An exploration of
Judaism leads
Jeff Maza to an
Orthodox lifestyle.

JENNIFER FINER STAFF WRITER

A

t one time, Jeff Maza
was content selling
mortgages, living in
Waterford and spend-
ing free time on his
speedboat.
Still, something was
missing from his life, a
void he felt only religion

could fill.
"I've always been involved in
doing something Jewish," Mr.
Maza said. "I wanted more for my
future and my family, when I
have one. It's also because I be-
lieve in the Torah and everything
it teaches. The Torah is not just
about a few holidays a year."
During his Andover High
School days, Mr. Maza was active
in B'nai B'rith Youth Organiza-
tion, serving as his chapter pres-
ident. When Mr. Maza went to
college — Eastern Michigan Uni-
versity — he helped start a chap-
ter of Alpha Epsilon Pi, a Jewish
fraternity.
His spiritual journey began
with Friday night services at

Temple Israel, the congregation
where he grew up, and took him
to a yeshiva in Monsey, N.Y.
After seriously testing the wa-
ters of Reform Judaism, in the fall
of 1994 he accepted an invitation
to spend Shabbat with an Ortho-
dox friend.
Attending an Orthodox wed-
ding was the clincher.
"It was so much fun, and there
was so much Jewish bonding," he
said. "I couldn't see myself not
having a wedding like this."
He also spent a weekend at
Ohr Somayach, one of the largest
introductory Jewish learning cen-
ters in the country. Men from
around the world go to Monsey to
learn at the organization's yeshi-
va. Later he would move there,
but first Mr. Maza spent six
months living with an Orthodox
family in Oak Park.
"I remember thinking, 'This is
exactly what I want, the atmos-
phere of a Jewish family,' "he said.
His own family members were
curious about Mr. Maza's choices,

but they were willing to support dividual is different, and level of
his decision.
observance varies."
Mr Maza, 27, was so convinced
Becoming Orthodox changed
he'd found what he was looking for Mr. Maza inside and out.
that he sold his boat and his house,
"I'm more fearful of what to say,"
and last October he moved to Mon- Mr. Maza said. "I don't want to
sey.
hurt someone, I don't gossip any-
He went from selling
more."
mortgages to learning 14 Jeff M am shed
'1 got my hair cut about
hours a day. Then he start- should er-length five months ago because I
ed studying less and began hair fo r tefillin. put on tefillin every day
teaching English and math
and it makes it easier.
at a Chasidic school.
Mr. Maza said it took time to ad-
When an outreach-director po- just to following the laws of the
sition became available at Ohr So- Torah. "You can't just put a
mayach, Mr. Maza filled the post yarmulke on your head and feel
that had always been held by a religious," he said.
rabbi.
'I've seen both sides of the road.
Rabbi Avraham Jacobovitz, the I've seen a few people who are Or-
founder and director of Machon thodox their whole lives, and they
L'Torah in Oak Park, said finding take things for granted. I think in
young adults like Mr. Maza is not my case, things have more mean-
that unusual.
ing than for some who were born
"We've seen quite a few in the into it.
last 10 years," said Rabbi Ja-
"It also has its disadvantages.
cobovitz, with whom Mr. Maza I've seen 8-year-old boys who
used to study. "Young adults are know more than I do. But I think
realizing they're missing a lot of that just pushes me to keep learn-
the Jewish background. Each in- ing." ❑

