About the Author
Biographical sketch |
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International Author, Public Speaker, Lecturer
Irma Elisheva Diaz , (also known as Irma Elizabeth Diaz) is a born and raised Angeleno. She is an International Author, Public Speaker and lecturer whose holistic and inspirational communication skills has helped to nurture many through spiritual, mental and emotional health struggles . For the past 30 years she has been called upon to address Educators, Clergy, Physicians, Law enforcement, Business and Government leaders. Her work has taken her throughout South America, Europe, Israel and as far into Asia as India. From 1997 through 2011 the government of Brazil hosted her annually where she was given a strong voice through media outlets and scheduled speaking engagements for parliament and members of the United Nations. In addition, she worked with her team in the slums of Brazil helping families and orphanages in their quest to rescue infants and children from the streets enabling the mental and spiritual help that was needed to stabilize the lives of many families.
Health and Mental Health
Dr Diaz has worked with bereaved families for many years . From 2016 to 2023 she offered grief counseling and group therapy for Emanate Health whose affiliates were their Hospice and Home Care facility, Queen of the Valley Hospital, Inter-Community Hospital and Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in the San Gabriel Valley, California. She managed the Bereavement Department implementing the State of California regulations and developed and supervised a plan of care for approximately 500 families annually including post bereavement mental health risk assessments. Her latest book release is entitled The Impossible Possibility, offering guidance through grief and bereavement. (Archway Publishing from Simon & Schuster , 2019).
In January 2020 she joined Congresswoman Grace Napolitano’s (CA31st Congressional District) staff as her Health and Mental Health Liaison. She oversees the public health issues and manages the Mental health Consortium for the Congresswoman . The Mental Health Consortium is comprised of Mental and Behavioral Health Leaders that work in every area of our communities. The consortium comes together frequently in a roundtable format with first responders, educators, law enforcement, business leaders and clergy who come together to network, learn from one another, discuss trends and give their input regarding legislation. Grass root organizations that are directly working with low income and vulnerable communities which are adversely affected by stigma, trauma, poverty, and the recent pandemic (COVID 19) give their insight on what is needed to be effective as Mental health leaders. In May of 2020 she moderated a program with Dr Phil for Congresswoman Grace Napolitano and Congressman John Katko of New York on the topic of children's mental Health, suicide prevention and the pandemic. She frequently is invited by the US House of Representatives Chief Administrative Office (Coach Program) to participate as a panelist for training chiefs of staff and managers on a variety of topics.
As a Hispanic American she has been invited to participate in a variety of philanthropic efforts, helping her community and has participated in research on the underserved Hispanic population in hospice and palliative care. Dr. Diaz has tackled the obstacles that present themselves, such as the lack of opportunities for learning and instruction about health, quality of life and coping with death. She is currently a member of the Latino Mental health Advocacy Concilio (LMHAC) whose mission is to advocate for culturally and linguistically competent mental health services, policy and research for the Latino community in Los Angeles County. She recently was invited by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) to participate as a panelist in their 2021 Fall Health Summit moderated by Dr Leana Wen, CNN Medical Correspondent, addressing Mental Health in the Hispanic Community.
As a Sephardic (Hispanic) Jew who has studied in the Holy land, she has facilitated study groups to Israel since the early nineties and provides historical and cultural lectures. She is the Vice President of the Kol Sephardic Choir (ROSE) based in Los Angeles and sits on the Board of Directors for the Society for Crypto Judaic Studies a national association that fosters research, networking and exchange of information among scholars and descendants of Conversos. In addition, she is the founder of Ayekah.org. a non profit educational organization.
Dr/Rabbi Diaz was ordained a minister in 1986 and as of 2012 holds a rabbinic ordination. She is a member in good standing of the Union of Jewish Universalist (UJUC), based in New York since 2014. As clergy and in keeping with her book on Coexisting in a Religious World of Divide she has been able to create a space for different faiths to come together to learn in unity.
Her education includes a Master’s in theology and Doctor of Divinity from Covenant Life Theological Seminary in Gainesville, Georgia. She furthered her education with her focal point on Rabbinic Studies where she graduated in 2012 from The Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute (JSLI) in New York and with honors in 2013 from Gratz College (a private, coeducational Jewish college in Melrose Park, Pennsylvania). She received her Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies (BAJS) and was Awarded by the Faculty at Gratz College; the L. Bernard Rabinowitz Memorial Award for her unique leadership commitment and service to Jewish Institutions both religious and secular (May 2013).
Scroll down for information on her personal journey and return to her Sephardic heritage.
Author and Journalist
Books:
Irma Elisheva Diaz , (also known as Irma Elizabeth Diaz) is a born and raised Angeleno. She is an International Author, Public Speaker and lecturer whose holistic and inspirational communication skills has helped to nurture many through spiritual, mental and emotional health struggles . For the past 30 years she has been called upon to address Educators, Clergy, Physicians, Law enforcement, Business and Government leaders. Her work has taken her throughout South America, Europe, Israel and as far into Asia as India. From 1997 through 2011 the government of Brazil hosted her annually where she was given a strong voice through media outlets and scheduled speaking engagements for parliament and members of the United Nations. In addition, she worked with her team in the slums of Brazil helping families and orphanages in their quest to rescue infants and children from the streets enabling the mental and spiritual help that was needed to stabilize the lives of many families.
Health and Mental Health
Dr Diaz has worked with bereaved families for many years . From 2016 to 2023 she offered grief counseling and group therapy for Emanate Health whose affiliates were their Hospice and Home Care facility, Queen of the Valley Hospital, Inter-Community Hospital and Foothill Presbyterian Hospital in the San Gabriel Valley, California. She managed the Bereavement Department implementing the State of California regulations and developed and supervised a plan of care for approximately 500 families annually including post bereavement mental health risk assessments. Her latest book release is entitled The Impossible Possibility, offering guidance through grief and bereavement. (Archway Publishing from Simon & Schuster , 2019).
In January 2020 she joined Congresswoman Grace Napolitano’s (CA31st Congressional District) staff as her Health and Mental Health Liaison. She oversees the public health issues and manages the Mental health Consortium for the Congresswoman . The Mental Health Consortium is comprised of Mental and Behavioral Health Leaders that work in every area of our communities. The consortium comes together frequently in a roundtable format with first responders, educators, law enforcement, business leaders and clergy who come together to network, learn from one another, discuss trends and give their input regarding legislation. Grass root organizations that are directly working with low income and vulnerable communities which are adversely affected by stigma, trauma, poverty, and the recent pandemic (COVID 19) give their insight on what is needed to be effective as Mental health leaders. In May of 2020 she moderated a program with Dr Phil for Congresswoman Grace Napolitano and Congressman John Katko of New York on the topic of children's mental Health, suicide prevention and the pandemic. She frequently is invited by the US House of Representatives Chief Administrative Office (Coach Program) to participate as a panelist for training chiefs of staff and managers on a variety of topics.
As a Hispanic American she has been invited to participate in a variety of philanthropic efforts, helping her community and has participated in research on the underserved Hispanic population in hospice and palliative care. Dr. Diaz has tackled the obstacles that present themselves, such as the lack of opportunities for learning and instruction about health, quality of life and coping with death. She is currently a member of the Latino Mental health Advocacy Concilio (LMHAC) whose mission is to advocate for culturally and linguistically competent mental health services, policy and research for the Latino community in Los Angeles County. She recently was invited by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute (CHCI) to participate as a panelist in their 2021 Fall Health Summit moderated by Dr Leana Wen, CNN Medical Correspondent, addressing Mental Health in the Hispanic Community.
As a Sephardic (Hispanic) Jew who has studied in the Holy land, she has facilitated study groups to Israel since the early nineties and provides historical and cultural lectures. She is the Vice President of the Kol Sephardic Choir (ROSE) based in Los Angeles and sits on the Board of Directors for the Society for Crypto Judaic Studies a national association that fosters research, networking and exchange of information among scholars and descendants of Conversos. In addition, she is the founder of Ayekah.org. a non profit educational organization.
Dr/Rabbi Diaz was ordained a minister in 1986 and as of 2012 holds a rabbinic ordination. She is a member in good standing of the Union of Jewish Universalist (UJUC), based in New York since 2014. As clergy and in keeping with her book on Coexisting in a Religious World of Divide she has been able to create a space for different faiths to come together to learn in unity.
Her education includes a Master’s in theology and Doctor of Divinity from Covenant Life Theological Seminary in Gainesville, Georgia. She furthered her education with her focal point on Rabbinic Studies where she graduated in 2012 from The Jewish Spiritual Leaders Institute (JSLI) in New York and with honors in 2013 from Gratz College (a private, coeducational Jewish college in Melrose Park, Pennsylvania). She received her Bachelor of Arts in Jewish Studies (BAJS) and was Awarded by the Faculty at Gratz College; the L. Bernard Rabinowitz Memorial Award for her unique leadership commitment and service to Jewish Institutions both religious and secular (May 2013).
Scroll down for information on her personal journey and return to her Sephardic heritage.
Author and Journalist
Books:
- The Impossible Possibility (believing is seeing) Archway Publishing from Simon & Schuster (2019)
- Coexisting in a Religious World of Divide –WestBow Press ,a division of Thomas Nelson and Zondervan, (2019)
- Wrestling for my Jewish Identity, Friesen Press, (2017)
- El Aliento de Dios - Caribe/Betania Editores/Thomas Nelson (Spanish, 2005)
- El Sopro de Deus - Proclama Editora (Portuguese) (2005) – Published in Brazil & available in South America
- The Prophetic Power of the Hour- Christian Living Books, Inc (2001)
- The Breath of God – Destiny Image Publishers (2000)
Visit Dr. Diaz's face book page: https://www.facebook.com/ElishevaAuthor
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The Society for Crypto- Judaic Studies:
The Society for Crypto-Judaic Studies was founded in 1991 as a multi-disciplinary academic and secular association that fosters research, networking of people and ideas, and the exchange of information, among scholars and descendants of conversos, regarding the historical and contemporary developments involving crypto-Jews of Iberian origins and other hidden Jewish communities around the world.
Her Personal Story
Scroll down for endorsements
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Wrestling For My Jewish Identity
An Eclipse With Reality by Elisheva Irma Diaz What could possibly prompt a world-acclaimed respected Christian, pastor, author, and public speaker to embrace Judaism? And not just embrace it, but become a rabbi? Wrestling For My Jewish Identity: An Eclipse with Reality is the true story of Elisheva Irma Diaz’s journey to reclaim her Jewish heritage and the faith for which she believes she was born. It explores how a Crypto-Jew found her way out of Exile and reclaimed her blood legacy despite experiencing disappointment and ridicule from those who knew her as a Christian leader and prejudice from many in the Jewish community she joined.
Moreover, beyond being a personal account, Wrestling For My Jewish Identity also provides support for the Anusim, those with a Crypto-Jewish background – and practicing Jews – who are grappling with the following questions: “Who am I? Who have I become? Where am I? Where am I headed? Who am I supposed to be?” In the midst of a Sephardic revolutionary movement of Jews throughout the diaspora, and especially in Latin and South America, who are awakening to their heritage, Elisheva’s message persists: we must not ignore the calling of the blood that runs through our veins, our spiritual DNA, and as Jews, we must accept that “a Jew is a Jew” regardless of where they have landed in Exile. |
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Book Details
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Book Specifications
174 pages Black & White 6.0 x 9.0 inches |
ISBNs
978-1-5255-1475-3 eBook (epub, mobi, pdf) 978-1-5255-1474-6 Paperback 978-1-5255-1473-9 Hardcover |
Categories
Religion, Judaism Self-Help, Spiritual Religion, Faith |
Keywords
Crypto Jew, Anusim, Following Your Faith, Jewish Heritage, Hispanic Jew, Former Christian, Rabbi |
Bookstore
Get your copy from any of the following retailers...
Endorsements
Elisheva (Irma) Diaz is in my view one of the most dynamic Jewish leaders in the United States today. Her personal story is compelling, and the intensity of her faith is inspiring.
Dr. Joe M. Davis Ph.D., Harvard University in the field of medieval Jewish history and literature. His area of academic specialization is the cultural and intellectual history of Ashkenazic Jews in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Gratz College Scholars Program, Jewish Studies
Elisheva (Irma) Diaz's book Wrestling For My Jewish Identity: An Eclipse with Reality is a testimony to the integrity, honesty and fearlessness of her journey as a descendant of B'nai Anusim. Through emunah (faith) and bitachon (trust) in G-d, Elisheva reaches through history to the core of her essence.
Dr. Vanessa Paloma Elbaz, Founder and Director, KHOYA: Jewish Morocco Sound Archive, Casablanca, Morocco, Hadassah Brandeis Institute, Research Associate, Women's Studies Research Center. Faculty of Music Research Associate, Peterhouse University of Cambridge, United Kingdom.
Elisheva (Irma) Diaz is an inspiration. I am always so impressed with her love for our traditions, her knowledge, her style and her commitment to her Jewish heritage. To sum it up, Elisheva is uniquely accomplished and a gift to humanity by G-d Himself. What a gem!
Rabbi Richard E. Perlman Member, Vice President: Vaad HaRabbonim of America, "American Board of Rabbis"
Elisheva Irma Diaz’s story, reads like a Hollywood script filled with drama, success, betrayal and the triumph of the spirit over all. A truly inspiring true story.
Ayala Or-El, Editor/Journalist at Yediot America, contributor to the Jewish Journal and Tribe Magazine
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