Chabad Center of Sderot
Dreaming Big In Israel
By Julia Kravchenko
Finally, a dam has been opened. At least in part to let words flow. Over two months ago I returned from a life-altering, spiritually and intellectually moving 12-day journey to Israel. I’ve been trying to find words since. I wrote a travel blog for close family and friends while there and documented the practical elements of our trip – where we went, what we did, who we met, what we ate. However, that blog did not touch on what I experienced and how I felt. Now I will share how I feel.
We persevered to get there after two years of rescheduling. I even negotiated this time off when I began my new job with a new employer just three weeks before departure. My family stepped up to sustain the home front with two active daughters. It doesn’t sound like much, but the logistics were a lot to coordinate since the trip kept getting rescheduled.
When we finally made it there, it was a small miracle. I tested negative for Covid three times within four days. Even after attending a 14,000 person show at the Xcel Energy Center and traveling in packed airplanes and airports for over 20 hours.
In Israel I felt like I came home.
Many times, on the trip I pictured myself making Aliyah – it gave me a warm feeling. However, I also recognize how hard it is to live there; all aspects, including the daily fear of war and terror, higher cost of living, less comforts. Yet, I still completely understand why people make Aliyah. Just by rising in the morning, in Israel I would have a sense of purpose. A sense of contributing to the Jewish people and State of Israel.
Every flower I saw felt more beautiful. Every modern building felt more impressive. Every body of water (sea, lake, stream) felt more important. It’s as if Israel is my child and I’m the proud Mama. My Israel is better than any other land; better than any other country; better than any other nation. My family lives in Israel. Not just those I can trace (my mother’s cousins), but so many more who are descendants of my own ancestors. Also from Belarus, people I met who came from the same villages as my grandparents and their parents.
Israel is more of a home to me than any other land. And I can see it’s inhabited by Super People: courageous, talented, intelligent, visionary, strong, persistent, fun, diligent, humble, flexible, kind, competitive, loud, joyful, smart, grateful, wise, collaborative, impressive, and so much more.
I met all these kinds of people on my trip, and they inspired me to do more.
- To teach my daughters more about Israel
- To teach kids at my synagogue more about Israel
- To appreciate and protect the State of Israel
- To remember that Judaism is much more than a religion
- To support the work of others who develop & populate Israel
- To advocate and vote for Israel
- To encourage my network to support and advocate for Israel
- To model for my daughters the qualities and ideals I want them to uphold
- To celebrate and advertise Israel’s accomplishments
- To mourn Israel’s losses
- To continue traveling to Israel
- To be “loud and proud” about being Jewish in America (where I’m a minority everywhere)
These are my commitments to the State, the People, and the Land of Israel.
