I want to share a remarkable true story I heard this week from Rabbi Benzion Klatzko - a story that weaves together the themes of estrangement and reunion, of exile and return, and of the slow and sacred journey home.
As many of you know, I travel regularly to Salt Lake City and have longstanding ties with the Mormon community. I've had the privilege of building respectful and warm relationships with Mormon leaders, including lunch years ago in Washington, D.C. with Senator Mike Lee - a true friend of Israel. So, when I heard this story, which unfolds partly in Utah and partly in Israel, it struck a deeply personal chord. This is truly one for the books.
Once, there was a young Jewish couple who moved to a small town with a handful of Jews and even fewer synagogues, none of which made them feel welcome. They eventually made friends with neighbors who invited them to join their religious services.
"Which synagogue do you attend?" they asked.
"We're Mormon," the neighbors replied. "Come with us to the Mormon temple."
Feeling alienated and alone, and warmly welcomed by the Mormons, the couple began attending regularly. They were embraced, celebrated, and drawn in. Eventually, they converted to Mormonism and raised their children as Mormons.
Their Jewish identity faded into silence.
But one of their children, a young man named Aaron, began to wonder about his roots.
"My parents and more specifically, my mother was born Jewish," he thought. "That makes me Jewish too."
Curiosity led to learning. He found an Olami rabbi and began to explore Judaism. He started keeping Shabbat. His neshamah awakened. Eventually, he made Aliyah, married a wonderful Israeli woman, and together they began a new life in Israel.
Their first child was born, followed by a tragedy - a stillbirth. But then came a brachah: not one child, not twins, not triplets - quadruplets.
As anyone who has raised even one newborn can imagine, four at once is a nearly impossible challenge. Feedings, changings, sleepless nights - it was relentless. Aaron and his wife needed help. That's when Jasmine entered the story. But to understand her, we must take another step back.
Aaron's sister - daughter of the same Jewish mother - married a Mormon missionary. Their household was a center of proselytizing. They raised five children, including the youngest, Jasmine.
Then something unexpected happened. Aaron's sister - the Mormon missionary and mother of five - heard about Birthright, the free trip to Israel for young Jews. Still young enough to qualify, she decided to go. She left her husband and children and went alone to Eretz Yisrael. She walked the streets of Yerushalayim. She experienced Shabbat. Something stirred.
When she returned, she told her husband, "I'm interested in Judaism." He was horrified. "No. You're a Mormon. A missionary's wife. This can't happen."
But it did. And the marriage fell apart. They divorced. Around that time, Jasmine - just 12 years old - received a call from Uncle Aaron in Israel.
"I'm sorry about your parents. I know it's a hard time. We just had quadruplets. Would you be willing to come help us out?"
Jasmine agreed. She flew to Israel and helped for six months. She returned home, but something in her had shifted.
The following year, Aaron and his wife had triplets - now seven children under two years old. Jasmine returned. The next year, twins - nine children in five years. Jasmine returned again.
Now 17 years old, Jasmine had spent significant time in Israel. She had seen Torah, tefillah, Shabbat, chesed - not preached, but lived. Back in Utah, she walked into a Mormon temple and sat for an hour. And she thought to herself, "I feel nothing."
Then came the whisper: "But in Israel, I felt something."
Rabbi Klatzko, who had been organizing Israel trips for young Jews, heard about Jasmine and her sisters and invited them to join one of his programs. Jasmine and her sister Esther joined for the full trip; Jessie came for Shabbat.
That Friday night, as they sang and shared, Esther turned to Rabbi Klatzko and said, "You should know - our involvement in Judaism is no small thing."
She explained that on their father's side, they were direct descendants of Brigham Young, the founder of Mormonism after Joseph Smith. And on their mother's side, their great-uncle was Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan.
Yes - Brigham Young and Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. Two spiritual giants from opposite universes. And their great-nieces were now standing in Eretz Yisrael, asking for a Jewish name.
Esther chose to be called Yehudit Esther - "because my Judaism was hidden." Jessie chose the name Yiskah, a name associated with spiritual clarity. And then Jasmine stood up. With tears in her eyes, she said, "I want to be called– Sarah Emunah – Princess of Faith." The group lifted her on a chair, danced, and sang. The vineyards of Tu B'Av were alive again.
Jasmine stayed in Israel. She enrolled in seminary. She learned, she grew, she reconnected to the soul that had been buried but never erased. And then came the news: she got engaged. The first of the sisters to do so.
To whom? To Rabbi Klatzko's son. Jasmine - Sarah Emunah - is now marrying Rabbi Benzion Klatzko's son, Azaria. She will become his daughter-in-law.
The wedding will take place in the backyard of Uncle Aaron - the same uncle who opened the door again and again. The one who had quadruplets. The one who unknowingly became the bridge home.
Transcribed from an email of Shabbat Shalom from Cyberspace.
