Posted August 5 2008
An Olah Without A Parachute: an aliyah adventure ii
Since I gave such a grand introduction to this blog, I shall now start to back it up.
Want to guess the #1 question people ask when I say I’m moving to Israel?
The reaction after I tell people is always interesting. Some of my friends nod like it is the most natural thing in the world for me to do, and others are taken aback.
Yet, they still all ask that same question. Did you know what it is?
It is………….. When did you decide?
At this point I say to the inquirer, would you like the short answer or the long answer. You can choose which one you’d like to read.
The short answer is:
I decided when I was 19.
Here’s the long (winded) answer:
I did not step on to the soil of Israel until I was 17 years old. I was told that if I wanted to go to Israel to study in Seminary, that I had to earn the money to get there. So, from 7th grade and on, I saved up money from camp, Shabbos groups, babysitting and other misc. jobs so that I could have my year after high school.
Although I wasn’t physically in Israel, I learned about it all the time and prayed about it every day. It seems to me (from my upbringing) that the strong connection and importance of Israel is built into the modern orthodox culture and system.
I’m sure this sounds very clinical and maybe even a little negative. I’m not trying to disparage the system that reared me, just explain the perspective I had. I heard about the majesty, beauty and spirituality of Israel constantly, and it was all too far out of my reach. So I was going to save that money and I was going to see what everyone was talking about.
I did not fall in love with Israel the moment I got off the plane. Nor did I have any particular spiritual awakening during that seminary year. It was the following year when I went back, that I felt this land was for me. I would love to describe to you now an epiphany moment during that trip, but I would disappoint you. You see, there was no epiphany, no operatic “aaoao” moment. There was just a crystallization of what nature and nurture contributed to - a deep profound love for Israel. Should I explain this more? Without going on too much, I would describe the feeling with a well-used cliche of a key fitting into a lock. There is a “rightness” to being in that land that is unsurpassed by any other.
So now, you might say, “ok, you realized that for some reason you found your spiritual Hell in America - why didn’t you move then?”
For that I cite my parents as the reason. My mom said that I should graduate college and work a little before I made my move. It was and still is very important to me that my parents are on board and not fighting with me about this decision, so I bided my time.
And now.. I am making aliyah. Having graduated college, and worked in a few companies already - I think now is the time for me to make the jump, with or without a parachute.
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3 Comments currently posted. 
Simone says:
Sarah Felsenthal says:
Very touching and deep!!!
Cassie says:
I think that you doing this is so great. The fact that you waited until you though the timing was right seems to make it even more special.
this is one of the most honest blogs about aliyah i’ve seen. you can see that you’re scared but you’re willing to try (parachute or not!) anyway. i also really like what you say about your parents. i find it very easy to relate to you.