Demi Lovato took to Instagram yesterday to open up about her trip to Israel and baptism in the Jordan River. She posted several pictures of her trip and baptism, saying she had never felt such a spiritual connection to God before.
“I am an American singer,” she wrote. “I was raised Christian and have Jewish ancestors. When I was offered an amazing opportunity to visit the places I’d read about in the Bible growing up, I said yes. There is something absolutely magical about Israel. I’ve never felt such a sense of spirituality or connection to God.”
Lovato says this sense of spiritual connection is something she’s been missing for years now.
“Spirituality is so important to me,” she says. “To be baptized in the Jordan river– the same place Jesus was baptized – I’ve never felt more renewed in my life. This trip has been so important for my well-being, my heart, and my soul. I’m grateful for the memories made and the opportunity to be able to fill the God-sized hole in my heart. Thank you for having me, Israel.”
While in Israel, Lovato also visited Yad Vashem: The World Holocaust Remembrance Center in Jerusalem. She posted a photo of hundreds of people killed in the Holocaust and said: “My heart was absolutely broken in Yad Vashem. This was such a beautiful tribute and a reminder that we can never forget.”
Her next Instagram post reveals another heartwarming stop: the Shalva National Center. Shalva offers people with special needs and their families support and guidance. The center’s services are available for people from infancy to adulthood, including “leading-edge therapies, inclusive educational frameworks, social and recreational activities, employment training, and independent living, as well as respite and family support.”
Lovato says she “fell in love” with one of the little girls she met at Shalva: “What an amazing center for children with special needs.”
Curt Landry 
Michael L. Brown 
Rabbi Eric Tokajer 
