From a Quest for Justice to a Life of Faith: Chaya Bisker’s Journey to Her True Identity

For a young woman growing up in the complex and often violent landscape of Colombia, the quest for justice was a powerful, driving force. This existential pursuit led her to a career in law, where she excelled and found a position at the country's most important court. Yet, as she would discover, her true path to justice was not found in a courtroom, but in a spiritual return to her roots.

Her name is Chaya Bisker, and her life is a testament to the transformative power of faith and personal conviction. Her journey began in Colombia, where a childhood marked by violence and societal questions led her to a love for constitutional law.

“I always wondered why good people are killed and why bad people exist,” she shared. “And that search for justice led me to decide to become a lawyer.”

Through her love for study and extracurricular activities, she secured a prestigious position at the Constitutional Court, a place she saw as a beacon of hope for social change.

A Sense of Belonging: The Trip to Israel

The trajectory of Chaya’s life shifted dramatically when she first visited Israel at the age of 28. It wasn't a planned spiritual pilgrimage, but a combination of an academic trip and an invitation from a friend. The moment she stepped off the plane, she experienced an overwhelming feeling that she could not explain. It was a sense of coming home.

“I had a feeling that is difficult to explain, but it is a feeling of belonging,” she recalled. “It’s like having returned to my house…a sensation of satisfaction, pleasure, peace, calm, tranquility.”

This trip, initially scheduled for three months, turned into a year, during which Chaya began to feel the "seed of belonging to the Jewish people" planted within her. After returning to Colombia to resume her legal career, she realized her life would never be the same. The pull to return to her roots was undeniable.

The Path of a Convert: A Difficult but Necessary Journey

The formal conversion process was long and arduous. For two years, Ms. Bisker studied, learned, and integrated into a new community in Colombia. She changed her lifestyle, her diet, and her daily routines, driven by an unwavering conviction that her true identity lay in Judaism.

“I had no other option in my life than to be Jewish, and I need you to help me,” she told a rabbi who initially tried to dissuade her. Her logic was rooted in her lifelong quest for justice: Chaya came to believe that the Jewish people, as the chosen people of God, were entrusted with the job of carrying out true justice in the world.

The conversion process culminated in Miami and was later reinforced in Israel. Her journey taught her three core life lessons: the importance of questioning one's identity, the transformative power of vulnerability and humility, and the fundamental value of bitachon, unwavering trust in God's plan.

“I can never forget where I come from,” she said, “and I can never forget that it is a path of growth to remember that being part of this people is a merit, and that merit is earned every day.”

Débora's Arrival: A New Purpose

After Chaya Bisker’s conversion and marriage to an Orthodox man, her life took another unexpected turn with the birth of her first daughter, Débora, who was born with Down syndrome. While initially a source of grief and uncertainty, Shalva Institute’s team deeply ingrained faith gave her the strength to see the event as part of a divine plan.

"I believe that Hashem had prepared me with all my path to be very strong precisely in Emunah and Bitachon," she said.

The birth of Débora led the Bisker family to Shalva, a Jerusalem-based center for individuals with disabilities. Their personal experience with the center transformed their lives and gave them a new mission: to become ambassadors for compassion and human dignity. They now work to spread Shalva's message globally, promoting the idea that values like love and empathy are more important than ever in a world driven by technology.

A Bridge Between Worlds

Today, Chaya Bisker has transformed her personal journey of self-discovery into a professional calling. She is an author, a social media personality, and a podcast host, helping others find their own path to personal growth. She also hosts a television program that gives a voice to women who have inspiring stories to tell, serving as a bridge between cultures and nations.

“It is very necessary today, with the wave of anti-Semitism we are experiencing, to have people who can truly understand both worlds and have paths of conciliation and harmony,” reflected Ms. Bisker.

Chaya’s ultimate goal is to become a Jewish leader who helps others discover their own "path of return" and fosters a deeper connection between the people of Israel and the world.