The Journey Begins

On By thestampsinmypassportIn Israel, UncategorizedLeave a comment

As Maria sang in Sound of Music, the opening words to Do Re Mi, “Let’s start at the very beginning, a very good place to start”. I thought I would start my posts about my trip to Israel at the beginning, the arrival into Ben Gurion airport.

This was my third time in Israel. On my first trip I remember talking to people and most people told me the same thing about arriving into Israel. They made comments like, ‘it feels like coming home’ or ‘you will feel like you have been there before’ or, ‘you will feel different as soon as you land’ and more than one person said, ‘don’t be surprised if you see people kissing the ground when you arrive.

Arriving this time was going to be different than the other times. If you have been to Israel, you know that once you land, you walk through this large arrivals walkway into the customs hall. This hallway is a big open space, flanked by the beautiful Jerusalem stone colours, artwork and the largest Mezuzah you have ever seen as you enter the customs hall.

After October 7th, this hallway changed. Posters of over the 250 kidnapped hostages flanked the entrance hall to the airport. They became a part of the airport terminal as a reminder to travellers of the hostages still being held in Gaza. They were often personalized with how many number of days they were being held in captivity. They were there both on arrival and departure as a reminder as the first thing you see as you enter the country and the last you will see before you leave Israel. The posters were updated over the days, with individual posters removed only when the hostages were either released, rescued or their bodies recovered.

I found out I was going to Israel in January. At that time, there was only one poster left in the entrance hall. That poster was of hostage Ran Gvili. Ran was held captive for approximately 843 days until his remains were returned to Israel. At the time, I was thinking about arriving and walking through that hallway with only one poster left.

My arrival was different, as the hallways were clear of posters and open for all who are going ‘home’ to enter with an open heart and mind. As I was walking through the hallway a friend looked back at me and said and commented about taking it all in. Yes, I was thinking about all of those thoughts that people told me on my first arrival in Israel and how true all of those statements were then and are today.

The arrivals hallway posters are not up any longer, but the memories of the hostages are not forgotten to the people of Israel. Their memories are all over the country in many different ways.

Thank you for coming along this journey with me. I look forward to sharing it with you.

Am Israel Chai

A new year on our doorstep

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There have been so many times in the past year or so that I wanted to write, but every time I sat down to write a post, I couldn’t put a paragraph together. I didn’t really have ‘writers block’, but I think the opposite. There was so much to say, and I couldn’t find the words to get started. There is still so much to say, so I hope you bear with me as I put my thoughts together.

My dad passed away one month after October 7, 2023. For every holiday on the calendar, we were thinking about the hostages and their families, and I was also thinking about the loss of my dad. Not just the loss of my dad, but the losses of so many of my friend’s who lost one parent, many dads, and some lost two parents.

We just completed Chanukah. I said to some of my friends that this year was much harder than last year. At first I didn’t know why it was so much harder, but then a friend reminded me that last year it was so fresh we didn’t do anything, no candles, no celebrating, I don’t remember if I made latkes (I am sure I did, I love making latkes), so everything this year was ‘the first’. All things considered, I think I did okay. I made latkes twice, saw family and friends, and even received the most awesome gift – a custom made t-shirt that reads – When life gives you potatoes – make latkes!

I was in a meeting at work yesterday, with one of our partners in Israel, and she said what we are all thinking, last year in Israel the country was still in shock and deep grief and this year the thought is, how can we STILL be in the same place as last year (in fact, it is worse now than it was then). Things that should not be ‘normal’ are now considered a way of life. She told me that she left a wedding celebration early so that she would not be on the road when the sirens started.

As the winter break winds down, we will get back to routine life next week. I am going to attempt to add writing to my routine on a more regular basis. I hope you join me along for the ride.

Until next time,

We Remember Them

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‘We Remember Them’ by Sylvan Kamens & Rabbi Jack Riemer

At the rising sun and at its going down; We remember them.
At the blowing of the wind and in the chill of winter; We remember them.
At the opening of the buds and in the rebirth of spring; We remember them.
At the blueness of the skies and in the warmth of summer; We remember them.
At the rustling of the leaves and in the beauty of the autumn; We remember them.
At the beginning of the year and when it ends; We remember them.
As long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as We remember them.

When we are weary and in need of strength; We remember them.
When we are lost and sick at heart; We remember them.
When we have decisions that are difficult to make; We remember them.
When we have joy we crave to share; We remember them.
When we have achievements that are based on theirs; We remember them.
For as long as we live, they too will live, for they are now a part of us as, We remember them.

Amen