Page 49 - HaMizrachi Australia Sukkot 5781

ALIYAH DIARY

Through Our Children’s Eyes

Batyah Cohen

enji and I met in Israel. a gap year and make Aliyah (which he For Benji, whose family lives locally
We were both in different eventually did in the summer of 2019). near us in Chicago, our move is sig-
programs and through an Pelah and Meir asked to be allowed nificantly more impactful. Even during
Bodd series of events, we to finish high school in Chicago. Benji the height of the pandemic, we got
were introduced, started dating and and I readily agreed, as everyone says, together regularly with his mom and
eventually got married. Returning to “don’t move kids in high school.” That siblings outdoors. While some in the
Israel has been a focus of conversa- left Naomi (entering 7th at the time) family are thrilled to have an “excuse”
tions throughout our marriage, but it and Danya (entering 2nd grade). to visit Israel, others have feelings of
was never “the right time” for various loss. It’s been important to acknowl-
reasons. By this point, Naomi had already edge all the powerful feelings involved
expressed her desire to live in Israel in this decision and to speak about
In January 2013, before our eldest’s Bar and we began to look into high school
Mitzvah, we took the whole family to options for her. We also realized that them together.
Israel. For us, it had been a long fifteen When deciding to make Aliyah, we
years since we had been there, and it we’d have to move before Danya knew that some of the people we are
was our children’s first time in Israel. entered high school (7th grade in closest to would not be coming with
Seeing the land through our children’s Israel) to make it less traumatic for us and that we would not be able to
eyes, witnessing their wonder at being her. Once Naomi firmly decided to attend every future simcha. These are
in the place where our history comes attend Ulpana Amana as part of the difficult realities. But we also remem-
alive, was deeply inspiring. It made us Naale initiative, it became time to shift ber, as challenging as these decisions
realize that fifteen years was simply from Aliyah “in theory” to practical and conversations are, that we are
too long to be away from home. preparations. Pelah graduated high making Aliyah so that our children
school earlier this year, and Naomi won’t have to make these challenging
completed her first successful year at choices in the future.
Amana, so it was finally time for us to
come home.
The Cohens
Seeing the land through our Everyone’s family dynamics are differ-
children’s eyes, witnessing their ent and how and when you choose to
wonder at being in the place include them in the process is different
where our history comes alive, was for each family. Similar to any signifi-
deeply inspiring. It made us realize cant life event – marriage, having kids
that fifteen years was simply too – the fact that you’re making Aliyah
shouldn’t be a surprise to your family.
long to be away from home.
Benji and I have been talking about
Aliyah for years, and it is no secret that
We only waited four years for our it’s been our dream. Once we decided
next trip. In 2017, we spent the entire to commit to a date, we told our fam-
summer in Israel and celebrated our
daughter’s Bat Mitzvah there. Our ilies about a year in advance to give
kids went to various programs and we them time to absorb our leaving and to
saw them bloom and feel good about be able to include them in the process.
themselves as Jews, living in a society For my family, the pandemic brought  Adapted from the ChicagOlim Chronicles
that supports our religion unapologet- a silver lining as it prepared them for feature of Kol Shabbat, the weekly email
ically. After that trip, we began serious our move abroad. My family does not newsletter of Mizrachi–Religious Zionists of
family discussions and created a time- live nearby, and so when the Covid Chicago.
line for our Aliyah. pandemic arrived I began regular Face-
Our kids were teens, and so they Time sessions with my parents and Batyah Cohen made Aliyah in August
2021 from Skokie, Illinois to Modi’in with
needed to have a voice in these discus- siblings. It brought us closer and made her husband Benji and their five children:
sions. Tzadok was entering his senior us realize these sessions can continue Tzadok (21), Meir (19), Pelah (18), Naomi (16)
year of high school with plans to go for no matter where we are in the world. and Danya (11).

| 49