Just about a year ago, Hubby and I decided to pick up with our five children and move from our comfortable home in Monsey, New York to a cottage in Israel, a place where we would all have to learn the language and culture, a place where we would be immigrants, just like my parents had been in the USA. People are still asking me why.
Why move to Israel?
When people ask me “why”, they’re really asking “Isn’t it hard? Why do it if it’s so hard?” I confess this is not my own observation. It was made by one of the most funny and fascinating rabbis on the planet, Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky, but I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Almost everyone who moves to Israel is asked this question sooner or later. Your visiting friends, relatives, parents are aghast that life in Israel is so challenging. It can be simple stuff – like getting used to different paper towels, tissues and toilet paper, learning to live with Israeli milk bags (in pitchers!), bagging your own groceries at the supermarket – or real issues like, housing in quarters less than half the size of what you had in the States, the suffocating heat of a chamsin in the summer, nuclear threats from our Arab cousins. Every oleh can provide a long, personalized list, I assure you.
In my case, leaving my birthplace (which was actually Philly), my parents (my mom visits a lot), my old friends (hi Atara and Simcha Rus), my favorite coffee shop (shout out to Purple Pear), everything familiar, to live in Israel was the natural destination of my personal spiritual trajectory. I had gone from one level of Jewish living to the next; then suddenly I was gripped by the awareness that it’s all very nice to build lovely Jewish communities in outposts all over the world, but that Israel’s gates now are open to us. After two thousand years, we can go home! How can we turn our backs on that? So it seemed kinda natural to just pick up and come to the Holy Land – not expecting it to be easy, and alert to the challenges that lay ahead. Yet it was a monumental thing to do, a historic act. And I’m all into doing things that make a difference. Truth is it’s most probably an eternal difference.
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And yes, it’s hard. Very hard. Can’t deny it. Nu? What’s so terrible about that? If you look back on life, you’ll notice that just about everything worth doing is hard. Marriage is hard. Childbirth is hard (but not as hard as raising children). Pesach preparation is hard. Learning to cook is hard. Writing cookbooks is hard (even though it looks like fun.) Reinventing yourself in a new country is hard.
But the result is a life that’s rich in purpose, a life that actually moves in a consistent direction. It’s a life that’s aware, precisely because the choices were hard and you had to grow into them. I’m not saying my choices are right for anybody else. They’re right for me. And as long as I can stay true to myself, I’ll be able to look at myself in the mirror every morning and know that I’ll never have to look back with regret.
In case you missed the last episode of JoyofAliyah (or just want to see it again) watch it here:
And for no other reason that the fact that this reflective post was written around one of the holiest days on our calendar, here is my Quick & Kosher post Yom Kippur menu. Easy Fast and G’Mar Chatima Tova!
Parsnip and Celery Root Soup
Lemon and White Wine Broiled Sole
Green Bean Casserole
Fettucine with Pumpkin Sauce
Lemon Yogurt Pie
AMEN!!! Until 120! Can’t wait till you join us Sarah!
AMEN AMEN AMEN! And thank you for leading the way you are SO very inspiring!
I agree thanks Whitney it’s really all about attitude and perspective.
AMEN AMEN AMEN!!! Diane thank you so much – the same to you and more!
AMEN AMEN AMEN — I do get a lot of strength thinking about my parents and grandparents immigration/journey in the same way.
Thanks Alison!
Hi Fredi! you make me laugh. I am not suffering – there are just things that take getting used to. Thank you for your support – I do know with 100% clarity that this was the most amazing, powerful, important and meaningful decision we could have made for our family and our future as Jewish people.
Happy 1st year in Israel, and may you have all the rest of your years there!
Kol Hakavod! I enjoy getting your menu every week in my email and now that I know you are making the recipes in Israel I will enjoy them even more! We made aliya almost 30 years ago (my husband is also from Monsey) and never looked back. Our children and grandchildren are Israeli’s and that’s exacly what we wanted! Good luck with the transition and thanks for sharing your story. Chag Sukkot Sameach!
I love hearing your aliyah story. Life is hard but it’s also one’s outlook that can make it harder or easier. You seem to have a lovely outlook on things, which will make transitions that much more easier and will be a nice lesson for the kiddos to pick up!
Shana Tova! I enjoy everything about you. Glad I found you. Have used quite a few of your recipes.
I wish you gmar chatimah tova. A year of health, b’sirot tovot and delicious and fattening, ok, throw in less fattening, recipes.
I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about my grandparents and why and how they left their homelands. The journey and getting used to a new place is hard, as you say, but for my ancestors it turned out to be a wise choice and a blessing. I wish the same for you. Best to you in your new home.
Mazal Tov Jamie! Your menu looks great for break fast!
Jamie,you make it sound like you are suffering in your kitchen here!What is different about paper towels,tissues and toilet paper?? My kitchen is more modern than any of my American friends and certainly bigger than any NYC kitchen. it is European designed and sleeker and more chic thanAmerican design. Change to a cheaper supermarket that does bag groceries, but better go to the Shuk where you can be assure that all your produce is local from a 100 mile radius.
you should have mentioned that you live in a kosher Disneyworld and don’t have to think twice about buying your kids ice cream or potato chips on the street.
Brucha Habaah–start cooking like an Israeli and you will never yearn for junk like marshmallow fluff again! you made the right decision and your children will thank you one day.
EstiK – Shana Tova and thank so much for your support! I hope we can all be together in Israel soon!
so sorry not sure which menu you are referring to… but these are my Roasted Cornish Hens with Fingerling Potatoes… http://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/roasted-cornish-hens-with-fingerling-potatoes/
Ahhhhh, I remembered where the menu was…..in your quick and kosher cook book! I’m so happy, I purchased all of the ingredients today. It is by far the best pre fast menu! Gear Chasima Tova, may HaShem continue to bestow blessings and you and your family! Have a meaningful and easy fast. PS I give your quick and kosher cook book to every Kallah I know including my daughter, Miriam who is a very recent Kallah 🙂
Judy and Carol — so sorry ladies about the parsnips — you are right that parsley root looks similar but doesn’t actualy taste similar, it’s not sweet like parsnips… so you can just sub in additional carrots for the parsnips or try my current obsession my Creamy Coconut Milk Carrot Soup: http://www.joyofkosher.com/recipes/creamy-carrot-soup/
Pennyweeks: we hope you come home to us soon! easy fast!
Alex Rosenfeld: I agree about no reservations no regrets – not a one! But aliyah can be hard for some people…
Congratulations to you Jamie! I remember learning at a Shiur once that since we are still in Galus, there have to be Jews who make the decision to live in the Gola. Which is why my Husband and i have made the decision to be Gola Jews. I would say that it is not an easy decision and that it is difficult to live in a country (USA) whose values are so not aligned with our own, but we felt it was the right decision for us. That being said, we greatly admire the brave families who make Aliyah! Kudos to you!
Shana Tova.
I love reading about your move to Israel! Last year you had an amazing pre fast Yom Kippur menu. It had cornish hens and I can’t remember the sides. the meal sustained us and I would like to make it again, but can’t find it 🙁 Thank you and have an easy fast.
it really is a myth that aliyah is difficult or hard. i had zero interest in ever going to israel…even as a tourist. after four years, i still find adjustments necessary and i suspect that will always be the case. bottom line..without reservations, no regrets.
@pennyweeks. Why do people say they can’t wait to come. What are you waiting for. Get yourselves here ahad shtiyim.
Hi Carol. I didn’t see your message. Sorry. I can’t find them either. I suppose one could use root! Looks the same. Are you all religious?
Where do you live here? I still get asked why I left England 45 years ago. Where have you found parsnips?
Where did you find parsnips? I’m here 11 years and think I only saw them once, PERHAPS, many years ago.
you are soooo lucky! one day we hope to join you. it has been our biggest wish to live in Israel. i think we all know its hard but the plus side out weigh the downside. have an easy fast.