Hillel is our third child – he has two older siblings, each unique in their own way.

I was born in Bnei Brak, considered one of the capitals of the ultra-orthodox community, into a Yemenite family. My wife immigrated from Ukraine in the 1990s and grew up in Holon. We both work in local municipalities and have built together a traditional-religious home based on true mutual respect. From the beginning, we decided not to try to change each other – but to learn, to contain, to compromise when needed and above all, to love.

And that’s felt in every corner of our home: on Passover, for example, the children and I eat kitniyot, while my wife does not – and everyone respects one another. Hillel hears Yemenite from me and Russian from his maternal grandmother. Our meals include both Yemenite and Ashkenazi dishes, and our table is always colorful and full of life.

My parents immigrated from Yemen at a young age and settled in Bnei Brak. My father was a well-known mori – a traditional teacher of Torah and reading in the Yemenite tradition – and for many years, he taught children how to read in the Yemenite style. My mother was originally from Moshav Achi’ezer and moved to Bnei Brak after their marriage. She worked for many years in the Bnei Brak municipality in various roles and retired due to my father’s illness. My father passed away during Passover, and my mother passed away recently on Rosh Hashanah.

My wife’s parents immigrated to Israel in the 1990s from the city of Berdychiv in Ukraine and settled in Holon. They are a deeply rooted Jewish family, second-generation Holocaust survivors, who always celebrated Jewish holidays – including Kiddush, candle lighting, and festive meals. Her father is an engineer and her mother a kindergarten teacher. Both are now retired and still live in Holon.

When Hillel was three years old, we brought him up to the Torah for the first time. Aliyah to the Torah, for those unfamiliar, is a Jewish tradition where a person is called up to bless and read from the Torah during synagogue services. It’s a deeply spiritual moment – a point of connection between the child, the ancient text, the community, and a sense of belonging.

In our Yemenite tradition, children begin at a young age – and Hillel, at three, memorized his first verse and stood before the Torah scroll with confidence and shining eyes.

Since then, his learning has continued to flourish – he still goes up to read from the Torah, and also translates the weekly portion. That means: after reading each verse in Hebrew, he recites its translation aloud in Aramaic, according to Targum Onkelos – an ancient translation of the 

Torah that was traditionally used so the public could understand the meaning. This is a very important tradition in Yemenite Judaism, and Hillel does it joyfully, from a place of deep connection and inner motivation.

He also chose on his own to study the laws of Torah reading – out of genuine love for the content.

Hillel studies at a state religious school – a choice that strongly aligns with our family values. This type of school offers both a high standard of general education and a strong Jewish foundation – Torah learning, traditions, holidays, and values like mutual respect and kindness.

For us, it’s important that our children not only learn well, but grow up to be grounded people with roots, identity, and an open heart.

Hillel is a very bright child, with an exceptional aptitude for languages. He speaks fluent Hebrew and good Russian – and can even read books in Russian. He’s an outstanding student who loves learning, refuses to miss even a minute of class, and usually receives grades of 95 and above – often even a perfect score.

We live in Rosh HaAyin – a city that was once known primarily for its Yemenite community, but today has become a diverse and special place, with a blend of traditions, cultures, and lifestyles. In recent years, the city has grown and improved significantly – with a focus on community, quality education, and green development, like the local forest, which has become a beautiful space for children to grow – physically and emotionally.

When I look at Hillel, I see a beautiful blend of traditions, depth, love for Torah, love for life – and above all, joy. I feel that we are managing to raise a child who is respectful, loving, and deeply grounded – both spiritually and within our warm, supportive family.