In the waning days of The Jerusalem Journey (TJJ) summer program in 2011, Bus 7 pulled into a secluded hilltop that overlooked the city of Jerusalem. The program was the first time many of the teens had been in Israel and it was an emotional moment, but for one teen, the moment proved to be life-changing. As the teens sat in a circle, Bus Director Josh Gottesman presented a pair of tefillin, sponsored anonymously, to Peter Century, a tenth grader from Cleveland Heights.
“We knew it would mean something to Peter,” Gottesman explained. “Tefillin is such an incredible mitzvah in terms of personal growth. Peter had a spark and we knew it would kindle something deep inside him.”
Peter was bewildered and inspired. TJJ was what he considers his first real Jewish experience. Up until then, his only other Jewish experience was what he described as a “fake bar mitzvah” that he asked his family to throw him because he thought he’d get cash. Otherwise, he had been almost totally unaware of his Jewish identity. During the busy summer, Pete had seen advisors and other members of the trip put on tefillin. They had explained the mitzvah to him and helped him wrap the black leather straps around his arms and head.
The pair of tefilin was only the beginning for Peter. He didn’t really know how to put them on so he needed to start learning. When he returned, he began visiting Cleveland NCSY Director Rabbi Arieh Friedner. Soon his visits became more frequent and he began spending every Shabbat with the family.
“I kept going back,” he said. “That was the only Judaism that I could hold on to.”
Since he didn’t have a Jewish name, the Friedner family helped him pick one: Yosef Shalom. Peter became closer and closer to the family, not only spending every Shabbat with them but also visiting them during the week. Since there wasn’t a synagogue close by, Pete began putting on his tefillin before school every morning. The next summer Peter decided to attend NCSY Kollel, another NCSY summer program, where he learnt more about his heritage.
This summer Peter returned to Kollel as a Counselor in Training (CIT). Mrs. Friedner made him promise to call her at least once a week. In a few months, Peter will begin his year in Israel, studying in Yeshivat Netiv Aryeh. The year in yeshiva will be the culmination of a long journey for Pete, one that he says was inspired in part by a pair of tefillin.
“When I was presented the tefillin, I guess you could say I thought to myself that now I actually have to do this,” he said.
To sponsor a pair of tefillin for a teen, click here.