‘It’s Never Too Late To Begin’: Social Media Influencer Movingly Describes His Search For Judaism

JERUSALEM (VINnews) — In a moving post presented on his Facebook page, Semyon Grafman, a social media celebrity in Israel, shared with his followers his feelings on trying to find his way to Judaism. Grafman posted a picture of himself wearing Tefillin in their boxes and wrote that “this was my first selfie when I put on Tefillin by myself the first time. Only those who wear Tefillin would see the problem and only after I finished doing the selfie did I realize what I had done. At that moment I sat down and began to laugh at myself but the laughing quickly turned to tears, tears of shame that I as a 46-year-old person did not know basic things. I kept the picture for a time when I could upload it and tell you about it, tell you that it doesn’t matter what age you are, its never to late to begin to learn and to ask for help. Most important- before you jump to conclusions, take a moment.

“Today I put on Tefillin almost daily, I can’t say I am getting stronger, because what was I before? Weak? I think what is happening to me is an amazing journey which allows me daily to discover something new and see the world from another angle and it really excites me. Today I am 47 but my knowledge of Judaism and Torah is that of a child taking his first steps, so all that I ask is to give me a hand.”

Grafman has participated in a number of Jewish ceremonies and is pictured here lighting Chanukah candles at the Aleh center for handicapped children in Bnei Brak

ממשיך בהתחזקות. כוכב הרשת סמיון גרפמן הגיע היום להדלקת נר חנוכה במרכז השיקומי עלה בבני ברק. סמיון בירך על הנרות והודה לצוותים על הטיפול המסור בילדים המיוחדים pic.twitter.com/JWXI8rCOF3

— ישראל כהן (@Israelcohen911) November 29, 2021