AJU’s Miller Intro to Judaism Program Helps L.A. Woman Discover Her Jewish Journey
For Havva Sevis, the road to discovering Judaism led her from Istanbul to Los Angeles—and eventually to American Jewish University’s (AJU) Miller Intro to Judaism program.
Sevis grew up in Turkey in a nonreligious Muslim household, surrounded by members of Istanbul’s vibrant Jewish community. Though she always felt drawn to Judaism, formally joining the Jewish people seemed out of reach.
That changed after she met her now-husband, an Iranian Jewish man, while living in Los Angeles during the pandemic. The two connected over the dating app Hinge and eventually married. Wanting their future children to be halachically Jewish, Sevis sought a conversion program—and a friend recommended AJU’s Miller Intro to Judaism program.
Sevis enrolled in the three-month course, led by AJU instructor Rabbi Patricia Fenton, and found herself deeply inspired by the experience.
“I experienced Jewish holidays in Turkey and with my husband here, but when I learned about them from Rabbi Pat at AJU, it was different,” said Sevis. “And I learned Jewish history, which I never knew about, thanks to the AJU program.”
Last year, Sevis completed her conversion, culminating in a spiritual immersion at the AJU Community Mikvah, located at the Milken East Campus in Bel Air. Initially intimidated by the ritual, she found the process both comforting and transformative.
“At first I got scared because you’re going under the water,” she said, “but it was a very easy process.”
Today, Sevis, her husband, and their six-month-old daughter, Liana, are active members of Temple Ramat Zion, a Conservative congregation in Northridge.
Outside of her spiritual life, Sevis helps run Junior Cookies, her family’s popular boutique bakery with locations in Santa Monica and West Hollywood and a new site opening soon in Studio City. Known for its artisanal cookie cups—like the apple-almond variety for Rosh Hashanah and sufganiyot cookie cups for Hanukkah—the bakery has attracted endorsements from celebrities and influencers including “Call Her Daddy” host Alex Cooper and “Real Housewives of Orange County” star Heather Dubrow.
Reflecting on her journey, Sevis credits AJU with helping her find not only a faith, but a community.
“When I started to feel closer to Judaism, day by day, I wanted to convert and started searching for where I could learn the basics,” Sevis said. “Learning about holidays with all their detailed information was so special for me. I would recommend this course to my friends and family because it was online, very educational, and our teacher, Rabbi Pat, was amazing.”
Learn more about AJU’s Miller Intro to Judaism program at aju.edu/maascenter.