Lan Zhang

When I came to Israel in 2006, with the help of Shavei Israel, and went through the conversion program at Bat Ayin, it was the first time I was touched by Judaism. When I was a kid, growing up in Kaifeng, my father and grandmother constantly reminded me that I was a Jew. It was passed down to them from generation to generation. My Jewish identity was very important to me, and I had strong feelings about it, however I didn’t know what it meant to be a Jew. Since I came to live in Israel and went through conversion, I have had a chance to better understand what it means to be a Jew. It is much more meaningful to me than it was before I came to Israel. Currently, I am working at Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu which has shown me another part of Jewish life. Working the land and being more connected with the promises given to us by Hashem. So, that today I can say that I really am a Jew.

Lan Zhang