Press

The Ultimate Makeover Jewish Press
March 11, 2005
By Helen Zegerman Schwimmer

Kosher wig? Check. High neckline? Check. Low hemline? Check. Can this observant woman standing next to her husband Tuvia and two sons, Ariel and Shalom, be the actress, singer and dancer formerly known as Christine Horii? Some stories are worthy of Hollywood endings. Ours has a Hollywood beginning.

Act One: A young Japanese-American leaves her home and family in Hawaii and travels to L.A. to fulfill her dream of stardom. She ultimately acts, sings and dances her way to Broadway appearing in such hits as Miss Saigon and Shogun and at Radio City Music Hall as one of the world famous Rockettes.

Act Two: Enter Todd Factor, producer, director and the love of her life. Although not religious himself, he makes it clear that marriage outside his faith is not an option. Todd is definitely leading man material but is she ready to accept the role of a lifetime? To learn more about Judaism she heads for mecca, her local Barnes & Noble superstore. Impressed with what she reads, she begins to study in earnest.

The incredible story of how Christine Horii from Hawaii became Rachel Factor of Jerusalem is told with pathos, with humor and with affection in her one-woman show, J.A.P. currently charming audiences across the U.S.A. and Canada.

When the curtain rises and we first meet Rachel she is a lone figure dwarfed by an empty stage. But as she artfully weaves together the story of her life through words and music, this gifted performer populates the stage with a supporting cast that includes her loving family, her friends, her mentors, and her rabbis.

Fateful Encounters of the Best Kind

Even though Rachel had undergone a Conservative conversion, when it came time to pick a mohel for her first-born, "I wanted the best," she confides during an interview. The best, Rabbi Paysach Krohn, gently encouraged her to reconsider an Orthodox conversion for the benefit of her children.

Fate intervened once again when the couple spent Shabbos in the home of Queens neighbor Rabbi Yehudah Zakutinsky, founder and director of the outreach organization Hashevaynu. "I never experienced anything like the warmth and beauty of that day," Rachel admits. "It was both Shabbos and Succos and Adina, the rabbi's wife, had prepared a beautiful feast for the forty people in their sukkah." Rabbi Zakutinsky's eloquent talk about the Jewish people spoke to them on a very personal level. The following week Simchas Torah fell on Shabbos. Inspired by what they had encountered in the Zakutinsky home, "we kept our first Shabbos and have kept every Shabbos since."

Another fateful encounter. Each Friday, Todd looked forward to the weekly visits from the young Chabadniks who came to his workplace to put on tefillin. After leaving Queens, Rachel decided a pair of tefillin would be the perfect birthday gift for her husband. The purchase brought Rabbi Simcha Kallus into their lives and so began Todd's study of Torah. Learning after work, he became so intensely involved he often didnç™þt return home until 3 a.m. When he confessed that he was "happier than I've ever been in my life," the couple realized that this was exactly the kind of purpose-filled, spiritual life they wanted for their growing family.

For Rachel, this would mean more than just a fashion overhaul. This was the ultimate makeover. "I could no longer act or dance professionally." Or so she thought, totally unaware of the significant new role that was waiting for her in the wings. "My parnosa came from television and print commercials but tznius (modesty) meant I had to give all of that up." Was she ready? Rachel eagerly renewed her commitment to Judaism by an Orthodox Beis Din and never looked back.

Why Rachel? "It wasn't my first choice but the rabbis suggested a more meaningful, traditional name like Sarah or Rachel." Initially concerned that such a name was a lot to live up to she eventually deferred to the rabbis' wisdom. "I thought there must be a reason they are asking this of me and after I learned the history and legacy of Rachel I'm so glad I followed their advice."

The Plot Thickens

With the encouragement of Rabbi Kallus they traveled to Israel where Tuvia planned to study for three months at Aish HaTorah in the Old City. Just three days into their trip Jerusalem had already worked its magic on them. They wanted to make Israel their permanent home. "We thought maybe we were just being romantic and crazy so we decided to give ourselves some time," Rachel recalled. Celebrating the high holidays in Israel and spending an inspiring Shabbos with the people of Kohav Yaakov near Ramallah clinched it for them. "We would make aliyah."

When their second son Shalom was born Rachelç™þs mother made the arduous trip from Hawaii. "It was very difficult for her but she wanted to see her grandson and she too fell in love with Jerusalem." The bris took place in Mea Shearim and (gasps from the audience at this revelation) renowned Rabbi Shalom Yosef Elyashiv was the baby's Sendak. Rachel marvels that, "I who had once been uncomfortable saying the word G-d have children who say the shema every night at bedtime."

While Tuvia continued learning with Rabbi Moshe Greenfield at Aish HaTorah, Rachel wrote and performed a one-woman show for female audiences. When Shani, the rabbiç™þs wife, enthusiastically endorsed Rachel's performance the rabbi became instrumental in bringing the show to a world-wide audience. For Rachel this is the fulfillment of another dream.

"The proceeds from this tour will build a Center for the Theater Arts in Jerusalem, a special place where women can maintain their religious ideals and give to their children and their community. We have baalei teshuvah with amazing skills who will use their talents to teach courses like drama, writing, fitness, and dance." Rachel envisions a performance space which will include an educational children's theater for original works based on torah stories.

"With a firm belief in Hashem," she is convinced that, "after we return from our tour the arts center will happen." Like her biblical namesake who devoted her life to her children, Rachel Factor has merited that her "efforts and endeavors will be rewarded."