Mordechai Schwartz

Of the many people returning to Hashem and to His Torah, there are unique stories of strength and conviction that seem almost unreal. I would like to tell one such story. But this is not just a story to marvel at. It is a story about overcoming obstacles and finding hope even when the future seems bleak.

The backdrop of this story is a world which, hopefully, is unfamiliar to all of us. It is a world of street gangs and fighting, of drug trafficking and abuse, of a dog-eat-dog world. I am still shaken by the descriptions told to me in preparation for this article.

The story is about a second generation Russian boy named Mark, whose family immigrated to the US in the early 1990’s from post-Communist Russia. As an only child, Mark’s parents hoped this spirited youth would accomplish great things. They had no idea what sort of things he would be accomplishing.

Our story begins when 12-year-old Mark is returning home, via Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn. He is approached by eight teenage hoodlums and, after an unsuccessful attempt to protect himself, is severely beaten. Adding insult to injury, dozens, if not hundreds, of people stand by and silently watch. His reaction is one of shame and fury and he decides then and there that “if you can’t beat them, join them”. From that point on he changes his garb to the very same as the hoodlums who beat him up with the hopes of being accepted by the “strong” and to disassociate with the “weak”.

Not long afterwards he begins associating and hanging out with leaders of the most notorious gangs in the New York. Stealing, fighting, and drug use become part of an exciting new world. And even with the three strikes of being Russian, Jewish, and white, he is basically accepted into this new world.

The turning point to this scary, downhill road was during some of his most harrowing days. After running away from home, he finds refuge in the home of another second generation Russian boy, one of the biggest dealers and users of hard drugs in the area. (Many of his “friends” would sell but wouldn’t use. This “friend” was different.) To make a long story short, Mark and his friend start on a three day binge of cocaine and other assorted drugs. After almost three days of not eating or sleeping, the situation goes from bad to worse. His friend, for various reasons, suddenly gets worked up about someone who almost killed his brother. Repeated attempts to appease him go nowhere. He is so agitated that, from of a secret hiding place, he pulls out a rifle and ammunition. He wants revenge. Sensing that there is no alternative except to follow him, Mark enters his friend’s car and sits in the back with the rifle between his legs. It’s 4:00 am and the streets are basically empty. Even so, his friend is impatient, hungry for revenge, and starts drive on the wrong side of Nostrand Avenue, a major thoroughfare in Brooklyn. As he starts heading against traffic, he passes a police car going the other way. Immediately the sirens start blaring. The police car makes a screeching U-turn and with the help of colleagues, they stop Mark and his friend in their tracks. Realizing that they may be caught with an illegal weapon, they both jump out of the car, a dangerous move for someone being chased by the police. In response, the police also jump out, but with loaded and pointed pistols. Very fortunately, one of the police is Russian, and the two fellows, with the help of some Russian friends, are able to talk themselves out of the situation. Then and there, Mark decides that the road of hard drugs is closed. It was from that darkest of times that the light started seeping in.

Mark’s illegal activities continued but on a lower scale. In the meantime, he is kicked out of public High School and has no other choice except to enter a private school. There are a few private High Schools in Brooklyn for Russian students that offer Jewish and secular studies. Mark ends up in a school called Sinai where he clearly expresses both his disinterest for Jewish studies as well as his willingness to exert himself in the secular tract. This commitment was enough for the school and Mark, true to his word, excelled in his secular subjects and left the Hebrew subjects behind.

During this time Mark was also developing his unique abilities in music and started writing and recording rap music. He was so talented that by the time he finished High School he was ready to sign with a serious recording company.

Sinai, and similar special schools, attempt to connect with their students through their caring and dedicated staff. Rabbi Rosenfeld was one of those unique teachers who gave everything for the boys. Slowly the Rabbi developed a connection with Mark and invited him for a Shabbat meal. Between the friendship and hopes of a good meal, Mark accepted. Mark was expecting just lunch but instead he was captivated by the beauties of a Jewish home, particularly, the Rabbi’s large, loving family. He wasn’t sure what it was all about but he knew he wanted more. For the next eight months, he became a weekly guest at the Rosenfeld home and grew increasingly close to the Rabbi.

As Mark was finishing High School, Rabbi Rosenfeld encouraged him to go to Israel to “get to know himself”. Mark wasn’t interested. He was too busy getting ready to conquer the world. He had big plans for college, was ready to sign with a major recording company, and was at the top of his social circle, attractive girlfriend and fast car included.

The moment of truth ultimately wasn’t through his talks with Rabbi Rosenfeld. It was at a party. Mark had had his share to drink and was feeling pretty “puffed-up” about his accomplishments. He went outside to marvel at his good fortune. He could rap better than any of his friends, he did excellently in High School, and he was “Mr. Popularity” and had his car and girlfriend to show for it. Suddenly, Mark broke down sobbing. “Who am I kidding? I’m miserable. My friends say I’ve got everything so why do I feel so empty?” In his drunkenness, he calls Rabbi Rosenfeld and tells him that he’s miserable and that he wants to change. The Rabbi understood that if this change of heart was real it would have to be after Mark “sobered up”.

The following day they met and Rabbi Rosenfeld saw that Mark meant business. But there was one major hurdle, convincing Mark to go to Israel. Mark wasn’t sure that such a major move was necessary and felt he could accomplish the necessary changes in the US. Rabbi Rosenfeld asked him, point blank, if he was proud of being Jewish. Mark responded in the affirmative but when asked what it mean to be Jewish, Mark was stumped. The Rabbi told him that, in his opinion, to get a full answer Mark would have to travel to the Jewish Homeland. Mark took him up on the challenge and offer.

Street-smart Mark has changed into a Jew who is grateful for the answers that he got to his probing questions. I asked him what changed. He told me a few things. In particular he said that now his existence is all about connecting with Hashem and “it’s much cooler”.

Mark, now Mordechai, has gained a lot of things in Israel, in particular, he is thrilled to be away from the crazy world of his street life and thanks Hashem daily for the miracle of the incredible kindnesses bestowed upon by the One who doesn’t give up on any of His children.

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Rabbi Dovid Charlop is on the teaching staff of the Neve Tzion Yeshiva in Telzstone, Israel.