The Israel Elixir

by Ilene Bloch-Levy
July 14, 2005

Sharene Johnson stood tall amidst hundreds of other well-wishers, 
veteran and new Olim, journalists and soldiers, VIP's and security 
personnel all eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first two flights 
marking a landmark year for North American aliyah.  Sharene was waiting 
to greet and embrace her daughter, Alyssa, who had decided to make 
aliyah and join her brother who has already been living in Israel these 
past five years.  "I'm so proud of her" Sharene cried aloud.

What motivated Alyssa, who hopes to do her master's at the Hebrew 
University in public health, was the last Yom Hashoah ceremony she 
helped organize at Davis University.  While she and her fellow Jewish 
students were trying to conduct a dignified and quiet commemoration, 
they were violently accosted by members of the Islamic student body.

So, now Alyssa was aboard one of the two flights taxing forward in the 
morning hours of July 13th, courtesy of Nefesh B'Nefesh and their many 
partners throughout the Jewish world.  Nefesh B'Nefesh, the 
organization that has catapulted aliyah to the top of the North 
American Jewish community's agenda, promises to bring another six 
flights this year, carrying more than 2,500 more North American olim.

Sharene is not ready to make aliyah yet, but she was overflowing with 
glee and perhaps a touch of envy, "Here my daughter is coming to live 
out my dream and take control of her destiny, rather than being a 
victim of it."

I don't believe the other 500 new immigrants were thinking about 
victimization, but they were probably thinking of destiny and dreams, a 
future and a new hope.  But, then so were the hundreds waiting on the 
hot tarmac who had come to welcome them.  They surged forward carrying 
Israeli flags, vigorously waving them.  They held up home made 
signs,"Welcome Saba and Savta" and "The Aliyah Revolution." They blew 
shofars and called out "Bruchim Habaim," They stretched out arms and 
hands to grab up young children and babies, and hook onto luggage and 
strollers, offering assistance in every possible way.

The newcomers, although tired and weary from their long journeys from 
Toronto and Montreal, Seattle and Teaneck, Silver Springs and Los 
Angeles, were caught up in the waves of emotion that seemed to engulf 
all those in their midst, and they answered in kind.  A young bearded 
man stood at the top of the steps and called to the crowd with his 
shofar, and a young family came marching out of the door with a large 
Israeli flag stretched to the limits of the width of the stairwell.

David and Hannah Shalom from Teaneck animatedly bounded off the bottom 
step calling out, "Amen, amen. We've come home.  Yes, it's a cliche, 
but it's true, nonetheless."

The veterans in the crowd answered "Amen" in kind.  A young man surged 
forward singing "Ve'shavu Banim Le'gvulam..." and he was joined by 
others until they were drowned out by the Israeli music in the 
background, which seemed to beckon the masses towards the hangar 
embellished with large, welcoming banners and stretched to the limit 
with rows and rows of plastic white chairs.

Naftali and Chana Bernin from Portland, Oregon were striding with their 
two cats in hand, smiling, nodding their heads, and remarking, "we want 
to be the inheritors," and heads continued to nod with theirs in 
agreement.

These new Olim will find that this summer Israel is bursting with other 
North Americans -- young adults on Birthright missions, athletes, 
coaches and fans who have come for the 17th Maccabiah Games, and the 
general hordes vacationing in Israel's resorts or visiting family and 
friends.

For them Israel is the roborant elixir they must ingest before 
returning to their lives in North America.   But while they drink in 
this elixir in Israel, they cannot really feel its effects the same way 
that Ryan from Toronto does.  He was the first Oleh of the group to 
receive his Teudat Oleh (new Oleh status) and will proudly carry that 
with him when he joins the IDF in eight months.  Nor can those who are 
but visiting Israel feel as the Bouzglou's from Montreal do, a young 
married couple heading to Safed, and looking forward to having their 
first child and first Sabra in the next few months.

For those new Olim who assembled in the hot hangar listening to the 
words of welcome and encouragement from Prime Minster Ariel Sharon, 
Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom and Deputy Prime Minister Shimon Peres 
and Tony Gelbart, cofounder of Nefesh B'Nefesh who promises to bring 
another 10 planes of new Olim next year, those Olim who landed in 
Israel on July 13th have tasted the elixir of Israel and it is sweet.  
It is the elixir that those who made aliyah before them have succored 
daily.

Now these new Olim will be drinking the roborant of Israel on a daily 
basis, too.  And, sharing it with their children and grandchildren, 
here in the very land that brings forth the elixir and nourishes those 
who drink of it daily.
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Ilene Bloch-Levy
Copywriter
ileneblo@netvision.net.il