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TORAT MIZRACHI

Rabbi Aron and Miriam White

Aliyah Diaries

he great Ernest Hemingway once gives new meaning to the words we say is often enjoyed by those who come .who decades later“ ,בונה ירושלים – wrote that change occurs “grad- three times a day ually, and then suddenly.” builds Yerushalayim,” which is written Making in 2020, we feel like in the present. The cranes, diggers and TFor us, this really captures the journey of that grandchild eating from the tree workmen spread throughout the city our aliyah. We began the process almost planted by his grandfather. 70 years ago, are living fulfilments of this blessing a year before we actually arrived, and was a nascent society, trying to – we can see Yerushalayim being built gradually chipped away at everything absorb Holocaust survivors and Jewish every day, with new parks, light-rail we had to do. There are so many aspects refugees. Many of the cities we know lines and homes being built every day. that have to come together to make so well, like , and aliyah happen – bureaucracy, trying In the , there Modiin, didn’t even exist then. The to find a place to live, is a captivating story entire Israel had maybe a handful of packing up a lift, of Choni, who yeshivot, and at that point, one couldn’t saying goodbye encounters a man visit the Kotel and the of to family and HDR planting a carob Yerushalayim. When we arrive in the friends and so tree. Choni asks Land in 2020, we experience a totally much more. And him how long different country – a thriving and of course, when it takes for the bustling country of over nine million COVID-19 hit, carob to bear citizens. Within walking distance from everything was fruit, and the our apartment, we have dozens of shuls, delayed by months. man informs schools, shops and parks. And more But then, after this him it takes 70 is being built all the time. From year-long process, years. Choni is institutions to start-up companies, we then made aliyah taken aback. there are so many areas in which Israel so suddenly! Why plant a is expanding every day. This has all been tree that will planted over the past seven decades, by We got on the plane, not provide from Israel and from around the experienced the fruit for world, and we are the beneficiaries. incredible moment of decades? This realization is humbling but touching down in our The man new home, and then inspiring. It is our job to not only enjoy 1:1 answers Portrait the fruits of their labors but to plant special government Photo Video that he is Short video new seeds too. Through our collective helpers escorted us off planting efforts, we all are trying to continue the plane and personally the fruits to build and support Israel, so our whisked us through the for his children and grandchildren can enjoy airport. Only three hours children, those fruits. As we celebrate the New after touching down, we not for Year for Trees, we feel blessed to be able were already processed and himself. to plant ourselves – and trees – in the had arrived in our apartment Choni today. (the government pays for then falls the taxi from the airport). asleep for 70 years, and when One disclaimer – we had the Aron and Miriam White made he wakes up he sees a man gathering Aliyah in October 2020. Miriam previously somewhat special situation of being the carobs from the tree. He asks the man if taught at High School only people on our flight making aliyah, he is the one who planted the tree, and for Girls (Central). Rabbi Aron is complet- so it doesn’t always go so quick! the man replies that he is the grandson ing his semicha from Yeshiva University, of the man who planted it. Whether and recently began working as the Coor- In the weeks and months since then, dinator for Tzurba Community and Torah we have been able to to know the story is literal or not, it conveys a Projects for RZA–Mizrachi. They first met Yerushalayim, the city we now merit powerful message. One person’s work at Mizrachi’s Shalhevet educator training to call home. Walking the streets really program in .

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