From Secular Reporter to Embracing Faith: The Journey of Carmit Reuven

Carmit Reuven-Bitzallel might remind you of daily news broadcasts or health ministry reforms if her name rings a bell. For years, she was a prominent health correspondent for Channel B and a news anchor at Galei Tzahal. A media personality, she uncovered numerous exclusive stories, particularly in health, interviewing fascinating figures and spearheading significant investigations. But eight years ago, everything changed when she made a seemingly irrational decision - left her Tel Aviv job, married her husband, and focused on starting a family. Today, they have four children, living an observant lifestyle, embracing all aspects of faith. Such a dramatic twist was beyond any plot Carmit could cover in her media career. "Even the most imaginative author wouldn't dream of this," she muses with a smile. In an exclusive interview with 'Hidabroot,' Carmit reveals her compelling journey from secular media depths to a world of faith. **Chapter 1: From Kibbutz to Media** "I grew up on a kibbutz with all that it entails," Carmit begins. "I wasn't just disconnected from Judaism, my parents and grandparents were also detached. I was a third generation of secularism, with no awareness of *Hashem*. Within me, there was a sense of belief and a connection to some higher power I couldn't name, but I kept it secret, fearing ridicule." Her secular identity solidified with age, breeding an absolute aversion to religion, despite no personal acquaintance with religious people. Ironically, she loved Bible classes, intrigued by the stories, although taught with skewed interpretations, focusing mainly on their literary style. The real encounter with the world of faith started when her cousin returned to Orthodox Judaism and married Shimon Azrad, a religious man. "Our family was worried," she recalls. "I personally took it hard, insisting she'd disappear forever. But not only did she not vanish, but soon they also hosted a Shabbat for the cousins to give us a taste of Judaism." Carmit joined that Shabbat, surprised at how pleasant her cousin's husband was. "Throughout Shabbat, I challenged him with questions and debates, but he didn't argue back as I expected. Instead, he complimented my thinking. On the drive back to Tel Aviv, I kept asking questions. My cousin tried to stop me, but her husband said, 'Can't you see there's a great *neshama* here?' Those words are engraved in my heart forever. Yes, a great *neshama*." The couple invited Carmit to more Shabbat visits, and her cousin's husband told her, "If you come, you might meet *Tzvi Yehezkeli* who often visits us on Shabbat." Drawn by the famous journalist's name, Carmit, whose dream was journalism, saw this as a golden opportunity. "Despite excelling in my studies, I had no idea how to break into leading channels. It was the first I learned Tzvi Yehezkeli was approaching Judaism, which surprised me. But mainly I wanted to meet him for any tip or help into the field." **Chapter 2: Rising as a Health Reporter** Tzvi Yehezkeli did help Carmit, introducing her to Channel 10. He repeatedly told her, 'I don't recommend the profession. I don't know what you're looking for here. It's better to return to faith, marry, and have kids.'" Carmit wasn't listening. "After the tour, my only question was, 'What did you do to enter the channel?' He answered, 'I studied at Koteret School.' That moment, I enrolled there, and within three months, found myself reporting for Channel B of 'Kol Yisrael,' stepping in for a political reporter who took a leave for marriage. Shortly after, a health correspondent position opened, and I took it." She gave her role everything. "It was 2009, just after elections, when Deputy Minister Yaakov Litzman took office. As a diligent reporter, I attended the first conference where I encountered my first Charedi up close. Not knowing if I could speak to him, I approached his aide, Yaakov Isaac, also Charedi, asking if women were allowed to speak with the Deputy. He laughed, saying if I was a reporter, I could schedule an interview. Soon after, I was at Litzman's office in the Knesset, a meeting that impressed me greatly. We discussed many 'off-the-record' matters I can't disclose, but it was a chance to meet an extraordinary Jew, shattering my stereotypes and opening professional doors in the ministry." **Chapter 3: The First Shabbat** Months passed, then came Yom Kippur, a turning point for Carmit. "My sister, sick, couldn't attend synagogue, so I stayed with her. Listening to her pray Al Chet She'Chatanu, hitting her chest and crying, I felt deep embarrassment. 'I committed these sins,' I realized, 'and need repentance.' This eye-opening moment sparked a desire to leave sins and embrace the right path." Due to financial struggles, Carmit moved back with her parents in Tel Aviv, leaving 'Kol Yisrael' for anchoring at Galei Tzahal on Fridays. "One winter Friday, returning from work late, almost at Shabbat's start, I thought, 'Why not start observing Shabbat? I believe in Hashem, right?' I took the plunge, microwaving my only sweet potato just before Shabbat to serve as a meal. Borrowing Shabbat candles, I lit them, proud yet bored. No *siddur* to pray. A book by a professor detailing a near-death experience captivated me, alongside my simple 'festive' meal. This humble meal felt fulfilling, and I was proud it turned out so tasty." "Afterwards, with an eye mask blocking the room's light due to no Shabbat timer, the real challenge hit the next morning: unable to open the fridge for food, not even hot coffee without a Shabbat kettle. So, I ventured to a synagogue, the first I found, modest with a small crowd that deeply moved me. The name 'Reuven' on the decor, also my family name, resonated with me. Yes, this was my place, where I belonged." At the service's end, a kind woman engaged in conversation, inviting her to join their Kiddush from Bnei Brak, saving her from hunger. Their leisurely meal and regular Shabbat visits filled her with gratitude. **Chapter 4: In the Right Place** As Carmit embraced faith, famously inviting into a support network for women returning to Judaism, immersing in endless Torah lessons and lectures by prominent rabbis, she steadily shed her secular persona. Her decision to uphold family purity served as a final springboard to meet her current husband, Ran Bitzallel. Married three months after meeting, Carmit now fully resides in a dramatically different world, balancing family life with a passion for Jewish teachings. "Do you miss the media world?" Carmit pauses. "Occasionally, I miss it," she admits. "But I express this through my health website, sharing freely chosen articles. My creative project releasing *Tehillim* recordings, aiding others in reading, especially the blind, fills me with joy." More than anything, watching her children's joyous return from Jewish schools, permeating festivities with tradition, fulfills her. "I'm grateful daily for their *girsa d’yanuka*, witnessing what I never received," she reflects with satisfaction in Hashem's guidance.