She Saw a Light Underwater: A Life-Changing Near-Death Experience

For many, Tunisia feels like a distant chapter in Jewish history. But even today, a small number of Jewish families remain there, holding onto their identity under challenging conditions.

Rachel Bork grew up in one of those families. Her story is one of fear, survival, and a powerful journey toward faith and belonging.

Growing Up Almost Without Judaism

“I was born in Tunisia,” Rachel recalls. “We always knew we were Jewish. My grandfather was a rabbi and a chazan in Tunis. But my parents were far removed from Torah and mitzvot.”

Rachel’s family lived outside the capital, in a place where only a few Jewish families remained. Their connection to Judaism was minimal, limited mostly to a small Chabad school with just a handful of students.

“Even as a child, I felt drawn to Shabbat,” she says. “But I didn’t know how to keep it. I didn’t even understand what God was.”

Living With Fear

Rachel describes a childhood shaped by constant fear.

Every day, she and her sisters walked long distances through hostile neighborhoods. “People could tell we were Jewish from far away,” she says. “They would chase us and shout threats. We were truly afraid for our lives.”

When she later arrived in Israel, the change was overwhelming. “For a long time, I walked with my eyes down. I couldn’t believe you could walk safely, with your head held high.”

A Near-Death Experience That Changed Everything

At the age of seven, Rachel experienced a moment that would shape her life.

During a visit to a hotel with her family, she and her sister entered the pool. When her sister panicked, she grabbed onto Rachel, pulling her underwater.

“I understood that if I tried to save myself, my sister might drown,” Rachel says. “I chose to stay and help her, even if it meant I might die.”

What followed was something she never forgot.

“I felt myself leaving. There was a bright, powerful light, and a feeling of overwhelming love. It was peaceful, beyond anything I had ever experienced. I didn’t want to leave.”

Then, suddenly, both girls were pushed toward the side of the pool.

“There was no one there to help us,” she says. “There was no explanation.”

Later, her sister described the same experience.

For Rachel, it left a lasting impression. “We understood there is a God. We couldn’t ignore it.”

A Growing Connection to Hashem

After that experience, Rachel began to develop her own relationship with Hashem.

“I would speak to Him like a child speaks to a parent,” she says. “I would ask Him to take us out of Tunisia. We couldn’t live like that anymore.”

She began lighting Shabbat candles and building a quiet but meaningful connection to faith.

A First Glimpse of Israel

At age sixteen, Rachel had the opportunity to visit Israel through a program organized by the Jewish Agency.

Her father was hesitant, but he allowed her and her sister to go.

“It changed everything,” she says. “I knew I wanted to come back and study there.”

The following year, she returned to Israel on her own to study. It was a turning point.

“In Tunisia, I struggled in school,” she explains. “But in Israel, I decided not to give up on myself. I worked hard and succeeded beyond what I thought was possible.”

She also deepened her connection to Judaism, supported by teachers who believed in her and encouraged her growth.

Loss and a New Beginning

During a visit back to Tunisia, tragedy struck.

Rachel’s father was killed in a car accident. “We didn’t even have time to say goodbye,” she says.

With the help of the Jewish Agency, her mother and younger sister were brought to Israel, along with her father’s body for burial.

Rachel remembers the support they received during that time, especially from a man named Pierre Bassanou, who helped them settle and rebuild their lives.

“We had nothing,” she says. “Everything was left behind. But he stood by us and helped us start again.”

Building a Life in Israel

Years later, Rachel looks back with gratitude.

Today, she is married, a mother of four, and works as an art teacher. She continues to grow, with plans to study art therapy and help children in meaningful ways.

“Every Friday night when I light candles, I remember being a little girl in Tunisia,” she says. “I remember my prayers, asking Hashem to help us leave. And now I see how everything came true.”

Faith That Remains

Rachel sometimes shares her story with her children.

“They ask for pictures,” she says. “But we have none. We left everything behind.”

She recently visited Tunisia again, seeing her old home and her father’s shop, but nothing remained theirs.

Despite everything, her message is clear.

“Life is not easy for anyone,” she says. “But I know how close Hashem is. That is what gives me strength.”

Her story is not only about hardship, but about faith, resilience, and the quiet ways a person can come to discover a deeper connection to something greater.