Born and raised in Chicago, I attended Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois from January 1964 through June 1966.

Leaving the academic world by choice, I joined the corporate world for thirty years. For twenty- three years I worked with Continental Airline-first as a flight attendant, then as a supervisor of flight attendants, as well as sixteen in Sales and Marketing. After leaving the airline industry I started my own travel agency called DG Travel. I parlayed my experience as a stewardess and staff supervisor for Continental Airlines into a travel agency specializing in group tours to Israel, Egypt and Greece.

I served as a Christian minister in the African American community both in Chicago and Los Angeles for 14 years. I left that world in 1996 to fulfill my spiritual yearnings and to become a Jew. After visiting Israel 14 times in five years, I presented myself before the Jerusalem Beis Din-rabbinical court- as a candidate for conversion to Judaism. My halachic conversion process took two years.

I identify with the Chareidi-traditional Orthodox-community and have lived my life daily according to the mitzvos of the Torah since 1996. I presently reside in Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem and pray at the Gra shul every Shabbath and festivals.

My Jerusalem neighborhood is far from my grandparent's and parents roots in Mound Bayou, Mississippi, but close in spirit to the sentiments of my loving family. I still maintain a close relationship with the surviving members of my family. It has been my privilege to meet many fascinating people from all walks of life. They have influenced my appreciation for the world at large, and for the innate dignity of the human soul. My autobiography, My Sister the Jew, was published by Targum/Feldheim in 2001.

I have extensive experience addressing audiences, both adults as well as youth, having taught a tefillah(prayer) class at “Michlalet Esther,” a division of Neve Yerushalayim (a women's seminary in Israel) and have traveled around the world as a speaker on behalf of my book, recently speaking at Oxford University.

In terms of my professional work, I am author, lecturer and tour guide. I recently started a small business in Israel as a marketing consultant for small businesses. In addition, I specialize in motivational seminars, as well as in workshops focusing on prayer, inspiration and career objectives.

 

 

Ahuvah Gray