Page 49 - HaMizrachi Chanukah 2021 - USA
P. 49

The Torah describes the relationship   for policies to protect Israel's security.   old life, our identities and the people
      between Yaakov Avinu  and his son   For the girl who wanted to be Prime   we left behind would be a lie. Aliyah
      Yosef  as  "il!i9J'.\1  ill.~l!if?  il!i9J,"  "their   Minister, meeting people like Ambassa-  is a process of integration and accli-
      souls were  bound together."  When   dor David Friedman and writing letters   mation that doesn't end at the magical
      they were separated, Yaakov knew no   to world leaders on the organization's   moment that you receive your teudat
      peace. In the same way, my heart was   behalf was exhilarating.    zehut,  and there are certainly many
      intertwined with Israel and I knew                                 ups and downs. But in those difficult
      that I would not know peace until I                                moments, we look at our children who
      was home. I also knew that raising our                             have settled into their new schools,
      children in Israel would be the great-                             have found incredible friends and are
      est gift we could ever give them and                               learning the Torah of Israel in the Land
      would change our family's trajectory   We take our kids on hikes retracing   of Israel, and tears fill our eyes. We take
      for future generations. After years of   the steps of our ancestors   our kids on hikes retracing the steps
      giving to the community, we had to put                             of our ancestors and pinch ourselves
                                          and pinch ourselves when we    when we realize we are the fulfillment
      our children first. At the same time,
                                          realize we are the fulfillment of   of Hashem's promise to Avraham; we
      I felt guilty that my husband would
      leave the work that was so clearly his   Hashem's promise to Avraham;   are the descendants to whom this land
      life's mission and for leaving behind the   we are the descendants to   was promised! During mindless chores,
      families with whom we had grown so   whom this land was promised!   we look out at the view from our porch
                                                                         and see the mountains and valleys so
      close. To  say there were a lot of tears
                                                                         beautifully described in Parashat Eikev
      and uncertainty is an understatement.   Despite the excitement of the job, I
                                                                         and are overwhelmed that we get to
      We made Aliyah in the summer of 2020   missed working with kids, and when   live in the place that Moshe so desper-
      during the pandemic when all flights   the opportunity to become the prin-  ately yearned for.
      to Israel were grounded and all govern-  cipal of a girls' school in Beit Shemesh   At these moments we know that every
      ment offices were closed. We moved   came  up,  I  was  thrilled.  I've  been   sacrifice was well worth it. We  are   0
      without an inkling of what we would   blessed with the incredible opportunity   home; there is nowhere else we are   Scan here to join
      do in Israel to support ourselves; it was   to help fellow olim find success. My hus-  meant to be.   Ariela's Inspiring
      a leap of faith.                  band also found meaningful work at                                Divrei Torah
                                        an incredible organization that utilizes                         WhatsApp group
      We  experienced incredible hashgacha
                                        many of his talents and gives classes (in   Ariela Davis is the Principal of Ulpanat Orly
      pratit and found jobs that could have                              in Beit Shemesh and a former Rebbetzin and
                                        Hebrew!) in our community.
      only come from Hashem. Within a few                                Director of Judaics and  Interim Principal  in
      months, I found a job with an organi-  To  say  that  there  aren't  bumpy   Charleston, SC, from where her family made
      zation of Israeli generals who advocate   moments or times when we miss our   Aliyah in the summer of 2020.


                                                                                                        HAfvllZRACHI  I 49
   44   45   46   47   48   49   50   51   52   53   54