One Year Anniversary

Photo: Jpost.com

One year ago today, I sat on a plane making its descent into Ben-Gurion airport. My dream of a lifetime was coming true. There are really no words to describe how I felt. As prepared as I thought I was, I was beginning a new life, full of uncertainty. The way things have “fallen” into place for me in the past 12 months have been nothing short of miracles from G-d. Living in Israel is an amazing, wonderful thing, filled with frustrations, bureaucracy, and “that’s not how they do it in America”. It’s hard to get used to a new language, new culture, new people, new job, new medical system, etc. But the benefits and rewards have been immense. I will probably struggle with the language forever, but my Hebrew has vastly improved, and I think I’ve managed to get by in all situations. [Just don’t ask me to call my cellphone company! :)] 


I am sitting and watching the live webcast of the latest Nefesh B’Nefesh charter flight, exactly one year after my aliyah, and I am overflowing with emotions. The tears started not 30 seconds after I started watching. I know exactly how these people feel. And I am so grateful I’m on the other side! 


If you want to get a taste for how I feel, and why my FaceBook posts are (generally) so upbeat, please go read this.


Yes, there is an ache in my heart for my family and friends back in the US, but it’s nothing like the ache my heart was feeling to come home. 


As my friend Rachel said “Aliyah is not about running away, but running towards what is good and right.” 


It’s been the most amazing year, in so many ways, and I can’t wait to keep living the dream!

Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha'atzmaut 5772

How can I express my emotions on 2 of the most emotional days for me since I have made aliyah?

Living in Israel has always been on the forefront of my mind, ever since my first trip here, when I was 18.  It was always a dream that I planned for in all aspects of my life.  When that dream finally came true, I was overcome with gratitude to Hashem for allowing me to finally be living my life in our holy land.

Since I have arrived, I have been blessed with so many wonderful things and I really feel like Hashem is guiding my every step and allowing me to live life the fullest here in Eretz Yisrael.

I know I haven’t been blogging so much, but thank G-d life is busy! 

Pesach was truly wonderful and I should definitely write a post about that, but for today, the past 2 days are fresh in my mind.

Yom Hazikaron is always the day before Yom Ha’atzmaut.  It is the day we remember all the fallensoldiers and civilians, who have died for our country.  It’s a very sad and emotional day, as almost everyone in Israel has lost a family member or a close friend in a war or terrorist attack.

The commemorations start the evening before, like all Jewish Holidays.  A friend and I went to the Kotel for the official state ceremony.  It started with the lowering of the flag to half mast and the lighting of a memorial candle.

Then there was a 1 minute siren to mark the beginning of the day.  President Shimon Peres spoke, tehillim and Kaddish were said, and the singing of Hatikvah.  It was very moving.

In the morning I made my way to Har Herzl, the military cemetery.  This country really knows how to do it right.  As we entered Har Herzl, we were given a small booklet  printed with relevant chapters in tehillim to say and Kaddish.  There were bunches of flowers available to take to the graves, and water bottles were provided for all the visitors.

We just walked to the different sections of graves and said tehillim and answered Amen to the many people saying Kaddish at graves of their family members. 

One really nice thing we noticed was an English speaking rabbi leading a group of girls, must have been from one of the seminaries, so we tagged along for a bit.  The rabbi was telling a story of a certain soldier and how he gave up his life to save his comrades, and then pointed out his grave.  It made the day so much more personal. 

There was an official tekes (ceremony) at Har Herzl as well, which was broadcast over the loudspeaker.  The 2 minute siren went off at 11 AM and then President Peres and Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke, as well as the recitation of Kaddish and a special yizkor.  Bibi Netanyahu lost his brother, Yoni, in Entebbe, and he spoke so eloquently. 

I randomly bumped into my favorite chayal, my cousin Michael, which was a fun surprise.

As the day came to an end, the transition started to Yom Ha’atzmaut.  I went to a special tefilla chagigit at a local Beit Knesset and it was so moving. We raised the flag back up to full mast and once Yom Ha’atzmaut started the city just came alive with celebrations. 

Even Google got in on the celebrations!

On Thursday morning I woke up early and spent the day doing a hike and BBQ with friends.  The weather was perfect and the entire country is celebrating!  I can’t even describe how it felt.  I truly felt like I had finally come home.

Because others express my feelings so well, here are some links I enjoyed this week.

http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/aliyah-is-a-cult-classic/

http://rjstreets.com/2012/04/24/ready-to-celebrate-israels-64th-independence-day/

http://aineretzacheret.blogspot.com/2012/04/tears-flags-and-fireworks.html
http://www.ou.org/life/israel/yom-haatzmaut-a-day-deserving-of-celebration-eliyahu-safran/

Six Months!

Six months!

Wow, where has the time gone?  6 months ago, I fulfilled my life-long dream and landed in Israel as an olah chadasha.  What a whirlwind time period!

In so many ways, I feel like I have been living here for so much longer.  With all the bureaucracy and learning how to navigate a new country and new society, and most of all a new JOB!, it just really feels like home.    Thank G-d, I have made many new friends, graduated from ulpan, and began stimulating the Israeli economy with my shekel paycheck. 

I had a Chanukah post started but visitors from the US kept me very busy, and of course, I’m also working full time and getting used to that.  Chanukah was incredible beautiful.  I can’t even describe what it’s like to live somewhere where Chanukah is the only holiday being celebrated in December.  Instead of a Christmas tree adorning my office lobby, with a small electric menorah on the side to be PC, the menorah is the star of the show, and of course nonstop sufganiyot.  The holiday decorations on the streets all reflect OUR chag!    My new friend/family member captures the flavor of Chanukah in Israel so beautifully. 

I’ve been so incredibly blessed, in every step along the way on this fabulous journey.  The new job is really going well.  Great company, nice people, challenging and interesting work.  I love having friends visit from abroad.  Skype has been amazing.  It’s not quite like being there, but it’s really the next best thing. Family and friends’ smachot are popping up, so I don’t feel like I am only missing events in the States.  I am building my life here, and thank G-d, everything that comes along with that is falling into place.

Here’s to the next six and beyond!

Shoutout to she who knows who she is (and better be reading this blog) – I did not use the word ‘amazing’ ONCE in this whole post  :)