Page 6 - HaMizrachi #26 Tu Bishvat USA 2021

TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Aron and Miriam White

Aliyah Diaries

he great Ernest Hemingway once builds Yerushalayim,” which is written Holocaust survivors and Jewish refugees.
wrote that change occurs “grad- in the present. The cranes, diggers and Many of the cities we know so well, like
Tually, and then suddenly.” workmen spread throughout the city are Beit Shemesh, Efrat and Modiin, didn’t
For us, this really captures the journey of living fulfilments of this blessing – we even exist then. The entire Israel had
our aliyah. We began the process almost can see Yerushalayim being built every maybe a handful of yeshivot, and at that
a year before we actually arrived, and day, with new parks, light-rail lines and point, one couldn’t visit the Kotel and
gradually chipped away at everything we homes being built every day. the Old City of Yerushalayim. When
had to do. There are so many aspects that In the Talmud, there is a captivating story we arrive in the Land in 2020, we
have to come together to make aliyah of Choni, who encounters experience a totally different country –
happen – bureaucracy, a man planting a carob a thriving and bustling country of over
trying to find a place tree. Choni asks him nine million citizens. Within walking
to live, packing up a lift, HDR how long it takes for distance from our apartment, we have
saying goodbye to family the carob to bear fruit, dozens of shuls, schools, shops and
and friends and so much and the man informs parks. And more is being built all the
more. And of course, when him it takes 70 years. time. From Torah institutions to start-up
COVID-19 hit, everything Choni is taken aback. companies, there are so many areas in
was delayed by months. Why plant a tree which Israel is expanding every day.
But then, after this year- that will not provide This has all been planted over the past
long process, we then made fruit for decades? seven decades, by Jews from Israel and
aliyah so suddenly! The man answers from around the world, and we are the
We got on the plane, that he is planting beneficiaries.
experienced the incredible the fruits for his This realization is humbling but
moment of touching down in children, not for inspiring. It is our job to not only enjoy
our new home, and then special Photo Portrait 1:1 himself. Choni the fruits of their labors but to plant
government helpers escorted Short video Video then falls asleep new seeds too. Through our collective
us off the plane and personally for 70 years, and efforts, we all are trying to continue to
whisked us through the airport. when he wakes build and support Israel, so our children
Only three hours after touching up he sees a and grandchildren can enjoy those
down, we were already processed man gathering fruits. As we celebrate the New Year for
and had arrived in our apartment carobs from Trees, we feel blessed to be able to plant
(the government pays for the taxi the tree. He asks the man if ourselves – and trees – in the Land of
from the airport). One disclaimer – we he is the one who planted the tree, and Israel today.
had the somewhat special situation the man replies that he is the grandson
of being the only people on our flight of the man who planted it. Whether Rabbi Aron and Miriam White made
making aliyah, so it doesn’t always go the story is literal or not, it conveys a Aliyah in October 2020. Miriam previously
so quick! powerful message. One person’s work taught at Yeshiva University High School
is often enjoyed by those who come for Girls (Central). Rabbi Aron is completing
In the weeks and months since then, decades later.
we have been able to get to know his semicha from Yeshiva University, and
recently began working as the Coordinator
Yerushalayim, the city we now merit Making aliyah in 2020, we feel like that for Tzurba Community and Torah Projects
to call home. Walking the streets really grandchild eating from the tree planted for RZA–Mizrachi. They first met at Mizra-
gives new meaning to the words we say by his grandfather. 70 years ago, Israel chi’s Shalhevet educator training program
three times a day – םילשורי הנוב, “who was a nascent society, trying to absorb in Jerusalem.

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