Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer
Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer

Batyah Furz: How a Filipino Christian with a PhD Left It All to Become an Orthodox Jew

January 24, 2026

AI Summary

5 min read

A Doctorate, a Toilet Brush, and a Soul's True Home

Batyah Furz was a successful professional in the Philippines—a teacher, a manager, a woman with a doctorate degree. She had built a life that looked complete from the outside. Then she found herself in Jerusalem, scrubbing someone else's toilet, wondering if this was really what God wanted from her. Her answer, then and now, is yes.

The Long Road Out of Christianity

Batyah grew up in a religiously divided home in the Philippines. Her mother was a Protestant Christian, her father a Catholic. She was baptized multiple times in her mother's congregation, a community that evolved over time into something increasingly unusual. The preacher introduced concepts that set them apart from mainstream Christianity: the Hebrew name of God, the 613 mitzvot, the prohibition on pork, the observance of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. They became a Messianic group—believing in both Hashem and Jesus, incorporating Jewish festivals while maintaining Jesus as the mediator.

Continue reading the full summary in the app — free to try.

Read Full Summary →

Free • No credit card required

Listen to Audio Summary Open in App

What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **Introduction: The Cost of Truth** - Host Yaakov Langer introduces Batyah Furz, a Filipina Christian with a PhD who left everything to convert to Orthodox Judaism.
  • 2 (01:36) **Mixed Christian Upbringing** - Batyah describes growing up in the Philippines with a Protestant mother and a Catholic father.
  • 3 (05:02) **Early Spiritual Conflicts** - Batyah recounts her first heartbreak over religion when she was barred from a Catholic ceremony because her baptism was not Catholic.
  • 4 (09:10) **First Encounters with Jewish Practice** - The preacher prohibited pork, a major staple of the Filipino diet, and Batyah felt a spiritual connection to the restriction.
  • 5 (12:00) **College and the Search for Salvation** - In a Christian college, Batyah debated classmates who claimed only their specific group (e.g., 10,000 people) would be saved, causing her anxiety about being left behind.
  • 6 (16:44) **The First Jew and the Idea of Conversion** - In 2016, while traveling in Thailand, Batyah met an Israeli Jew who brought her to a kosher restaurant and mentioned conversion for the first time.
  • 7 (20:12) **Visiting Synagogues: Reform vs. Orthodox** - In 2018, Batyah visited a Reform synagogue in Melbourne, Australia, and was underwhelmed, finding it similar to a Christian service with mixed seating and a female-led service.

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Inspiration for the Nation is the weekly Jewish podcast from Living Lchaim, hosted by Yaakov Langer.


Batyah had everything in her life, a close family, a successful career, and a deep connection to Christianity. Then one day, her pastor stood before the congregation and admitted that everything he had been preaching was false. In that moment, her entire world collapsed. But even in the confusion, she felt certain that God was real. She just needed to find the truth.


Her search led her to explore Judaism. It meant walking away from her career and leaving her family behind as she traveled from the Philippines to Israel. She took on a cleaning job, a role that was humbling and incredibly difficult, but she accepted it with a simple thought: if this is what Hashem wants from me right now, I’ll do it.


From there, her path only grew stronger. She converted to Orthodox Judaism, married an Israeli man who grew up in a very charedi neighborhood, and today she is a proud Jewish influencer living in the United States. Her journey is raw, brave, and full of faith.


Follow Batyah here:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jewishfilipine/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@jewishfilipine

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1HLzv774rd/



✬ SPONSORS OF THE EPISODE ✬


► United Refua Healthshare: Spend Less, Save More, Get Care

Imagine healthcare that puts you first - and can save you thousands.


Enroll here

→ https://bit.ly/3MD9RN9

→ 440-772-0700

→ Eli's Kosher Money Episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jnNaMEumWQg&t=4s


► BitBean: Smart Custom Software Built for You


Yaakov here. Just make the call. They can help you.


Reach Out Here

→ https://bitbean.link/MeEBlY


► Zahler: The Go To Supplement Place


What if there was ozempic, but not needles, safer, more tested, Better? Meet Berberine.If you want smart, science-backed support, Zahler is a strong choice.


Take 15% OFF any Zahler product with code:

INSPIRE


→ https://bit.ly/3M3CtPI


► Wheels To Lease: #1 Car Company


For over 35 years, Wheels To Lease has offered stress-free car buying with upfront pricing, no hidden fees, and door-to-door delivery.


Call today!

→ CALL/TEXT: 718-871-8715

→ EMAIL: [email protected]

→ WEB: https://bit.ly/41lnzYU

→ WHATSAPP: https://wa.link/0w46ce


✬ IN MEMORY OF ✬


This episode is in memory of:

  • ​ Shimon Dovid ben Yaakov Shloima
  • ​ Miriam Sarah bas Yaakov Moshe


Have a specific question? email us [email protected]

#iftn


Lchaim.

Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer

More from this podcast

Inspiration for the Nation with Yaakov Langer →