I met someone with a Jewish soul

Over a decade ago my husband converted to Judaism. However, non-Jews don't really "convert" to Judaism. They actually just make an "affirmation of" Judaism.

A big difference exists between the words "conversion" and "affirmation." When someone converts, we assume that person is choosing to become a follower of one religion rather than another; they are becoming, for example, a Jew rather than a Christian. However, when we affirm something, we basically acknowledge it to be true. And therein lies the point.

When a person makes an affirmation of Judaism, they acknowledge that they were born with a Jewish soul. In other words, when they came into this world, their physical form may have been raised as a Christian, a Muslim or a Hindu, but the soul housed in that body actually was Jewish all along.

For this reason, at a deep, inner level, the person's soul felt pulled towards Judaism, and, in the end, the physical form-the person-chose to covert to Judaism. In that process, the person makes an affirmation of Judaism. He or she affirms his or her Jewish nature.

Pretty cool, huh? Now you might dispute this as a bunch of Jewish malarkey. You might point out that many people who have affirmed Judaism (converted) have done so because, for instance, they married a Jewish partner. I'd argue that their soul drew them to that Jewish partner. It felt comfortable with another Jewish soul.

The other day, I found proof (not that I needed any) that Jewish souls exist in non-Jewish bodies. I met Dalana Castrell. She informed me that despite her non-Jewish upbringing and heritage, she dreams in Hebrew and paints Jewish symbols. She has a deep desire to learn about Judaism, and she calls God, Ha Shem, which means The Name. (Since observant Jews do not speak the name of God, this is the name they use.) If ever a Jewish soul existed, she possesses one.

Dalana was born in South America and grew up in Queens, NY. There are a lot of Jews in Queens. Maybe her soul pushed her towards an area of the world with more Jews...

She started dreaming in Hebrew, however, while on the Island of Bermuda. She told me, "I lived on an estate called Southlands. This is where I started to paint my dreams; the symbols became the thread in the Image. The first series of work was called 'Southlands the Passage.'"

Dalana's art, which she calls "Ionic Futurism," feels and looks to me as if it flows out of a Jewish soul. I see Jewish stars, the Torah, a menorah, rebbes, and the like.

When I speak to her, I get the sense that she is, indeed, Jewish, although she isn't. We feel like kindred spirits.

She greets me and says goodbye to me in Hebrew. "Shalom," she says. 

To contact Dalana about her art or to find out more about her, click here or here.

You can see a video of Dalana talking about her art in general on a PBS show below.