Ariana Phillips, 28, from Annapolis, Maryland, embarked on a transformative journey toward her Jewish identity and marriage to Roy Cohen in Israel. Raised with minimal Jewish involvement, Phillips's interest grew during her college years at Washington University in St. Louis, leading her to participate in Birthright Israel and a Masa program in Jerusalem. After making aliyah in 2021, she faced bureaucratic hurdles proving her Jewish status to the Israeli Interior Ministry, requiring extensive documentation of her Jewish heritage. With the help of ITIM, a Jerusalem-based organization, Phillips successfully navigated the complexities of the Israeli Rabbinate, which questioned her Jewish lineage due to her father's non-Jewish background. Despite the challenges, including a last-minute decision to apply for a marriage license elsewhere, Phillips and Cohen married on January 2, 2026. They now communicate in a blend of Hebrew and English, showcasing their commitment to both their cultures.