I made it. I am in Kfar Saba, just north of Tel Aviv. I am hoping to update this at least every couple of weeks. This first entry is a long one, but the rest will be a lot shorter. Also, there are a few Hebrew words that are now central to my life and who I am. I'll introduce them slowly. For example, I am now an "oleh". I think literally it means "resident", but really means a person that immigrated to Israel. The plural is "olim".
Moving to a foreign country is a big move by any standard. Additionally, there are spiritual and sometimes political overtones for a Jewish person to move to Israel, which is called "aliyah". Oddly enough, now that I am here, it almost feels like a non-event. If I had moved to a different country I am sure I would be intimidated, but so far I am quite comfortable and happy (despite the absorption center I am in, but I'll get to that in a later post).
I have done a lot of hard things in my life. Saying my goodbyes was by far the hardest. In the weeks and months leading up to my aliyah I was very excited for my move. But the days before were very trying. I woke up at 2:00am on Sunday, December 28. By 5:00 am I had said three gut wrenching goodbyes, paid Delta Airlines and additional $40.00 to check a second piece of luggage (my two suitcases now comprise the majority of my possessions), made it through security and to my gate. CNN was on the t.v, and the majority of the coverage was about the new round of violence in the country I was about to immigrate to. I had a layover in Detroit (even their airport is ghetto) and the descent was the worst I had ever had...or ever heard of. Immediately after getting off my flight, I found out the connection was going to be two hours late. Finally, once I made it to JFK airport in New York, the conveyor belt broke in baggage claim and I waited around another hour and a half. I made it to my connecting flight to Israel with only a couple of minutes to spare.
Kvetsch, kvetsch, kvetsch, complain, complain, complain, I know....but this is where things finally get better. I took Israel's national airline, El Al from New York to Tel Aviv. On my flight there were about 30 other olim making aliyah organized by the Zionist organization Nefesh B'Nefesh. These people are engaged, talkative, educated and opinionated...very Jewish. Arriving in Israel is a big deal for Jews, and when we landed landed, many of the passengers clapped their hands in celebration. This was also the case when I arrived this past summer and in 1994. Side note: I have had several kosher meals on both Delta and El Al. They have all been quite good; a couple even restaurant quality. So if you are traveling, you know what to request...
Off the plane my first stop was customs to have my Visa stamped. Once it is stamped, I officially receive all my rights and benefits as an oleh. I think this is also the point I officially became an Israeli citizen. I tried not to have a huge grin on my face with the customs agents, but could not help myself. However it must have been infectious because the three young customs agents gave wide, genuine smiles right back, stamped my visa and said "welcome to Israel!" I was then shuttled to a different terminal for paperwork and receiving my "sal klita", absorption basket. Eventually I was stuffed into a cab and arrived at my first home, "Sapir Merkaz Klita" -Saphire Absorption Center.
I hope everybody is doing well.
I MISS YOU, JIM!!! :)
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