My Israel Story –’I never took it for granted.’

IT is hard for me to comprehend a time without the existence of the State of Israel.

I know that my grandparents grew up without the freedom to travel there at will, but Israel has been so inextricably linked to my Jewish identity, that I can’t imagine growing up without it.

I first visited Israel at 13 years old, a bar mitzvah trip. My eyes were wide open the whole time, drinking it all in. I couldn’t believe that there was a whole country set up with Jewish people in mind. To live in a place where your beliefs and religion were not considered unusual or exceptional was something new to me.

I remember the awe I felt when the siren went off in Jerusalem before Shabbat to signal to everyone to get ready.

I remember being amazed at the kosher food on every street corner, and the ease of keeping these ancient dietary laws when entire supermarkets had hechshers.

I think back to the fact that no one batted an eye lid at the sight of ultra-Orthodox Jews, walking along the streets with their kippot and peyot.

If describing Israel through the eyes of my 13-year-old self, I would use one word: magical. And every trip since, has never failed to deliver and provide that same dose of excitement and spirituality that my soul craves.

As part of my rabbinical studies, I studied in yeshivah up in Tzfat. It’s a mystical city, where the kabbalists lived and breathed. Synagogues dot the cobblestone paths, making it impossible to forget the history imbued in its every stone.

Every week for Shabbat, I would trek down to Jerusalem’s Old City, where our ancestors walked, prayed and served in the Temple. I led groups in circles of prayer at the Kotel; joyful expressions of thanks to God, for allowing us Jewish people to live in an auspicious time, where we have free access to holy sites in the holy country. I never took it for granted.

When I gazed up at the Western Wall, I tried to recall the longing of thousands of years of Jewish history.

I’m here, I thought. I wanted to pinch myself. I’m standing at a place where so many Jews wanted to be. Don’t waste the opportunity, I thought. Beseech, and ask God to bless all of us.

After all, this is the place where prayers are answered.

And then I got to lead Taglit-Birthright groups, bringing young Jews from around the world to see the Holy Land for the first time.

Teaching them about our history and make them feel connected.

Impressing upon them the beauty of the Jewish homeland.

And making sure they know that Israel is always there for them, should they want to come.

Israel continues to loom large in my thoughts and prayers.

I want the country to prosper and be successful. I want the country to be a homeland where all Jewish people feel welcome and are able to live their best Jewish lives. But most of all, I want my children to know that they are growing up during one of the most amazing times to be alive.

A time where Israel is the Jewish future.

A time when we are blessed to be able to travel there with ease.

A time where very soon, almost all people alive will not remember living without a Jewish state.

And this is a beautiful blessing.

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