Born in Kuwait and raised a Muslim, Mark Halawa was taught that Jews are bad. Everything he learned about Jews warned him to keep his distance. This information was challenged when Halawa learned because his grandmother was born Jewish, he also was Jewish.

Mark “Mordechai” Halawa spent the evening at Chabad of SCV on February 19, speaking to a group gathered to hear his story. He shared his family’s history and the shock and later acceptance of Judaism.

Halawa was born in Kuwait and grew up in Jordan. He spent two years of college in Latakia, Syria, fraught with partying and little studying. Later he left for Ontario, Canada to pursue his education seriously.

One day in the library at the University of Western Ontario, Halawa met an old Jewish man. Intrigued by his appearance, with a long beard neatly pinned together, Halawa asked him about his background.

During the conversation the Rabbi, Dr. Yitzchok Block Professor of Philosophy from Harvard University, asked about Halawa’s background. Halawa explained his family history and mentioned his grandmother’s story.

Growing up, the family was told she was born Jewish, but after meeting their grandfather as a teen, she converted to Islam and was married. This was sufficient for the family to consider her Muslim; but Block had another idea.

According to that tradition, not only was Halawa’s maternal grandmother a Jew; but so was his own mother and therefore also himself.

The world seemed to spin for Halawa. Everything he had been told had been turned on its head. He argued with Block, explaining his grandmother had converted, so she was Muslim, not Jewish.

Halawa was reeling with disbelief. Confused and shocked he went home and googled Judaism and the law of matrilineal descent. He later called his mother and grandmother. His mom told him not to listen to the “missionary.”

Now Halawa practices the traditions of his Jewish ancestors. Several years ago he traveled to Israel to further his studies. He decided to stay in the country and has lived there for nearly four years.

He often thinks about his journey from Muslim to Jew, reflecting on one particular day spent with other Jews praying and singing. He remembers sharing his disbelief with Professor Block, but also feeling very welcomed.

“He simply told me that every Jew is born with a little Torah and a little Menorah in their heart,” Halawa shared last week. “All it takes is for another Jew to bump into him and light it up.”