Adriana Fernandez, a social media influencer who lives in Florida, has won hearts around the globe on the internet after converting to Judaism, a choice she asserts that was cemented by the horror of October 7, 2023. Nominally addressed by fans as the ‘Non-Jewish Nanny’, Fernandez recently finished years-long studies and formally converted to Judaism last month.

Growing up with little exposure to Judaism and having gone to a private Christian school, Fernandez’s life took a turn around four years ago when she started nannying for Orthodox Jewish families. Her friendly, inquiring videos about studying Jewish traditions and customs quickly garnered her a dedicated following.

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A trained opera singer and bartender, Fernandez was touched by the religion and way of life of the children she looked after. She was fascinated by the ‘beauty’ of Judaism, as reported in a New York Post report, and was motivated to convert.

A New Identity

Now officially using her Hebrew name Adina Shoshana, Fernandez is excited to ready herself for her first Passover as Jewish. “Actually selected my first Seder dress as a Jew,” she revealed to the thrill on Instagram.

In the future, according to Fernandez, “definitely would love making Hebrew music covers” and also writing a kids’ book is even in her future plans. Her artistic endeavours affirm how much deeper she has formed connection with the heritage and traditions of the Jews.

The October 7 Effect

The Hamas-led Israel attack on October 7, 2023 — which claimed the lives of approximately 1,200 Israelis — did not discourage her; it made her more determined. “Oct. 7 made me want to be Jewish more,” Fernandez recalled, remembering that she felt closer to her religion at that moment.

Though she was cautioned with remarks such as, “The whole world hates us,” and even addressed as ‘mashugana’ Yiddish for crazy for persisting in her conversion, she remained steadfast in her resolve. “These are my people too,” she thought. “I was already in the process of converting but I could have stopped.”

Rather, she felt an irreversible connection. “My first thought on Oct. 7 wasn’t, ‘How do I get out of this?’ I felt an even stronger connection to G-d.”