No place like home: The relief of coming back to Israel
Sitting at the gate in the New York airport waiting for our return flight home after visiting family, I felt a sense of calm wash over me as the boarding area began to fill with Israelis. Some were eating, others praying, still others were taking up seats with their oversized shopping bags. Many talked excitedly in rapid Hebrew.
Was it the loudness, the interactions, or simply the familiarity of “home” that felt so wonderfully comforting? I knew I just wanted to be home already.
Leaving Israel is always difficult for me, but this year it felt even more so. My husband and I had not been out of the country in over a year, and with children in the reserves, I had mixed feelings about leaving Israel at all.
What do we miss about Israel?
My list is long, but I will mention a few things. Nature tugs at my heart. The topography of this country dramatically changes within a short distance, filled with olives, pomegranates, dates, and citrus. How do I explain the joy of living so close to historic Jerusalem and the breathtaking Mediterranean?
Yes, Israel can be a land of extremes. When it rains, the heavens literally open; when it is hot, it can be scorching. Yet, life here has tremendous meaning and purpose. Our lows can be earth-shattering, but our highs are exhilarating.
How do we feel connected?
People outside of Israel often talk about how they “bageled” someone, trying to indicate their Jewishness. In Israel, we don’t need to play these games. We know that we belong here, united for a common purpose.
This has been a challenging year for everyone, but I believe we have learned how to support each other. As I look around the dining room table at our children’s Sabra spouses and grandchildren, I know that, above all, I have come home.
There is no place I’d rather be.
The writer is a licensed clinical psychologist in private practice in Ra’anana and has written about psychology in The Jerusalem Post since 2000.
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