Ben Yehuda, an artist in Jerusalem, was born in Cairo to a Greek Orthodox father and a Jewish mother. In-studio, he recounts the story of his life. He grew up believing he was a Greek Orthodox boy named Ion Valsamidis. After former Egyptian President Gammel Nasser expelled all non-Muslims from the country, he was sent to a Catholic boarding school in Switzerland. Seeking a greater meaning in life, he traveled the world, studying Buddhism, Hinduism, yoga and meditation. Eventually, after marrying, he ended up in Israel, in Moshav Mevo Modi’im, where he found out that he was a Jew. He says that learning about his Jewish heritage was just another step on his spiritual journey, and everything he had learned along the way served to enhance his Jewish identity. He talks about his journey and his art. For more information, see: benyehudastudio.net and facebook.com/yitzhak.yehuda

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