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Being a player in the game and not sitting
on the sidelines

Jordan Landes, 22, is a third-year communications student at
Reichman University (formerly IDC Herzliya). That’s his Life
Plan B.
Originally, Landes planned to enroll in Brandeis University,
“But after my year in yeshivah, I decided that I wanted to stay in
Israel. I was nervous that if I didn't stay after yeshivah, getting
back to Israel would be dramatically difficult.
“This is where I want to raise a family. I decided to take a
chance and stay and study here,” he shared. Landes hasn’t
made Aliyah yet, but he called his decision to “slowly transition
into living in Israel… an unbelievably smart and great decision.”
Raised in what he described as “a very Zionistic family,” his
great-great-great-grandfather was Rabbi Tzvi Pesach Frank, the
Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem from 1936 until 1960. Landes attended
private Jewish day schools and, as a child, visited extended Jordan Landes
family members in Israel many times.
After a year at Yeshivat Sha’alvim, Landes wasn’t quite ready to “Community in Israel is built around your close friends, the
“make Aliyah yet and just jump right into the water. I thought friends you hope to live with for the rest of your life. We are
being able to study in English in Herzliya, which is a really building a very, very special community here. I’m very lucky
nice city and a new growing community, would be a great to have very idealistic friends here who believe in what we’re
experience and a way to slowly transition to living in Israel.” doing – building a new generation of young Zionistic Jews that
are beyond excited for the future of the State of Israel.”
In the few years he’s been there, Landes has already witnessed
the community growing. “It’s the most amazing young On his student trip to Poland, Landes had a powerful insight.
community in the world. Every campus in the United States, “You’re making Aliyah, you’re living a dream that millions and
every JLIC (the Orthodox Union’s Jewish Learning Initiative on millions of Jews could only dream of. It’s not just something
Campus), knows about what’s going on in Herzliya. that I want to do. It’s something that I feel a responsibility to do
as part of a nation, as part of something bigger than myself.”
Even so, Landes is aware that he might be sacrificing,
“possibly better job offers in America,” and, of course, being
geographically close to his immediate family. “But overall I’m
convinced this is the right decision and I’m so excited to do it.”
“I decided at that moment to stay Landes recounted a particularly meaningful moment that
and be a player in the game and not solidified his decision. Every year on Yom HaAtzmaut, Yeshivat
sit on the sidelines anymore.” Sha’alvim hikes 27 miles to the Kotel. His first time doing the
hike, he had an epiphany. “I looked at the Kotel and suddenly
realized that if I went back to America for college, there was
a very good chance I wouldn’t make it back here,” he shared.
“We have lone soldiers, young professionals, students at
Reichman, students that go to Tel Aviv and Bar-Ilan Universities, He remembered all the adults he met growing up in Modern
but choose to live in Herzliya to be part of the community,” he Orthodox communities who had an amazing year in Israel but
enthused. After serving on the board, Landes is currently the never made it back. “Looking at the Kotel, the thought of not
co-president of the community. “It has been an amazing couple being able to bring my own kids [there] really scared me. It
of years here in Israel.” wasn’t in line with my ideals, my spiritual feelings and what
I felt that I could give to the Jewish people.
Landes is “definitely planning on making Aliyah.” His goal is to
finish school first and then determine the best time for him, “I decided at that moment to stay and be a player in the game
bureaucratically, to officially make Aliyah. He estimates that and not sit on the sidelines anymore. If you want to be in the
90% of his social circle are olim who have already served in game, you have to be here to make a difference – paying taxes,
the IDF, done National Service or are planning to make Aliyah volunteering, having a job, supporting the ecosystem. You’ve
after graduation. got to be present.
Reflecting on the difference between Israel and the US, Landes “I am so excited for the future of our communities, for the
opined, “I think community in America is very much about future of the Jewish people and the future of the State of Israel,”
your shul and the neighborhoods that you live in. he concluded.

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