CBI Blogs

Shalom Chaveirim,

Today my husband and I are just three weeks returned from our most recent trip to Israel. I find myself reflecting more on our time there than any of our previous visits. This makes sense, given the current state of both the country post-October 7^th and our own hearts. In the following paragraphs I hope to share a few of my reflections.

This was the first trip that we were forced to fly on El Al airlines as it is the only airline currently flying in and out of the country on a regular schedule. While our family’s preference is Delta I secretly (well, not so secretly now) love it when we get to fly on a carrier based in the country of our destination. For me, it is as if our holiday wins an extra however many hours the flight is. On this trip, when my heart had been longing to be in Israel for so many months, I was grateful to walk into her arms in Boston and settle in among friends as we crossed the ocean.

The purpose of this trip was to be able to drop our daughter, Rebekah, off for her draft at the intake center in P’tach Tikvah. My husband had left a few days ahead of me to run all of the dad errands she and Jacob, our son, had been hoping for and I landed the day before drop-off.

You know the country is different as you walk down the long ramp to customs. Photos of the hostages line both sides of the corridor and everyone takes their time reading the names, soaking in the faces, and reading the notes that have been written on some of the posters. For the first time in all of my visits I actually made it up to a customs officer who spoke to me, asking me the purpose of my visit. “To drop my daughter off for her draft.” “Oh, what is she drafting to?” “The air force. To be a technician, she is excited.” “I too, well, many years ago, was a technician in the air force. She will love it.”

Evidence of the trauma and reminders of what happened on October 7^th is everywhere. Each city is missing specific hostages so, their posters are prominently displayed inside shops, on the overpasses, on light posts, etc. When you get a coffee from Roladin, a bakery chain throughout the country, your cup reads #bringthemhome. We went to dinner at a restaurant in Hod HaSharon where, on your way to the hostess, you first passed a table memorializing a beautiful young girl who was murdered at the music festival, a waitress at the restaurant. Another table permanently set and reserved for the 136 hostages still needing to be returned home.

During our time in the country, we did not make any pilgrimages to the horrors in the south. We also drove past hostage square in Tel Aviv but did not enter. I understand that for many, this is necessary but my imagination, stories from Jacob’s friends who survived, memories of time spent in the area when we toured Jacob’s base back in December 2021, and images from this horrible day are enough.

And then, just hanging out in our children’s apartments. One roommate was called back into reserve duty by the end of October and spent weeks repairing the guns on Apache helicopters. Another was called back but due to severe trauma that hasn’t been worked through from time in mandatory service pleaded his case with the army not to be enlisted again. Another can’t be called back because his shoulder was damaged during his service and not repaired in a timely manner so, he is not physically fit to return. A female soldier who spent 40 straight days in Gaza at the beginning of the war. Another who just won an award for her incredible work in a new unit whose sole work is the mental health and well-being of soldiers.

Amidst all this the country is doing “normal” things. People are going to work. There is the usual amount of traffic at all times of day. Moms and babes get together for walks on beautiful spring mornings. People are walking on the beach. Cafes are full and the hustle and bustle in Tel Aviv feels like it has on previous trips.

In fact, on Wednesday, the day after dropping off our new soldier, we took the train to Jerusalem for the day. It was our most relaxing and lovely trip to the city. Jacob wanted to go to Yad Vashem (the Holocaust Museum) and so, we did. With so few tourists in the country it was us, school groups of 11^th graders as this is the year of Holocaust education in Israel, and a group of soldiers. I can’t put into words the feelings that were aroused to be in this space during wartime.

If you haven’t been, the museum is intentionally set up on a winding path so that each time you leave a room full of exhibits, you see this remarkable view at the end. As your heart breaks and you feel more and more grief for the lives lost and the horrors committed you begin to crave the beautiful space and fresh air that is waiting for you. The most beautiful part of this view is what you hear, not what you can photograph. The museum sits at the top of a hill with a sprawling valley beneath it. On the hillsides are homes and schools so the laughter of the children at play wafts up to you as you soak in the remarkable scenery.

After the museum we went to find lunch in Mehane Yehuda – the massive shuk in the city. This was also so much easier to maneuver thanks to the stress-free travel within the city on the train. A trip to Thinker’s Distillery, Kalifa Shoes for a new pair of Blundstones for me, and then the train to Tel Aviv for dinner and Whiskey tasting at Whisky Bar in Sarona.

In the weeks since we have been home, we have spoken frequently with our children, as we usually do. Most often with our newly minted or, in her words “baby soldier” who is learning that every person’s role in the IDF is important. All the planes and helicopters must be repaired correctly, they must be gassed up and have air in their tires, ready to go when needed. In the coming days, her basic training will have come to an end and we will know what her job will be.

Just like the soldiers in any military force require the sum of their parts to be at their best we have been reading in our Torah the importance of the community’s role in the construction of the Tabernacle. It takes the entire Israelite community to make a dwelling place for God. Only once all have contributed and the pieces have been put into place is Moses able to set up the enclosure around it:

“…When Moses had finished the work, 34] the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of the Eternal filled the Tabernacle. 35] Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud had settled upon it and the Presence of the Eternal filled the Tabernacle. 36] When the cloud lifted from the Tabernacle, the Israelites would set out, on their various journeys; 37] but if the cloud did not lift, they would not set out until such time as it did lift. 38] For over the Tabernacle a cloud of the Eternal rested by day, and fire would appear in [the cloud] by night, in the view of all the house of Israel throughout their journeys.” Exodus 40:33-38

Because this is the end of a book of Torah we say the words “chazak, chazak, v’nitchazeik” – be strong, be strong and may we be strengthened.

I pray, during these challenging times, that we all find strength in one another and that we all know our contributions are important and necessary for the success of our people.

Shabbat Shalom