From Manila to Meaning: Patrick’s Journey Through AJU’s Intro to Judaism
Being based approximately 7,300 miles from American Jewish University didn’t stop Patrick John Ray Carpio, a resident of the Philippines, from tuning in each week for AJU’s Intro to Judaism program.
Carpio—who was part of the November 2024 cohort—lives in Manila, the Philippine capital. Raised Catholic, he had long been curious about Judaism and decided to enroll in the course. Much to his surprise, he connected with another Philippines-based student—an example of the program’s global reach.
Speaking to AJU over Zoom from his office in Manila, Carpio said he found the class both engaging and meaningful. He is especially interested in Jewish spirituality, and he praised the program for balancing practice with deeper exploration. “It was focused on Jewish ritual and also touched on more spiritual topics like faith and God,” he said.
For Carpio, the journey to that virtual classroom began not with a formal course, but with questions—persistent ones that, for years, went unanswered. Raised in a devout Catholic environment and later attending a born-again Christian church with his wife, he found himself searching for deeper meaning during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“I had a lot of free time,” he said. “There were a lot of questions that remained unanswered whenever I would talk with a priest or a pastor. They never gave me the right answer. So, I kept on searching.”
That search led him, unexpectedly, to Jewish learning. Through an online rabbi’s teachings, Carpio began studying Torah daily. What he discovered resonated immediately. “The more I studied, it made a lot of sense,” he said. “Judaism—it’s not faith-based only; it’s action.”
He was particularly drawn to the idea of refining one’s character as a way of repairing the world. “When I discovered the concept of changing your character traits in order for you to repair the world, it became an important mission of mine,” he said. “It’s a beautiful thing.”
Equally compelling was Judaism’s theological openness. “The idea that you don’t have to belong to a particular faith in order for you to be saved—again, that’s a beautiful thing,” he said. “If every person was created in God’s image, then why should we say one group will be saved and others won’t? It doesn’t make sense.”
By the time he enrolled in AJU’s Intro to Judaism course, Carpio was already deeply engaged. Still, the structured learning, community and access to a knowledgeable instructor elevated the experience.
He credits the course instructor, Rabbi Pat Fenton, with creating a welcoming environment. “That’s one of the reasons why I enjoyed the class so much,” he said. “She made you feel so welcome.”
Initially hesitant to speak up, Carpio found his voice through small breakout sessions. “I was the quiet type in class at the outset,” he said. “But in the breakout groups—four or five people—that’s where I started to open up and express myself more.”
That sense of belonging was not something he took for granted. As an Asian man exploring Judaism from a country with virtually no native Jewish population—according to estimates, there are approximately 100 Jews in the predominately Catholic country—he admitted to early concerns. “There was this fear that I might not be accepted in the group,” he said. “You don’t always see an Asian who is interested in Judaism.”
Those fears quickly dissipated. “Even before midway through the class, I felt so comfortable,” he said.
Carpio’s Jewish journey is unfolding in a uniquely challenging environment. “There are practically no Filipino Jews,” he said, noting that while there is an Orthodox synagogue and a Chabad presence in the Philippines, the Jewish community is largely made up of foreign nationals. Still, he has built connections with a small group of Jewish friends from the United States, Israel, Argentina and Europe.
He is now considering conversion, having already been connected with a sponsoring rabbi through AJU. “I told myself I need a little more time to study the past lessons,” he said. “But anytime now, before the year ends, I plan to contact the sponsoring rabbi.”
At home, his spiritual exploration has had a visible impact. Initially, his wife was resistant, shaped by theological concerns from her own faith tradition. But over time, she observed changes. “All of a sudden I’m praying, talking about God, telling my kids about the beauty of Judaism,” he said. “Right now, my wife even encourages me—‘Oh, let’s do Shabbat.’”
The family has begun observing Shabbat together, a practice Carpio introduced using materials from his AJU course. “The entire family is into it,” the father of 16-year-old twins said. “It’s amazing.”
For Carpio, the experience of studying Judaism is both intellectual and deeply personal. He appreciates the tradition’s encouragement of inquiry. “In Judaism, in order for you to learn, you have to ask questions. Keep asking and don’t stop until you get the answer,” he said. “I like that, because I like to think. I like to question.”
Even as he continues to deepen his learning, Carpio’s overall assessment of the program remains strongly positive. Across thousands of miles and within a vastly different cultural context, AJU’s Intro to Judaism course has provided not only knowledge, but a sense of direction.
“I’m still learning,” Carpio said. “But I know I’m on the right path.”
Learn more about AJU’s Maas Center for Jewish Journeys at aju.edu/maas-center