"I Discovered I Wasn't Jewish. I Returned Home and Could Not Function": The Story of Rebbetzin Esther Schneider

A Jewish girl in communist Russia turned red with embarrassment when asked in class: "Ina, are you Jewish?" Out of fear, young Ina denied her Jewish heritage. When her non-Jewish friends visited her home during Passover and saw matzah, they asked, "What is this?" She replied, "My grandmother baked cakes, and it didn't turn out well. This is what happened - this is what we eat."

This was the early life of Ina Schneider under the communist decrees of that era. Not like the decrees of Antiochus thousands of years ago, but not long ago either - Jews could not openly live as Jews.

In an interview with Rebbetzin Chagit Shira, Ina Schneider described underground Jewish life in Moscow during that time: "My grandparents were doctors, and my father worked in security. We were an average Jewish family in Russia of that time. I always knew I was Jewish. We went to synagogue, and I remember we would bring home matzah wrapped in cloths so no one would know what it was. It was forbidden by law."

Top row left: Esther Ina Schneider in her childhood in the USSR

When the KGB Roamed the Synagogue, and the Mysterious Call from the USA

Ina adds that during her childhood, she attended a secret Hebrew and tradition class, and at one point, the teacher was arrested and taken to prison. "We also held Purim gatherings in homes, all under the radar of the communists." At the synagogue, Ina, her family, and the community celebrated all the holidays, but she notes that the synagogue served not only as a place of prayer but also as a social hub for matchmaking, a communication center, and announcements about those who managed to escape to Israel. The synagogue was also a focal point for receiving news about events in Israel.

What incidents of antisemitism were there?

"When we were at the synagogue, and there were many Jews inside, there was always police presence: KGB officers lurking around. They tried to eavesdrop and find out what the Jews were discussing. I don't know if they took any Jews to prison, but the fear was always in the air from the authorities."

After eight years during which Ina's parents were refused immigration rights, something dramatic happened: a confidential call was received at their home. Surprisingly, the call was from the United States, the Soviet Union's enemy.

The Distance from Judaism Leading to Interfaith Marriage

"They asked that I answer. A person I did not know told us: 'Do not worry, we're with you, everything will be okay. Soon you will be released.'" So Ina and her family understood that there were Jews on the other side of the world who cared for them and fought for them, and indeed, the much-awaited immigration approval to Israel finally arrived. Ina recounts that their immigration to Israel happened around Passover. "For us, it was truly an exodus from Egypt. Everything was wonderful – the palm trees, the sea, the atmosphere. Everything was picturesque and new to us. In those days, there was no internet, and we couldn't see daily videos or pictures from the Holy Land, and seeing our ancestral land face-to-face was incredibly moving."

From this uplifting experience, Ina and her family fell into a painful reality of ethnic division they hadn't understood before. "We naively came to pray at one of the synagogues and were told it was a synagogue for a certain community, and we needed to go to another synagogue. We told ourselves that if things were like this here in the country, then we probably didn’t understand something, and we distanced ourselves." This distance eventually led to Esti choosing to be in a relationship with a non-Jew, and to be deeply involved in assimilation, ironically in Israel, despite secretly keeping Jewish customs in the diaspora.

The Beginning of Teshuva: Psalms for the First Time, Fulfillment of Wishes, and Introduction to Hidabroot

After ending the relationship with that person, Ina moved to live with her parents with her daughter, born from that relationship. Ina recounts that life was hard. "For a long time, I was alone, busy surviving. I worked hard to raise my daughter and complete my second degree. My parents helped me a lot, but it was still hard for me. Then one day, a woman told me there is a book called Psalms. You need to read it, and then the Creator will be able to help you." Ina agreed, but she didn't know where to find these Psalms. It happened about 12 years ago, and at that time, there were no Psalms books available in Russian.

Invite Rebbetzin Ina Esther Schneider to your home and enjoy a colorful, high-quality, moving, and strengthening home circle. Send an email aviva@htv.co.il   or call 073-222-1290

"After obtaining sections of Psalms, I read them every day, made a list, and asked: 'Creator of the world, I want a husband who will love me, love my daughter, respect my family, and wear a plaid shirt and glasses.' Ina humorously recounts that in Soviet films, the intelligent Russian character always appears in a plaid shirt and glasses. And indeed, Ina's prayers were answered, and alongside her relationship with Michael Chai, her future husband, she also became acquainted with the Hidabroot channel.

A Seminar with Rabbi Zamir Cohen as a Birthday Gift

"It happened when I was watching TV, flipping channels, and I reached channel 97, the Hidabroot channel. I listened to the lectures of Rabbi Zamir Cohen. It was really interesting, and after a few lectures, I told Michael Chai that for my birthday, I wanted a seminar with Rabbi Zamir Cohen in Jerusalem as a birthday present." Michael Chai checked the details for Ina, and even though she insisted on attending a seminar for a religious audience, he signed her up for another Seminar of the Arachim Organization, aimed at an audience of Jews approaching and interested in Judaism. Ina was amazed by the lectures and discovered a whole world, especially family purity. The astonishment at the knowledge she had never been exposed to was tremendous. "How did they not tell us about this? Why do we live without knowing these things? What I knew from home was about holidays, Torah that my father read to me, and that was it."

By the end of the Shabbat, Ina wanted to start wearing a head covering, even though she wasn't formally married. She began attending Torah classes, steadily growing stronger, and Michael Chai, her future husband, also attended classes, and they strengthened together. One day, Ina wanted to get married according to the religion of Moses and Israel to the man she had met. They went to the rabbinical court, submitted documents, and there occurred a turning point that transformed her world but allowed her to understand something important in her mission.

The Schneider couple on their wedding day

When You Discover You Are Not Jewish

Ina was astonished to discover she needed to convert. "After a year and a half of strengthening and drawing closer to Judaism, suddenly they tell me this?! We were always Jewish, we went to synagogue, celebrated holidays, fasted on Yom Kippur - how can this be? I remember returning home and crying my eyes out. I lay in bed for days and didn't want to move." A kind rebbetzin who was in contact with Ina spoke to her and gave her encouragement. There were ups and downs, and there were low moments where Ina considered giving up on Judaism due to despair. "Today I know the strength I received was from Hashem."

Ina and Michael Chai started attending conversion class sessions. She wore sunglasses so no one would see how much she cried during the classes. "My heart was torn - how could this happen to me when my whole life I believed I was Jewish? Do they know what it means to live in Soviet Russia and be Jewish?! Until one day, I simply understood: if Hashem wants me to strengthen in such a way, I will thank Him, and then I became joyful and attended classes with joy."

A Torah scroll received by the family of Rebbetzin Schneider in Soviet Russia 1979

Multifaceted Rebbetzin: Listening Ear, Regular Attendance Officer, and Giving Torah Classes to Women

Ina was already sitting in the front row at the classes without sunglasses and answered exam questions with excellence. The conversion process was very successful. Michael Chai and Ina learned a lot and greatly strengthened their faith. After the blessed conversion, they married according to the religion of Moses and Israel.

Ina Schneider's actions are broad and varied, spanning many blessed fields of work. She works as the coordinator of "Akhim" community in Nahariya for the OU Israel Organization. She leads the community meant for Russian-speaking newcomers that aims to provide newcomers with a sense of belonging, embracing, and connecting them to their roots, people, and the State of Israel. She works in a school, serving as a regular attendance officer, integration coordinator, welcoming new students, and also as a listening ear. In her work, Ina talks to many children, trying to understand the needs of the children and their parents. Additionally, she teaches Torah in a school for newcomers "because newcomers need to understand also in accessible Russian language, where they are and why they are here in Israel. I think my greatest achievement in this regard was after I taught several Torah chapters. The students simply asked me to visit the Cave of the Patriarchs."

Additionally, Schneider teaches in the "Nativ Conversion" program. It is a government conversion course where she teaches groups in Russian. "I am amazed that not only young people come, but mainly older people. I see that they come not because they need a rubber stamp for conversion as if they have an interest, but because their soul seeks it, and that's what actually gives strength."

Today, Schneider is among the beloved rebbetzins of Hidabroot, leading home circles and unique and moving challah separation evenings. There she also shares her personal story, which the article cannot fully contain due to the great personal divine providence in it. It is always heartwarming to see that the soul's thirst comes from all corners of the spectrum: "When I lead challah separation evenings for Russian-speaking newcomers, the enthusiasm is amazing. On one occasion, women filmed the ceremony from every angle. They were most excited, and each took dough for herself. Their innocence is something very special after being exposed for the first time to a tradition they were not aware of before. There is a great light in it, and I thank Hashem that I went through everything I did in my life to gain this."

Invite Rebbetzin Ina Esther Schneider to your home and enjoy a colorful, high-quality, moving, and strengthening home circle. Send an email aviva@htv.co.il, call 073-222-1290 or click here.

Watch the full interview with Rebbetzin Chagit Shira:

Reach Far: Rebbetzin Chagit Shira in an Open Discussion with Ina Esther Schneider