Search This Blog

Loading...

Twitter Updates

Jewminicana You Tube Video Bar

Loading...

Saturday, May 22, 2010

The Beauty Queen Conversion



"The Shavuot story of Ruth might retell the journey of the most famous convert to Judaism, but South African-born Ilana Skolnik, who became a Jew more than 20 years ago and has lived in Israel ever since, has no less of an amazing story.

Born Ellen Peters, Skolnik, who was raised as a Protestant in a 'colored,' or mixed-race, family under apartheid, told The Jerusalem Post on Monday 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.

'It was only after I converted that I found out that my grandfather on my mother’s side had actually been called Saul Solomon Jacob Simson,' the 54-year-old Herzliya resident said. 'In addition, I had an uncle who was Jewish, and his family used to recite kiddush on Friday nights.'''

For more:

"S. African beauty queen's conversion mirrors Ruth's story" (Jerusalem Post)