Throughout those five months we checked Facebook for pictures, studying the scenery, the accommodations, and the people he was with. “Who are those young ladies?” we wondered. They were Israeli girls who were trekking along with thousands of others. It turns out Zviki and his friends had some very deep discussions with them about life, family, and ideals. It was through these discussions that Zviki realized there was a world of difference between the way he was brought up and the way they looked at life. He also talked about how poor the people of India were, which forced him to think about how lucky he was.
Rosh Hashanah was of great concern to us and we asked him where he planned to be. He and his friends had arranged to be in a Chabad House in Kosul, so we were relieved that he would be well taken care of. Perhaps we still held out hope that he would make his way back to Torah, but we knew there was no guarantee. As mentioned earlier, many of our neighbors’ children had not returned to religious observance, although each was incredible in his or her own right, following his or her chosen path.
* * * * *
We missed him and kept asking when he was coming home. He wouldn’t say. Little did we know that he had confided to his brothers that he planned to surprise us. And boy, were we surprised. The family had organized an anniversary gathering at the house and everyone was there including the grandchildren. Suddenly there was a knock at the door and in walked Zviki. I almost dropped one of the grandchildren from shock.
Zviki always wanted to be financially independent and had worked even when he was supposed to be going to his high school classes. This time was no different, and he began working for a caterer. He loved cooking and baking and seemed to have a lot of skill and talent in this area.
One day he asked me if I would bring in his tefillin to be checked. That was a little surprising, and once again I held out hope that perhaps he wanted to give those phylacteries another shot. That was not to be but I brought in his tefillin to be checked since I felt if it was important to him, it should get done no matter what.
It was wonderful to have him home. All the other children were married and we were happy to have Zviki’s help, as we don’t have the same energy we once had. But we were concerned about his future. Would he finish his matriculation exams? Who would he marry? Just a few minor details.
A year passed and Zviki told us he was going back to India. Apparently, although we didn’t understand it, being in India had ignited something spiritual within him. It didn’t mean he was on his way back to Judaism or keeping mitzvot, just that he was attracted by the calm and peaceful atmosphere in India.
* * * * *
A few weeks after he left, we heard that Zviki was staying at a Bayit Yehudi, a place where young Jewish people can learn, eat, and enjoy a home away from home. One day he called and asked if I would join him in Uman where Reb Nachman of Breslov is buried and where many thousands travel for Rosh Hashanah.
“What?” I asked. “Why are you going there?”
We found out later that Zviki had spent most of his second trip to India with a Breslover family at the Bayit Yehudi and that he had found a very strong connection to Judaism. Later, when I asked him what was so special or unique about that experience, he told me he felt it was so true; that it was the right path for him at this time of his life.
