Jonathan Levin jlevin@netmedia.net.il
Posted May 9, 2000

I came on aliya on May 14, 1980. Not only was it the 
anniversary of Israel's independence according to the 
secular calendar, it was Jerusalem Day on the Hebrew 
calendar. It was a coincidence, as that Tuesday happened 
to be convenient for me. So when I say Hallel on 
Yom Yerushalayim, it's with double kavannah.

My shaliah, God bless his radio announcing soul (he's 
a known broadcaster), sent me to the maon olim in 
Herzliya Pituah, tho I had asked to be sent to Jerusalem. 
(There was no room in J'm.) However, I brought some 
Vitamin P with me - protexia. My last boss in the States 
gave me the name of the head of immigration at the Jewish 
Agency. I called him to ask about employment. He said he 
was traveling in a few days (they don't call it the 
Jewish Travel Agency for nothing), but where was I? 
I told him that that was another problem and explained 
that Herzliya Pituah wasn't a place for a Jewish boy like 
me and that I had heard of the maon olim in Talpiot Mizrah 
where places were being held for the Iranians who weren't 
coming. (Remember, this is 1980.) His response was: 
"I can help you."

When I reported this to the maon's "m'tapelet" (don't you 
just LOVE that term?!:)) that I had spoken with YD, her face 
lit up. (I'm sure she never dreamed of speaking with him 
herself.) So she called the Jewish Agency's office in 
Tel Aviv. A few hours later, while I was waiting within 
earshot of the office, I heard the phone ring. The m'tapelet 
answered and I heard: "Ken, ken, Y'honatan Levin? B'seder." 
She turned around, saw me and said with a big smile: 
"Ata yerushalmi. Matai ata rotzeh linsoa?" 
[You're a Jerusalemite. When do you want to leave?]

And so, I made my second aliya in 2 weeks.

Jonathan Levin
(And still in JERUSALEM)