Dovid Uhlmann (31)
Dovid Uhlmann (31)
Chicago, Illinois
Governor State University, University Park, IL - BA Criminal Justice 2017
Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliya- MA in Government, with specialties in Counterterrorism,
Homeland Security and Counter Cyberterrorism;- and a Cluster Certificate in Cyber Security
Ohr Somayach Center Program 2017-2019
Works in Security and Family Business
Dovid grew up in a leafy suburb south of Chicago, the second of three sons, in a Jewish but non-observant family. His parents are both Chicago natives. Ever since he was a young boy he had dreamed of becoming a police officer. After high school he earned an Associate’s degree in Criminal Justice, and began applying to police departments and security companies in the Chicago area. Dovid had not yet thought deeply about any religion, but when a Moslem co-worker began questioning him about Judaism, Dovid was ashamed to admit that he knew almost nothing. A curious young man, he started researching religions on the Internet and decided that being Jewish was something to be proud of. He immediately put on a kippa and wore it to school and work as a symbol of his pride. Now, however, since he was openly identifying as a Jew, he realized that he needed to know more than he did.
In researching a question from his co-worker, he stumbled across a verse: “M’dvar sheker tirchak” — “Keep far away from a lie,” and as a corollary to that, “Don’t falsely portray yourself.” If he was going to wear a kippa, that meant he was identifying as a Jew who keeps mitzvahs. Dovid thought to himself, “I either have to keep mitzvahs, or take off the kippa.” He started reading an English translation of the Chumash and doing those things that he understood were incumbent upon Jews, such as avoiding shellfish and wearing a kippa and tzitzis. Because he was not yet in touch with a Rabbi or any religious Jews, he did not know what he did not know. His observance was admirable, but not yet halachic.
After reading about attacks on Jews in the Ukraine in 2014, he decided to make aliyah and join the Israeli army, the IDF. He also resolved to begin keeping Shabbos when he arrived in Israel. He came in 2015 and went directly to ulpan for almost a year. After attaining proficiency in Hebrew, Dovid joined Plugat Tomer, a charedi unit in the elite combat GivatiBrigade. He served for approximately two years. Those years strengthened his observance and taught him how to live as a Jew.
Upon discharge, he returned to Chicago to finish his BA degree in Criminal Justice. He completed the degree in 2017 and then turned down offers to join various police departments because he wanted to learn in yeshiva in order to build a foundation for his future life. Dovid came to Ohr Somayach’s Center Program that year.
During his second year at the Center, he simultaneously earned his Masters Degree in Government at IDC in Herzliya, with specialties in Counterterrorism, Homeland Security; Counter Cyberterrorism — and a Cluster Certificate in Cyber Security.
He returned home at the end of 2019 and started working a security job at a top-secret data center in the Chicago area. He later joined his father in the family’s Home Improvement business.
Dovid returned to Israel for a visit the week before Shavuos in 5781 (2021). It was probably the most momentous week in Dovid Uhlmann’s life. He was nearly murdered by a bloodthirsty mob of Arabs shortly after Hamas began its missile attacks from the Gaza Strip on May 10th. For more on this gripping story, please read the article on our website at: https://ohr.edu/articles/Trapped.html.
At a siyum on Makkos, which he made at the Yeshiva on Thursday night after his miraculous escape, he ended his speech with the following words:
“It doesn’t matter where you are in the world. You can be in Jerusalem, South Africa, South America or the USA. Bad things can happen anywhere. You can even be in the middle of an angry and dangerous anti-Semitic mob. If Hashem does not give permission for something to happen, nobody can touch you.”
