who come to me, and feel I can empathize with them because I've experienced a vast array of life situations myself. I can truly understand each woman in almost any circumstance."

And we must ask about your mother – did you fulfill your dream and heal her?

"My mother has a severe chronic issue, but until today, she says that when I touch her, she feels better. She also turns to other specialists when needed, and I'm always happy to hear she's doing well. May I continue to be a good emissary, for my mother, my patients, and the entire nation of Israel."