Pninei Or – Journey into your soul
About us
Pninei Or was founded for the purpose of teaching the Torah
and helping potential converts prepare to join the Jewish Nation.
We have been preparing students for conversion for the last 20 years.
Therefore, we have broad experience, knowledge, and sensitivity to help you overcome the challenges of the conversion process.
We care for our students.
Many remain in touch and keep learning with us even after the process is finished.
We have helped hundreds of people to become Jewish.
We would like to help you make your dream of becoming Jewish come true.
We work closely with the authorized Beit Din of Israel under the auspices of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel.
What we do
We at Pninei Or will teach you Torah and help you to become a full member of the Jewish People. We aim to provide an enriching and pleasant conversion process. We have been preparing students for giur (conversion) for the last 20 years.
We have brought experience, and a true desire to help you.
Undertaking the conversion process entails many lifestyle adjustments:
how to pray, how to keep Shabbat, how to keep kosher, etc.
We are here to help! Step by step we are with you all the way. We provide you with a personalized program and guide you through your journey.
In every group there will be a number of teachers so that this process will be comfortable and pleasant,
like it says in Mishlei (Proverbs) 3:17
“Her ways (Torah’s) are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.”
Biography
I was born in what was USSR (today Russia) in the city called Leningrad (today St. Petersburg).
In 1978 our family was able to leave the Soviet Union and to move
to United States.
From USSR to United States
Like most of the Jewish families in the Soviet Union my parents knew almost nothing about Jewish life, traditions, and history, though we had a very strong Jewish identity imposed on us by the antisemitic surrounding of the non-Jews around us and by the antisemitic policies of the Soviet State. Notwithstanding, my parents taught me to be proud of my Jewish Heritage.
As we moved to United States we started learning and practicing Jewish customs and commandments, going to synagogue, eating kosher, etc.
After completing a university degree in Computers Science, I was working as a system developer,
but my true desire was to study Torah. I had many questions, and I knew where to look for answers.
Aliyah and teaching Torah
My parents instilled in me love for the land of Israel and thus in 1991 I made Aliya and went to study Torah
full time in a Yeshiva for baalei tshuva in Yerushalaim. After studying there a few years, I decided
that my true calling is to teach Torah. I went to another Yeshiva which gave me an opportunity
to prepare myself to teach.
Conversion program
After teaching in the Yeshiva for a few years I was asked to establish a giur (conversion) program.
I have been running it ever since.
In the 20 plus years that I have been doing it many hundreds of students have become Torah observant Jews and have built fulfilling lives. I am happy and thankful to HaShem to have a part in their success.
Biography
I was born in Romania to a Christian family, I was raised to believe there was only one religion – Christianity.
Growing up, I always felt a strong connection to G-d while feeling out
of place and unrelated. Since I was young, I fell in love with music
and at the age of 15 I left home to pursue it. Nothing really fulfilled me. Later on I found a job on an Israeli cruise ship as a singer.
On the way to Israel and conversion
On the ship I met my future husband who was Jewish and my relationship with him drew me closer to Judaism.
With his help I started the conversion process to Judaism. It was difficult and straining, but it was worth it. The lessonsof the course were so amazing and fullfilling, that after finished my conversion I decided that I too want to teachpeople Torah.
Teaching experience
I continued studying Torah and after a few years Rabbi Yosi asked me to replace a teacher in the course.
I agreed, and I’ve been doing it for the past 12 years. I believe that through my work I am fulfilling my destiny,
and it has become my life goal.
Our course is very unique. We believe that every person, has a special soul.
A soul that is coming home!