Since last September when we came to the decision to make aliyah, I have been busy deconstructing our lives. It's not an easy thing, to deconstruct many decades of life in one country. Tens of thousands of decisions, emails, phone calls, errands, lists and goodbyes must be attended to. As our aliyah date approached, the pace of deconstruction quickened, until, in the last few weeks, it seems that I did nothing else but end, terminate, close down, cancel and kiss goodbye.
Photo credit: David Buchalter
It is 4:30 in the morning in Israel and I, who have not had a decent night's sleep in a month or more, cannot sleep. I keep replaying the feelings of the day.
Photo credit: Shayna Friedenberg
Photo credit: Shayna Friedenberg
Photo credit: Laura Ben-David
Stepping off the plane as an Israeli citizen.
Being reunited with our oldest daughter.
Photo credit: Ariella LC
Oh my gosh! Being moved beyond words by the sheer number of people who got up at 5 4 in the morning to greet us. The dozens of loving hugs from family and friends and the deeply expressive eye contact from the men I could not hug at the Welcome Ceremony.
Photo credit: Ariella LC
Photo credit: Bryna Lee Jacobson
The feeling of being reincorporated into the existing organism of our lives in Israel which, until today, we could live just a few weeks at a time.
My profoundly grateful tears upon singing Hatikva which is now my national anthem.
The ride from the airport to our ancient and brand new home.
A welcome home brunch with friends from the neighborhood, coordinated by my brother.
Photo credit: Ariella LC
The 100+ Facebook messages blessing us in our new life.
The partial unpacking of our 8 huge duffels and 7 carry-ons and finding just the right places for the things we brought.
The evening spent with both our girls in the same small apartment.
The feeling of being HOME.
Thanks to those whose photos of our landing I snatched, for the most part, off of Facebook.
16 comments:
You have to change the line at the top of the blog, the one that says B"H we're coming home! It should read B"H we ARE home!
"My profoundly grateful tears upon singing Hatikva which is now my national anthem."
Why I am crying into my Israeli breakfast cereal, nearly three years after my aliyah, as I read this?
Love of you.
Love of me.
Love of all Am Yisrael.
Love of this Holy, Holy Land.
Welcome Home, Dear One!
Words cannot express our joy at your arrival! I told everyone from close relatives to anyone who would listen that "my dear friend is making aliya today!!" Still smiling from ear to ear!!
WELCOME HOME my holy sister.
Have a beautiful shabbos and see you sunday B"D
If I had known you were up til 4:30am I would have called you. I was so emotionally moved by your aliyah and coming HOME as I feel I have watched your being resigned to wait, then the yearning was too much and the decision was made earlier than you thought would happen and I/we watched as our friendship grew and respect and love wrapped us together in hopes and dreams and love of the Jewish people , eretz yisrael and each other.
Welcome home my friends and may your aliyah be a shining example to all who say I have to wait. It can come sooner than thought and the power of dreams will give us strength!!! b'vracha v'hatzlacha
Ronda Israel, Modi'in and still loving it after 10 years!
When the alarm clock rang at 4:00am (note - NOT 5:00) I was tempted to hit the snooze button, but then I remembered why it had gone off at that ung-dly hour. Wild horses couldn't have kept me away and seeing the expression of pure Joy that you had as you arrived HOME, made it all so worthwhile. We're are all blessed to have you here.
There's no place like home!
I am so proud of you both. I am proud to know you both and your children. It's amazing with Hashem has done and is still doing through the lives of his people.
I miss you already, but it won't be for long.
Chanah
Amazing pictures. Your joy could fill a room across the world.
May your joy and love for our land increase. May your roots grow deep in the holy soil of Eretz Yisroel.
Love,
Yerachmiel
dearest adler family
i was brought to tears looking at your arrival home pics and comments.
wishing you all the best life has to offer,good health,good friends and a lots of love.
keep in touch
with love ,hugs and kisses
selma
I cried watching the video on Nefesh B'nefesh..kol hakavod..may Hashem bless you in his land his holy land.
Hatzlachah .Ayala Weinberg
Dear Rivka, Rabbi Adler and family,
Mazel Tov on your arrival to Eretz Yisrael! Thoughts of your's and your family's aliyah have kept popping into my mind the past few days and I'm so glad you've finally made it. Now I will have to watch the latest Nefesh b Nefesh arrival ceremony (on the internet)and cheer for you! Wishing you all the best that life has to offer and hopefully we will meet again soon as neighbors in the beatiful land of Israel!
Kol Tov and much love,
The Walders
Charles, Suzanne, Leigh, Rose and Lily
Thursday, July 8th, 2010
Baltimore, Maryland
We can't wait to join in Israel next month. I wish you much, much chatzlacha!
Welcome Home!!! I have heard this so many times in the USA and it had some meaning but reading your posts and your joy made it more real that the real welcome home is when you land in Eretz Kodesh. I guess I did not fully "get it" til I read your posts. I wish you much joy, shalom bayit, and may this move bring all of us closer to joining you. I will be there in November for a few months. Language is always a struggle and hopefully another Ulpan can emerge. I think that it will be one of the most difficult areas of transitioning. My travel impacted the Baltimore Ulpan schedule. Your coming home and just going to Ulpan should be a wonderfully connect experience of transitioning. Shabbat shalom as an Israeli.
Mazal Tov to you and your family. Three years in and my family and I continue to feel the joy even the going gets rough....
Wishing you all the easiest of klitahs. So happy your dream has become a reality.
I can honestly say, I did not think you were that serious about this. but when Becky and I left our home in RBS to go to the arrival ceremony, I thanked Hashem that you finally joined us!
We love you all,
Brian and Becky
B&B: You crack me up!
Howdy neighbors and dear friends. :) So very glad you are here.
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