I can not believe I have almost been in Israel for a year. On March 31, 2010 I arrived in Israel, it was Pesach at the time & all in all just couldn't believe I was back again!! My father flew here with me for 2 weeks to help me get situated and all my Army enlistment stuff done. I stayed with my Aunt and 7 cousins in Tekoa, located in the West Bank 10 minutes outside of Jerusalem. The beginning of May I moved in with a family that adopted (not really but just to take care of me) in the town of Pardes Hannah which is located on the coast in between Tel-Aviv & Haifa.
-May 4th 2010, my enlistment date :)
On May 4th I was officially part of the IDF!! I showed up in Haifa with a group of other Lone Soldiers like myself and we all went from there together. I went to a base called Mikveh Alone for 3.5 months for my training and ulpan (hebrew classes) and over my time there I met Matis (my Fiance) while I had kitchen duty one the day. He didn't know my name at the time & all he knew is that I was from TN. I hear a yell from a slight distance that says "Hey Tennessee" & my smart ass country accent turns around and responds "Excuse me I have a name!", it was fate :) Tell me how I had to come all the way to Israel to find the most caring, amazing person I have ever met in my life. Not to mention a Dodge truck owner who loves country music ;) My 3.5 months were finally over at my training base and Matis and I both went to different bases. Matis went to Tzanchanim ( the Israeli paratroops unit ) and I went to Joara, a Gadna base. Gadna is a program run by the Army that gives highschoolers a week long experience in the Army to let them know the basics and what it will be like once they go into the Army. (there is a draft in Israel so everyone goes into the Army unless you are really religious or you have health problems) September 8th 2010, Matis Baruch Ben-Mordechai asks me to be his wife, best day of my life. I am still located on the Gadna base and love it there and all the people I am there with, I have met some truly amazing people. People ask me what made me want to move to Israel, I moved to Israel because I am a Jew & this is my home. Yes, Pulaski, TN is too, but Israel more than anything. I visited Israel for the first time in the summer of 2008 for a month and a half & as soon as I got here I just knew, I had this feeling like I have never felt before. I stayed in Tekoa with my Aunt & Uncle and their 7 children & got to enjoy my cousin Zevy's Bar Mitzvah. I remember like it was yesterday sitting at the Shabbos table with my family and my Uncle just telling me how he knows this would be a great place for me & how he had no doubt that I wouldn't be anything but happy here. I arrived home & 2 days later my Uncle died unexpectedly & suddenly. I was in shock, but all I could think of was everything he had told me about living in Israel. I have to admit that I moved here mostly because of him & I felt like the Army would be the best because I wanted to help Israel so I figured that would be the best way. I am going to start the process of making Aliyah hopefully in the next week or so starting with online registration & from there I get interviews and so on. Here lately things have been kinda hectic... The hebrew month of Adar is supposed to be one of the happiest months of the year, I mean come on it's Purim! But I am sad to say it hasn't been so happy for the people of Israel.. in the last 3 days 70 missiles were fired into southern Israel. A bomb was strapped to a phone booth right outside the central bus station in Jerusalem, killing 1 and seriously injuring 30-40 others. Last week a Palestinian terrorist walked into the house of the Fogel family and murdered Rabbi Fogel, his wife Ruth & 3 of his 6 children with a kitchen knife the youngest being just a 3 month old baby. People think I am crazy for living here but when these people (I don’t even like to call them people because they are animals, I don’t believe another human being could kill another only because they are Jewish living on land they think is theirs. ) do these things it just makes me want to stay here even more to prove to them we will never leave or back down from them. I am currently living in Efrat located in the West Bank 15 minutes outside of Jerusalem and right beside Bethlehem. I have made some great friends since I have been here, and have seen and learned so much. I will admit that it has been very hard adjusting to the way of life, the language, and being without my immediate family(that has been the hardest). I miss all my friends like crazy but thank goodness for Skype & Facebook!! I am finished with the Army in November and I am not planning on coming back home for those wondering. I am looking forward to getting married here & raising my family here in Eretz Yisrael. I thank everyone who has helped me get through my first year here and can’t wait for many many more . I will forever and always stand with Israel… it’s mine J
Wow. Good for you! I love hearing that your uncle Sam had such an influence on you. We went to high school together and he was such a mensch, a sweet guy. Many many wishes for your happiness in Eretz Yisrael. I feel like a piece of Congregation Micah will be in the Land.
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