This Convert Created a Modest Athletic Clothing Line

Aja Cohen grew up in New Jersey in an Italian Catholic family. She went to public school and attended Sunday school. For Aja, churches were beautiful buildings, but she didn’t feel a strong connection to God there.

Eventually, her parents moved from their small town to Montville, New Jersey, which was predominantly wealthy and filled with Jewish families.

“I felt like I landed on the TV set of 90210. All these girls were wearing Prada backpacks. I very quickly learned the term JAP does not refer to a Japanese person, but rather a ‘Jewish American Princess.’”

While Aja was friends with Jewish kids, she had no interest in the religion at that time.

After high school she attended the Pratt Institute for fashion design, in Brooklyn. Her father asked that she at least attend church once a week. She initially complied but her attendance fizzled.

One evening, her friend Marissa introduced her to an Israeli guy. They got to know each other and began dating.

He came from a traditional Sephardic family and Aja would join their Friday night dinners.

Afterwards, they would watch Israeli television shows and then drive back to her apartment.

“No one told me that these Friday night dinners were ‘Shabbat.’ I kept wondering why his mom made the same meal every time. I loved that everyone came together. It wasn’t so different from being Italian. It was loud, fun… I was just trading Sunday for Friday. It felt so nice and familiar.”

A few months into the relationship, he sat her down and said, “I have no problem dating you but I can’t marry you.”

She responded, “Why in the world would I want to marry you? I’m only 19!”

Aja had no interest in marriage but she did become interested in Judaism. She started reading Jewish books and told her boyfriend that she wanted to go to a synagogue for Rosh Hashanah.

#When the Rabbi gave his Rosh Hashanah sermon, I felt like he was speaking directly to me, like he was reaching into my soul.

She felt lost during the service, “but when the Rabbi gave his Rosh Hashanah sermon, I felt like he was speaking directly to me, like he was reaching into my soul. It felt so different from anything I had experienced.”

Aja continued dating her boyfriend but his family had a hard time accepting her.

After she expressed her interest in converting to her boyfriend and his family, Aja recalls sitting one evening with his mother and her best friend. “They had these fiery personalities. They were grilling me about why I want to be Jewish. They told me I would never really be seen as a Jew.”

Desire to Learn More

That attempt to dissuade Aja ended up fueling her desire to learn more. After Rosh Hashanah that year, Aja stumbled into a Kabbalah class at Pratt.

Free lunch and Kabbalah – what could be better? Aja thought.

The rabbi was Simcha Weinstein who is also known as The Comic Book Rabbi.

Aja was hooked and over the next few years of college, she was involved in the Jewish Student Union also led by Rabbi Weinstein.

Rabbi Weinstein worked under Rabbi Ari Raskin, who was the head of the Bnei Avraham synagogue in Brooklyn Heights. Aja started attending Rabbi Raskin’s conversion class on Monday nights and brought her boyfriend with her.

Her uncle’s untimely death on Yom Kippur made Aja begin to really look at the direction her life was going. Aja didn’t want to be limited or stunted in her growth as a Jew, so she broke up with her boyfriend, who didn’t share her interest in becoming religious.

Eventually Aja decided she wanted to be Jewish but without all the obligations that she viewed as too restrictive. She figured that the best route for her would be to convert through a Conservative synagogue.

“I went to a mikvah and picked a Hebrew name.”

Then, Aja signed up for a Birthright trip for young professionals. She was 25 at the time. It wasn’t a religious program but the trip rekindled a deeper love for Judaism and Israel. “I thought, I freaking love Judaism. Israel is awesome.”

During the trip she came to the conclusion that she wanted to convert in an Orthodox fashion.

Becoming Observant and Getting Married

On Yom Kippur of that year, she met a guy named Evan at a Conservative synagogue. They sat together, but Evan was more interested in praying than talking. Later, they did start talking, then they started dating, and Aja informed him that she was planning to undergo an Orthodox conversion and start living as a fully observant Jew. Evan was fully on board.

The two married the following year, in 2010, after Aja had undergone her Orthodox conversion. Today, she and Evan have three kids and a beautiful life together.

Aja and Evan with their children

“At the beginning, my conversion was difficult for my family. They were really worried that Judaism would cause a chasm. Thank God I married my husband, who has done so many good things for my family and our relationship. They can see that Judaism has made us better. We have a close relationship. They are close with our kids.”

After moving to Teaneck, New Jersey, Aja kept commuting to Manhattan for work. She was designing like mad, producing clothing so rapidly that she could barely stop to take a breath sometimes. And she started questioning her career.

Modest Fashion Line

A few months later she was fired. Her friend, a Career Coach, suggested that she design something that serves her community specifically. So, she decided to tackle modest active-wear, so women could be comfortable while they exercise. The created the fashion line Transcendent Active.

Beatie Deutsch

“I saw these ladies wearing skirts that looked heavy and uncomfortable. I decided to design active-wear for them.”

Today, Aja partners with famed marathon runner Beatie Deutsch, and the Ukrainian runner Valentina Urersks, who won the Jerusalem Marathon.

Aja put up a poll on Instagram and asked, “Who wants to model?” Allison Gandlin, the NFL’s Flag Football Player of the Year, who has begun a spiritual journey of her own and is trying to dress more modestly, clicked on the post and wrote, “I’ll be your model.”

Modesty was the first thing that piqued Allison’s interest in Judaism.

Allison noted, “Before Transcendent Active, I never wore a skirt to work out. I still want to feel like me. Now, I don’t feel frumpy or uncool,” Allison gushed.

This was exactly Aja’s goal in creating her activewear line. She wants women to feel unrestricted and stylish while working out.

Allison Gandlin

“It’s a more modest version of lululemon.” Aja added.

Allison and Aja are excited about where their new partnership will take them.

Aja’s religious and professional journey to where she is today was far from linear, but she credits her past experiences for helping her achieve her goals and live a life more beautiful than she could have ever imagined, inside and out.

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