I'm originally from Seattle, Washington and was raised, secular. While making Aliyah and serving in a Combat unit in the IDF as a Lone Soldier I became a Baal Teshuva. After my military service I began studies at IDC Herzliya in Business and Marketing. I have many friends in Israel who are also Baal Teshuvas with similar backgrounds and are looking for a different kind of Yeshiva. A learning environment that is more welcoming to our secular backgrounds and that puts a large focus on Hasidis and building a person rather than just traditional studies. While living in Raanana I was introduced to many great Rabbis who have been teaching Baal Teshuvas for many years, including Rav Tuvia Bolton, and our local community Rabbi, Rav Moshe Cohen, mentioned his desire to expand our Beit Chabad by adding a Yeshiva. We discussed the possibility of Opening a Baal Teshuva yeshiva for English Speaking students and we realized that Raanana is the perfect place. I am not a rabbi, nor have I had very much formal Jewish Education, but my passion for our Tribe, and especially those of us who were raised in Secular society has been burning stronger than ever inside of me. Now is the time we can work together to make a change. To give those Jews who have been left out of the loop a chance to join us in our push to welcome the Moshiach and bring the Geula!