This coming Monday morning, at 10:30 AM, another few hundred North American Jews will arrive at the JFK airport in preparation for their flight home.
Its now slightly after 1 AM in NY, and I'm honestly very excited for the privilege to join this flight. I recall almost 18 years ago, the night before I moved to Israel. I couldn't sleep. Tossing and turning with anticipation, excitement, and a bit of trepidation, I could barely squash the jumble of thoughts which prevented me from sleeping.
Songs danced around in my head. Homeward Bound, ושבו בנים, Take me home, אם אשכח ירושלים, and so many others.
In the end, I didn't sleep. It was too much. I didn't sleep on the plane either...all the way home to Israel -- It was far too exhilarating.
But that was almost 18 years ago.
I spoke to one of the families tonight that I will be escorting home on tomorrow's flight. They had already put their kids to sleep, and were very excited about the flight...the culmination of their planning, hopes and dreams to return home.
Please join me over the next few days as I blog about 2 families and their journey home.
My thanks to Nefesh b'Nefesh and Webads for arranging this special trip.
--Jameel
PS; And special, special thanks to my wife and children, for their understanding -- while I "disappeared" for a few days to accompany this special flight.
Its now slightly after 1 AM in NY, and I'm honestly very excited for the privilege to join this flight. I recall almost 18 years ago, the night before I moved to Israel. I couldn't sleep. Tossing and turning with anticipation, excitement, and a bit of trepidation, I could barely squash the jumble of thoughts which prevented me from sleeping.
Songs danced around in my head. Homeward Bound, ושבו בנים, Take me home, אם אשכח ירושלים, and so many others.
In the end, I didn't sleep. It was too much. I didn't sleep on the plane either...all the way home to Israel -- It was far too exhilarating.
But that was almost 18 years ago.
I spoke to one of the families tonight that I will be escorting home on tomorrow's flight. They had already put their kids to sleep, and were very excited about the flight...the culmination of their planning, hopes and dreams to return home.
Please join me over the next few days as I blog about 2 families and their journey home.
My thanks to Nefesh b'Nefesh and Webads for arranging this special trip.
--Jameel
PS; And special, special thanks to my wife and children, for their understanding -- while I "disappeared" for a few days to accompany this special flight.
Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד
There is absolutely nothing I can comment to this post except a huge (not yellow, however) smiley.
ReplyDelete:D
Have a safe flight!!! Say hi to Israel for me!!!
Very much looking forward to hearing all about your trip.
ReplyDeletejust watch out for aliyahniks without nerves of steel--those will be the ones gagging. make sure you have an extra set of clothing!
ReplyDeletewishing them all hatzlacha!!!!!!
Your post brought tears to my eyes. In two weeks we will be celebrating our first anniversary. But to be honest with you, the flight itself came after months of the proverbial emotional roller coaster that I was completely numb. I am so glad I'm going to experience some of it through your posts.
ReplyDeleteNesiah Tovah! I'll be looking for your yellow smiley mask on Wednesday.
The most amazing moment of my flight to Israel: When everybody starts clapping when the plane touches down!
ReplyDeleteDoes anybody clap when their plane touches down in New York?
I also didn't sleep the night before I made Aliyah.....because I was still packing!
ReplyDelete;-)
Guess I'll see you at the conference!
ReplyDeleteI had to back out of the conference last minute :( (family obligation)
ReplyDeleteI so wish I could also be there to experience that flight with the new olim!
I remember my aliya flight thirteen years ago...I cried when I landed. I also had multiple songs running through my head - my "theme" song of that time, though, was "Homeward Bound" by Simon & Garfunkel.
Trilcat: Hopefully, there will be many more opportunities!
ReplyDeleteRivkA: I too, was packing last night and got very little sleep :)
CosmicX: See my latest post...I mention the clapping!
Baila: Just got back -- the flight was better than I could have imagined.
See you all on Wednesday!
Anon 12:23am,
ReplyDeleteYou are a strange bird!