Mesorah High School for Girls was privileged to welcome Chana Devorah Mishler, who shared her extraordinary journey of self-discovery and spiritual awakening with the 11th & 12th grade. Her story—a young girl raised in a Catholic home who uncovered her hidden Jewish heritage—is deeply inspiring and resonates with the timeless themes of Parashas Toldos and Vayetzei. Through her personal experiences, Mrs. Mishler illuminated the Torah’s messages of divine guidance, trust in Hashem’s plan, and the transformative power of faith. Her journey serves as a modern reflection of Yakov’s exile and return, reminding us all that no matter where life takes us, Hashem is always guiding us back to our true selves.
Parashas Toldos: Last week’s Parasha: Discovering Identity and Divine Inheritance
My story, a young girl raised Catholic who left her country to discover her Jewish roots, beautifully reflects the themes of Parashat Toldos and the idea that Hashem always makes way for us to return to Him—we just have to trust in His guidance. I was raised in a different religion, but I always knew there was something different about me and my family. We went to church every Sunday morning, my grandmother used to light candles every Friday before sunset, she used to cover the mirrors when a relative passed away, and my grandparents spoke Ladino all the time at home (what I considered broken Spanish), among other Jewish rituals that she used to perform.
In Toldos, we see how Hashem orchestrates events in the lives of Yitzchak, Rivkah, Yakov, and Esau to fulfill His divine plan. Yakov’s journey, in particular, illustrates the idea of returning to Hashem. Although Yakov was born into a covenantal family, his path to claiming his identity and fulfilling his destiny was far from straightforward. He had to leave his home, navigate challenges, and trust that Hashem’s plan would unfold, even when it wasn’t immediately clear. Similarly, my story mirrors this journey of trust and faith. I, too, had to leave my home country and go to Canada to rediscover my hidden identity,
Rivkah’s role in guiding Yacov reminds us that Hashem often places people, circumstances, or even inner stirrings in our lives to direct us back to Him. Just as Rivkah helped Yacov secure his blessing, Hashem may have placed signs, experiences, and a deep longing in my heart to prompt my journey of return. Even leaving my country, though a significant step, was part of Hashem’s divine plan to lead me to a deeper connection with Him and my heritage.
The story of Toldos also teaches us that Hashem’s ways are not always linear or predictable. Yakov faced many trials, but his trust in Hashem sustained him. In the same way, my journey may have had moments of doubt or struggle, but my trust in Hashem’s plan allowed me to embrace my identity and return to Him.
Ultimately, Toldos reminds us that Hashem is always working behind the scenes to bring us closer to Him. Just as Yacov’s journey led him to become the father of the Jewish people, I feel that my journey is a testament to the idea that Hashem never abandons us. He creates pathways—sometimes through unexpected or challenging circumstances—to help us find our way back to Him. I define my story as one of faith, courage, and the fulfillment of Hashem’s promise that He will always guide us home if we trust Him.
Parashas Vayetzei: The Journey of Exile and Return
In Vayetzei, Yakov embarks on a journey of exile, leaving his home to find a future in a foreign land. Along the way, he has a powerful encounter with Hashem in a dream, where he sees a ladder connecting heaven and earth. This vision reaffirms that Hashem is with him, no matter where he goes, and promises to bring him back to the land of his inheritance. In December 2011, I also had a dream where I saw the resemblance of an angel who came to visit me while I was sitting on the staircase of my house in Ottawa, Canada. He told me that I didn’t feel comfortable going to church because I was part of the chosen people, part of an eternal covenant that G-d made with his people at the foot of Mount Sinai, that there was a marriage contract (a ketubah/The Torah), he told me that I was part of Israel. That dream woke me up spiritually; I got curious and started to research Judaism.
In my research, I came across a video called “The last Sephardic or El Último Sefardí” made by Eliezer Papo, the grandson of Rabbi Papo z”l, the author of the famous Mussar book Pele Yoeitz. He was speaking Ladino, the same language my grandparents spoke at home, when I heard him speak, this brought me back to my childhood, listening to this was like listening to my grandparents. This brought tears to my eyes; I immediately called my mother to tell her that I had the answer to the weirdness of our family; this was the key that broke the chain and revealed that identity that had been hidden for so many years. From that moment, I knew that there was no way back to Christianity. What was a secret to others wasn’t a secret to me anymore; I knew I wasn’t crazy for thinking that my family was weird or used to doing things out of the ordinary; my Jewish roots were always a part of me, and Hashem guided me, even through uncertainty, to rediscover them. Since then, I have embraced Judaism, our Torah, and our traditions, and they have become part of me.
This theme of the exile and return of Yakov makes me reflect on my story, where leaving my home country was a leap of faith, but like Yakov, I trusted that Hashem was always guiding my steps.
Yakov’s journey is one of transformation. He builds a family, strengthens his relationship with Hashem, and ultimately returns to the land of his birth with a deeper understanding of his identity. Similarly, my journey has allowed me to reconnect with my Jewish roots and grow spiritually.
Just as Yakov’s dream affirmed that Hashem was with him every step of the way, this is a reminder that Hashem guide us all along, opening doors and creating a path for us to return to Him.
Trusting Hashem’s Plan
Toldos and Vayetzei highlight that Hashem’s plans often require us to leave our comfort zones and step into the unknown. The process may be challenging, but through these journeys, we discover who we truly are and draw closer to Hashem. My testimony is a modern reflection of these Torah portions ─ a testament to the enduring truth that Hashem never abandons us. He makes a way for us to find Him, even when the path is unclear. All we have to do is trust in His timing and have faith in His plan.
By embracing my heritage and rediscovering my connection to Judaism, I am living proof of Hashem’s promise that He always brings His children back to Him, no matter where life takes us, no matter how far we are. It’s never too late if we know who we really are, bringing holiness to the world. ■
