Tagged Night of the Little Candles

Sephardic Mother, Nazi Father: Local Man’s Roots Spark Jewish Journey

A mddle aged man wearing a kippah holds his certificate of conversion to Judaism.Helmut Etzel holds his certificate of conversion to Judaism on May 15, the day of his Beit Din at Kol Ami Synagogue. (Photo courtesy of Rabbi Malcolm Cohen)

“That’s the most off-the-wall thing I’ve ever heard.” That was Helmut Etzel’s initial reaction 25 years ago, when his mother, Marina, a devout Catholic from the mountainous Antioquia region of Colombia, told him, “Mijo, I believe strongly we are from Jewish heritage.” “I also thought this would not be… Read more »