I have been a baalt Teshuvah for 42 years now, but very rarely do I come across such an honest, self aware, and articulate young man such as he. He is welcome in our home any time 😃. We live in Jerusalem, Israel. I found his sincere vulnerability so moving and inspiring. Thank you so much!
I'm Jewish. I'm proud to be a Jew. As a child, my family attended a Reform temple. But the temple folded and my family moved their affiliation to a conservative synagogue. This is where I became a bar mitzvah. Although I was blessed with a close personal relationship with the rabbi at the conservative synagogue especially following the death of my father, I did not feel comfortable at the synagogue. The reason for this was not religious as much as it was socio-economic. The majority of the congregation was more materialistic than I could endure. Today, I am a member of a Reconstructionist congregation. The emphasis at the Reconstructionist synagogue is on culture, social action and civilization (or peoplehood). I am starving for more spirituality and as time progresses I feel I would like to be more observant. So I very much identify with David's journey.
I go to the same Chabad as you did and as a fellow baal teshuva, just wanna say I have huge respect and seeing where you are in your journey now is super inspiring for me to keep going. I attest to the fact you can’t escape Mendy 😄
This is especially so powerful, inspiring and encouraging on a personal level as he mentioned his mother was an orthodox convert to Judaism........though she might be a reform Jew converted into orthodox Judaism. But this sure encourages me to look forward my orthodox conversion and to have children being connected to Judaism despite all the difficulties of life. Felt really sad about his parents not working out well in their marriage and the childhood difficulties he faced. And praying he finds his soulmate and makes a beautiful Jewish marriage, home and a very strong Jewish family. Thank you JLI for sharing such an incredible and spiritual journey.🙂
Very inspirational! Saw a short about him by the kinus hashluchim this year from Rabbi Raps on UA-cam and so glad he made a full length video on JLI! Totally agree with the hardest in Judaism is ahavas yisroel. It's even harder when you are born frum and expect frum people to be or act frum especially when the Rebbe spoke about it so much and you are faced with the opposite. It's really challenging to the extent that people leave Judaism. I always suggest:keep it in mind you are jewish and became frum because of Hashem and his Torah not because of man, and that will hold the person to keep their connection with Hashem as Hashem wants that connection with him! Thanks so much! May Hashem and the Rebbe guide him to grow mchayil el choyil!
Any Jew that is not able and willing to defend themself needs to #1 go to Israel and #2 remember that God helps those that help themselves. Defending yourself is helping yourself.
Thank you so much Dovid for sharing your story and your insights! I love what you said about utilizing mma for holy purposes- it’s incredible that with a slight change in mindset, we can elevate something like mma that’s usually associated with gratuitous violence, to better serve Hashem and care for His people, and to better represent ourselves to the world. Wishing you bracha and siyata dishmaya on your journey
@@myJLI Thank you,, I did my first Tefillin made my kitchen Kosher, put a Mezuzah on my front door and most important doing Tzedakah! And just getting started.
...The content of this young man's character seems very kosher to me...tattoos or no tattoos...Like King David, most of us went through the sins of our youth.
Born on East New York and Albany st in Crown Heights Bklyn. My spirituality is mixed Muslim,Moorish Jew, Messianic Hebrew. I am all alone I like your story. I must exit to find a people were I belong.
Psalm 144:1 Praise be to HaSHEMיהוה🙌🏽 my ROCK WHO trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle. YOU are amazing HaSHEMיהוה🙌🏽, restore Israel until we see the SALVATION that Yaaqov awaited...all for Zion's Sake my KING GOD bless You
Sabrina is right. Misguided, misinformed, lack of historical truth and easily swayed by their peers, who are misguided or worse. Often one trip to Israel changes all that.
All jews are internally zionist, meaning love of Zion. What youre confusing is love of the STATE of Israel..which is secular and not the ultimate holy state jews will eventually reside in...The people that you feel are anti, are not anti because they're not good jews as you believe you are. The Torah actually talks about that...about an unpurified version of what the holy land will be like before Moshiach comes. So before you condemn them, learn where THEIR thought processes come from...and that their opinion is actually valid. You may disagree...but its coming from a Torah source and perspective that big Tzaddikim subscribed to for centuries.
I have been a baalt Teshuvah for 42 years now, but very rarely do I come across such an honest, self aware, and articulate young man such as he. He is welcome in our home any time 😃. We live in Jerusalem, Israel. I found his sincere vulnerability so moving and inspiring. Thank you so much!
I'm Jewish. I'm proud to be a Jew. As a child, my family attended a Reform temple. But the temple folded and my family moved their affiliation to a conservative synagogue. This is where I became a bar mitzvah. Although I was blessed with a close personal relationship with the rabbi at the conservative synagogue especially following the death of my father, I did not feel comfortable at the synagogue. The reason for this was not religious as much as it was socio-economic. The majority of the congregation was more materialistic than I could endure. Today, I am a member of a Reconstructionist congregation. The emphasis at the Reconstructionist synagogue is on culture, social action and civilization (or peoplehood). I am starving for more spirituality and as time progresses I feel I would like to be more observant. So I very much identify with David's journey.
Thanks for sharing David, very informative to me a Non-Jew but seeking the truth of the Torrah as I follow the One God of Abraham
Amen
Wonderful!
THIS!
THIS was soooo good!!!
SO.
SO.
GOOD!!!!!!!!! תודה רבה
Glad you liked it! Thanks for your feedback :) We love hearing it!
His testimony was so inspiring. Beautiful soul 💙 Really love to see that there are beautiful sparks around the world 😊
Great questions from the interviewer of Jewish Learning Institute!😃
I go to the same Chabad as you did and as a fellow baal teshuva, just wanna say I have huge respect and seeing where you are in your journey now is super inspiring for me to keep going. I attest to the fact you can’t escape Mendy 😄
Wow, what a small world! Thanks for sharing
Freedom is only in Torah!! 🙌🏻🎉
This is one of the most relatable interviews I have ever seen. I feel like it is hard finding other jews who I connect with but this guy is amazing.
Every Jew, every Baal Teshuvah is a precious Neshama.
Yes indeed!!
I am a sikh but respect Jews.
Lovely interview, very cool guy. Thank you for sharing.
This is especially so powerful, inspiring and encouraging on a personal level as he mentioned his mother was an orthodox convert to Judaism........though she might be a reform Jew converted into orthodox Judaism. But this sure encourages me to look forward my orthodox conversion and to have children being connected to Judaism despite all the difficulties of life. Felt really sad about his parents not working out well in their marriage and the childhood difficulties he faced. And praying he finds his soulmate and makes a beautiful Jewish marriage, home and a very strong Jewish family. Thank you JLI for sharing such an incredible and spiritual journey.🙂
Beautifully said, thank you for sharing!!
Excellent brother im a christian and im inspired by your life God bless you
Great story
Let's have more of people who have found the truth of Torah
Nice idea! 🙌
This is so relatable. Great content on this channel.
Appreciate it!
Very inspirational! Saw a short about him by the kinus hashluchim this year from Rabbi Raps on UA-cam and so glad he made a full length video on JLI! Totally agree with the hardest in Judaism is ahavas yisroel. It's even harder when you are born frum and expect frum people to be or act frum especially when the Rebbe spoke about it so much and you are faced with the opposite. It's really challenging to the extent that people leave Judaism. I always suggest:keep it in mind you are jewish and became frum because of Hashem and his Torah not because of man, and that will hold the person to keep their connection with Hashem as Hashem wants that connection with him! Thanks so much! May Hashem and the Rebbe guide him to grow mchayil el choyil!
Check out neshamos podcast for the longer story!
Thank you. We have so many struggles in common. This has really helped me.
Any Jew that is not able and willing to defend themself needs to #1 go to Israel and #2 remember that God helps those that help themselves. Defending yourself is helping yourself.
You're awesome!! From a goyim....stay strong and stay strong !! Deep down, many nonsense envy you . The God of Israel Rules!!!!
Thanks for quoting those two parts of the Bible to us! For reference, you can find these verses in Hezekiah 3:19 and 4:21.
Loved this.
Super cool interview!
Thank you so much Dovid for sharing your story and your insights! I love what you said about utilizing mma for holy purposes- it’s incredible that with a slight change in mindset, we can elevate something like mma that’s usually associated with gratuitous violence, to better serve Hashem and care for His people, and to better represent ourselves to the world. Wishing you bracha and siyata dishmaya on your journey
Great speech
Glad you enjoyed!
Oh wow this guy seems like me in a sense I as well is on a track back to my Jewish roots, Started back at the Local Chabad.
Wow, we love finding commonalties! 😊
@@myJLI Thank you,, I did my first Tefillin made my kitchen Kosher, put a Mezuzah on my front door and most important doing Tzedakah! And just getting started.
Am Yisroel Chai. May Klal Yisroel earn a Z’ chus from these additional mitzvos.
Awwe. Glad you found your way.
...The content of this young man's character seems very kosher to me...tattoos or no tattoos...Like King David, most of us went through the sins of our youth.
🙏
Born on East New York and Albany st in Crown Heights Bklyn. My spirituality is mixed Muslim,Moorish Jew, Messianic Hebrew. I am all alone I like your story. I must exit to find a people were I belong.
Psalm 144:1
Praise be to HaSHEMיהוה🙌🏽 my ROCK WHO trains my hands for war, my fingers for battle.
YOU are amazing HaSHEMיהוה🙌🏽, restore Israel until we see the SALVATION that Yaaqov awaited...all for Zion's Sake my KING
GOD bless You
⚡
Thank you.
You're welcome!
Same
✡️
Loving your fellow Jew; THAT is a hard one for me. I cannot love anybody, ESPECIALLY another Jew, who is anti Zionist or anti Israel in any way.
I see them as misguided when they are antizionist and needing help. Bit yes, they are damage doers .
you should still love them bc theyre misguided by antisemites
Sabrina is right. Misguided, misinformed, lack of historical truth and easily swayed by their peers, who are misguided or worse. Often one trip to Israel changes all that.
Anybody ? Or everyone? Big difference
All jews are internally zionist, meaning love of Zion. What youre confusing is love of the STATE of Israel..which is secular and not the ultimate holy state jews will eventually reside in...The people that you feel are anti, are not anti because they're not good jews as you believe you are. The Torah actually talks about that...about an unpurified version of what the holy land will be like before Moshiach comes. So before you condemn them, learn where THEIR thought processes come from...and that their opinion is actually valid. You may disagree...but its coming from a Torah source and perspective that big Tzaddikim subscribed to for centuries.
Why do you still have tattoos though?
R Dovid ! So nice to see your story!! Great to see you again! Gd Bless you brother from strength to strength!!!👍🏼💪🏼💪🏼
This is not what i expected when i put "reformed orthodox rabbi" in the search bar
😮 great conversation
Thanks!
- "Guilt is useful if it inspires action". Good point
You’re amazing and articulate. And your kindness shines. Thank you. Go from strength to strength.
❤
Do you know about kabbalah? Can you teach me?
He can't. You are to study Torah extensively and deeply for decades before even thinking of kabbalah.
Kabbalah is only for those already deeply steeped in Torah.its not a subject like any other.
Hey there! Here's a video that might be able to teach you about Kabbalah ua-cam.com/video/i3Q_5ulFRD0/v-deo.html
@@DrLawIrk not true, kabbalah is the essense of judaism. without kabbalah torah is dry and doesn't have any real life.
@@anonymousanonymous-qx7mv not true at all.