Page 23 - Jewish Home Family Annual Report 2019

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While The Jewish Home Family’s Mission to Israel took place in October 2018, the memories for the travelers are as fresh as if they had just stepped off the plane today. Joanie Koch z”l, Barbara Levy and Alan Horowitz were three of the residents who took part in this adventure and all of them are still marveling at their experience.
Joanie z”l and Alan live at the Jewish Home at Rockleigh and Barbara at Jewish Home Assisted Living but they
all regard themselves as part of the “family” that was created with Mission participants, residents and staff alike. Barbara and Joanie z”l in particular became good friends and even today they chat from campus to campus with the assistance of video technology. Barbara particularly remembers enjoying the boat on the Sea of Galilee. The music began to play and Barbara, who loves to dance, was one of the first ones on her feet. Joanie z”l is not quite as physically able as Barbara but that didn’t stop Barbara from heading for her friend and making sure she was taking part and enjoying the day!
As for Joanie z”l, there’s no question that she loved every minute of the trip and especially the Dead Sea. “It’s better than Coney Island!” she says and calls the trip “stupendous” and the “best in my life.” Alan had so many highlights it is difficult for him to list them all. He talks about “feeling the vitality” of Israel and how struck he was by the contrasts from the historic sites like Masada to the bustling city of Tel Aviv.
Each of the residents identified their time at the Kotel as the most emotional moments of the trip. Barbara talked about bringing notes from her fellow residents and some staff and placing them in the Western Wall. Alan says that seeing pictures of the Kotel just do not convey the emotion that you can’t help but feel. Alan brought the tallit and prayer book he had received for his Bar Mitzvah. He’d never used them and was very moved to be able to touch each of them to those sacred stones.
The residents all talk about the staff members, their Buddies, with whom they became close. Tracey Couliboly, who was Barbara’s buddy, is “like my sister,” Barbara says. And Alan said he was impressed with the way the team “made each of us a priority.”
Why take residents to Israel? Each of the travelers echoed similar sentiments. Alan asked “Why do we live? We live to have experiences and make memories.” And Barbara and Joanie z”l both talked about “you’re never too old to do something new.” What would they say if
a resident asked them if they should go on a future Mission? The answer was unanimous, “If you don’t
want to go I will be happy to take your place!”
Age is Only a Number — Resident Mission to Israel