Sigalit Toldano Finds Spiritual Home in Judaism After Years Abroad and Mixed Marriage
Sigalit Toldano, raised in a left-wing Israeli family in Arad, embarked on a nine-year journey around the world before returning to Judaism. Growing up in a semi-traditional home, she was deeply influenced by values of equality, humanism, and liberalism, shaped by her involvement in the Hashomer Hatzair youth movement and the Meretz party. At 16, she engaged in dialogues with Arab youth, hoping for peace, while also enjoying studying the Bible without understanding its spiritual dimension.
After serving as an army officer, Toldano traveled extensively, eventually settling in Australia where she married a Swiss-French non-Jewish man. The couple’s first child sparked a debate about circumcision, introducing her to Jewish practices through a community mohel. Returning to Israel, she explored mysticism, yoga, and meditation but ultimately found meaningful answers in Judaism, particularly through Kabbalah and community experiences in Tel Aviv and Bnei Brak.
Her husband did not share her religious path, leading to their separation and a complex legal battle over marriage and her children’s education. Throughout this period, the Chabad community provided crucial support, offering her a welcoming environment and practical help. Toldano later remarried a fellow baal teshuva and together they built a new home.
Today, she lectures and teaches Jewish NLP, blending positive psychology with Jewish sources to guide others through personal transformation. She emphasizes the importance of community as a foundation for growth and change, stating, "One must agree to walk the path and believe there is someone accompanying you every step of the way."
