New (and slightly less-new) Olim: See My Friends!

My friends, Baruch, Chani and their new baby Nachman (שיחי") made Aliyah in May, on a Nefesh b'Nefesh group flight. Because it was not a charter flight but rather a regular run, with a section of the plane set aside for the Nefesh b'Nefesh group of new olim, it was not filmed.
Another friend, Gavriella, made Aliyah today (!) and she was on the chartered Nefesh b'Nefesh plane, which landed at Ben-Gurion today around 7:30 a.m. Israel time.

That was filmed with a live webcast, where I saw a still photo of my friend Gavi, I think still at JFK, and also showed them landing and disembarking at Ben-Gurion airport, greeted by hundreds of "guests" who already lived in Israel, soldiers waving flags in a 'reception' line, and various officials who welcomed them, including Nefesh b'Nefesh Founders Rabbi Yehoshua Fass and Tony Gelbart , former Israeli Ambassador to the United States Danny Ayalon and Rav Simcha HaKohen Kook.

To top that off, among the hundreds of 'guests' who attended the welcoming ceremony were my friends Baruch and Chani, who got up at 3:00 a.m. to leave at 4:00 a.m. in order to arrive at Ben-Gurion in time to see the plane arrive (they live far away up in the north of Israel). I know this fact, because Baruch called us today and told us.

So, although I had already seen the webcast last night (my time), I went again and took a closer look. Aside from it being in and of itself exciting and wonderful that 200 some-odd North American olim were on that flight, and that Nefesh b'Nefesh has brought 15,000 new olim to Israel since they began their organization--there was my friend Baruch, standing and waving the Israeli flag!! First time I've seen him since he made aliyah (Chani was with him too, but she is not 6' 2" tall so I missed her!)

Take a look at the Israel National News (Arutz Sheva) news video below. When the Nefesh b'Nefesh flight segment comes on, my friend, a tall slim Breslover wearing a black vest over his tallit katan, with a white knit kippah with a point (kind of like a very short pom-pom) and a darkish beard, is standing in the back waving a flag, at about 5:17, right after they interview the 15,000 olah--he is standing not too far back and slightly to the left--and also at around 6:24 (start looking for him a couple of seconds before).

Greetings, Baruch and Chani, from your former kehilah--we wish you a hatzlachah rabah , and may we all meet soon in Eretz Yisrael, Eretz haKodesh!

Or you can go to the Arutz Sheva website and click on "TV."

Comments

Baruch Eliezer said…
The aliyah experience has to be one of the MOST intense moments in anyone's life. Chani and I came to Israel because we believe that there is no other place to live in the world in compelte truth. We've been in Israel a month and a half and each day has been like a year. The intensity of life here can't be explained other than to say that each moment is an opportunity to see the truth, the truth that Hashem has the greatest love for those that are faithful to him (Jews and Gentiles alike). Chani and I weren't too terribly upset when we didn't have a welcoming ceremony, but were ecstatic that we could be a part of the first moments in Israel for other Olim Chadashim.

We have come to realize through our expereiences from the decision to make aliyah to living in Eretz Yisrael, that living in the Galut is a matter of choice; its attraction is one of habit and illusion. When people stretch their minds and begin to think that living in Israel can be a reality today, then they have started to take the steps through the four worlds (Atzilut--Nearness, Beriyah--Creation, Yetzirah--Formation, and Assiyah--Action). Rebbe Nachman of Breslov says that we are to take four steps toward Eretz Yisrael every day. If each of the four steps is a step through each of the four worlds (their respective manifestations being Nothingness, Thought, Speech, and Action) then the illusion of the attraction of the Galut is broken.

In this week's Parshah we learn of one of the greatest illusionists in all of time, Baalam. Our sages say that Baalam was at the same level as Moshe, but on the side of darkeness. His trickery and illusions were so great that he thought he could out trick Hashem and curse Israel, but his curses turned into words of blessing for all of Eretz Yisrael. How did Moshe deal with the Master of Illusion, Baalam, only through Emuna. In complete emunah is how each of us is to live each and every day, remembering that he created the world as we celebrate Shabbat and each breath we take and step we take is a result of His great kindness. (For a more detailed explanation of this week's Parsha, please send your requests to Baruch.Eliezer@gmail.com)

Shabbat Shalom,
Baruch Eliezer, Chani, and Nachman Ovadia
OK - we MUST have your friends for Shabbat. LL please PLEASE give them our contact information. Both Gavriella, and Baruch&Chani&Nachman. Gotta meet 'em!
Lady-Light said…
Baruch: I am absolutely overwhemled by your comment. Have you thought of starting your own Torah-and-Aliyah blog?? I think you should disseminate your Torah & aliyah insights for the whole Jewish Blogosphere to see! Look below your comment: you have an invitation from my blogger friend Ye'hi...who happens to have as neighbors former acquaintences from our extended kehilah who made aliyah several years ago. Isn't it amazing how the Jewish people are one extended family!
Ye'hi: I am thanking you in my friends' names for your kindness and hospitality. My friend Gavi will probably be living in B'nei Brak for starters, and Baruch et al are in Nahariya ! That's a shlep-and-a-half for them, but hey, you never know--they might eventually want to visit my younger son & daughter-in-law (whom they met before aliyah) who now live in southwest Yerushalayim, which is somewhat further than you--so maybe they could take a few days vacation...
(on a different note: do I have the best friends ever, or what?!)
Anonymous said…
Hi there, folks,

I've long been getting invitations from lady-light to comment here and, well, here I am. I made yerida about a year ago. Since then I've been cursed with some pretty bad things which have turned my life upside-down. I don't know: I'm not religious but there seems to be something to this.
Baruch Eliezer said…
Eitan,
I think you have come to the right conclusion. Now all you have to do is come up with a plan of action to receive Hashem's blessings. Although, now that you mention it, the curses come from Hashem too. What? You say. Yes. They do. Everything comes from Hashem. If blessings you have received when you lived in Eretz Yisrael have turned to curses living outside of Eretz Yisrael, then Hashem is trying to nudge you, telling you that you've stepped off the derech.

The important thing here is that you now there is something different that has casued the curses. Hashem is showing you the true picture that you were use to seeing in Eretz Yisrael. What I mean by this is that whatever may have attracted you to make yerida was an illusion. There are illusions all around us that try to tempt us to step off the derech or to make yerida. What you are seeing by the curses is the truth after the illusion has been broken.

If you would like to chat more about this, or if you need help coming up with a plan of action I can be reached at baruch.eliezer@gmail.com.
Batya said…
are you going to participate in the JBlogger f2f with NBN? It sounds great.
I applied - we'll see if they accept me. :) I hope to see you there.
Anonymous said…
Yes Baruch, I'll contact you. Thanks.
Lady-Light said…
yehi & muse: I too, applied. We'll see if we're accepted. For me it's gonna have to be conferencing by webcam (I'm 9 hours earlier here in sunny, dry galut!)
eitan: You can't go wrong with my friend Baruch.
Baruch: What a mitzvah you are doing! I think you might be changing your calling (it's still 'space' related, isn't it. . .?)

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