Convert Inspires Women's Event

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Thursday, Sivan 14 5773 - 23 May 2013

Oct 26, 2012

Convert Inspires Women's Event

Former "Miss South Africa" Ilana Skolnik, who became a Jew more than 20 years ago, inspired women with her amazing story at a brunch in Johannesburg.

At a brunch held by the Miracle Drive of Johannesburg, South African-born Ilana Skolnik, who became a Jew more than 20 years ago inspired women with her amazing story.

Born Ellen Peters, Skolnik, who was raised as a Protestant in a “colored,” or mixed-race, family under apartheid, told the women that she had always felt a connection to Judaism and that one of her earliest memories was reciting the first chapters from the story of Ruth.

Despite the obvious barriers of growing up colored in the 1950s and ’60s in South Africa, Skolnik was selected to represent the country’s non-white population in the 1973 Miss World competition held at London’s Royal Albert Hall. She was crowned Miss South Africa South in 1973, and later that year she came in ninth at the Miss World contest.

Skolnik told her amazing story of her journey to Judaism, and moved all those who attended.

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Opinions and Comments

a spiritual inspiration

I see she is a real convert jew, but what is her story exactly?
How did she become a jew?
How people get inspiration if they dont know the story of the Ger, like the story of Ms. Tova Mordechai, how people can get a spiritual inspiration

(10/28/2012 10:04:13 PM)

Nice

Very nice, but as a Ger myself, I still find it so intrusive when people ask "why did you become a Jew?". That's like asking someone, "why did you marry your husband?", too personal! Also, by constantly asking a Ger about their life 'before' and 'after', you make them feel as an outside and as different. It is halacha to accept the Ger fully without mentioning their previous lives.

(11/1/2012 12:42:10 AM)

We look for inspiration, and imagine that you will be more than willing to inspire us. We imagine that you would feel it to be a privilege that you can teach us. Our listening to you shouldn't make you feel as an outsider, but rather as one who is well above us.

(11/20/2012 1:42:06 PM)

Amazing

As a Ger, I go through the daily fears and questions from people in the community. They wants to know when, how and why I want to convert and reading stories like this one inspire me more to keep going in this personal journey. Isn't an easy one but I am looking forward for better and happier days when people will stop staring or asking the obvious questions.

(2/4/2013 9:48:28 PM)

my feelings exactly

The Torah stresses kindness and inclusion towards the geress. I nvr volunteer it because i've found that contrary to basic chinuch, lubavitchers are quite leary of even a 100% kosher converts. They certainly would nvt suggest a shidduch from their family. I've even been introduced as " oh did you know she's a convert?"now granted the person had zero social graces, but you get the picture. I felt like saying "this is so and so, did you know her uncle was in the funny farm! "People always ask 'oh you should tell your story...." but it's feigned interest...they just want to find out about me....but meanwhile they don't supply any info on their yichus....of which usually i find they have zero. after 15 years, it's still Very frustrating. But i wouldn't want to be anywhere else!!

(4/16/2013 9:30:08 PM)