My Journey Back to Faith

A Grandfather’s Voice, A Soul Awakened

My name is Ilay Levi, I’m 27 years old, and I live in Kiryat Shemona. I work in education, helping integrate individuals with disabilities at a northern IDF base. But that’s just my profession. My identity and my soul changed course about four years ago.

The turning point came through the gentle and powerful influence of my grandfather, the late Shlomo Levi. He was a beloved baal tefillah (cantor) at the Magen Avraham synagogue in our city, known for his heartfelt piyutim (liturgical poems) and sweet melodies. His devotion moved me deeply, and without warning, I found myself drawn to the faith he lived so gracefully.

That first spark lit a slow and steady flame. I began taking steps toward an observant life, one mitzvah (commandment) at a time. First came Torah classes, then I embraced the laws of kosher and daily prayer. Tefillin became part of my mornings. Eventually, I added a kippah and tzitzit, signs of my growing inner world taking root on the outside.

My Shabbat Test and Victory

Still, I knew something was missing. I told myself, “If I’m not fully keeping Shabbat, then I haven’t really completed the journey.” Shabbat is the source of blessing, the sign between us and Hashem. I understood that this would be my final and biggest test, the moment of truth in my teshuvah (repentance) process.

By then, I looked religious, lived a religious lifestyle, and had even become a source of inspiration to others around me. But deep down, I knew: without Shabbat, I wasn’t all in.

So I began step by step, slowly changing the things that I did on Saturdays. I prayed for strength. I pushed through challenges. And finally, I did it. I kept my first full Shabbat.

I’ll never forget that feeling. It filled me with personal pride and spiritual clarity. That Shabbat was my “V” for victory, a glowing light in my soul. My family, who had always supported me, rejoiced with me. After all, faith was always part of our home. It just needed rekindling.

Looking back, it was the slow, purposeful journey and the Torah knowledge I acquired over time that gave me the tools to succeed. Today, I wait for Shabbat eagerly. It’s everything to me. By Wednesday, I’m already preparing, thinking about the synagogue, the holiness, the aliyah to the Torah, the food, the fragrances. As the saying goes, Shabbat is “one-sixtieth of the World to Come.” For me, it’s literal.

With Hashem’s help, I hope to find my life partner soon and build a home together where Shabbat will continue to shine and provide meaning in our lives.

Have a Shabbat Story? We'd Love to Hear It.

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