Our Visit to Israel 

Recently I went home.  

Chief Rabbi of Israel Rabbi Yonah Metzger Rabbi Yoseph Levertov Chabad Austin TX, Rabbi Schneur Greenberg Commerce, MI, Rabbi Yisrael Greenberg El Paso, TX  and Rabbi Chaim Greenberg Dean of Yeshivat CRC  Yerushalayim

My youngest sister, sibling number 17 (a number whose Hebrew equivalent spells the word “Tov”, meaning good), got married back in Israel.  The wedding was a sight to behold: Children and grandchildren from all over the world, together for a family event.  The joy was indescribable. 

Chana and I, and five of our children, stayed in Kfar Chabad, the village established by the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Joseph Isaac Schneersohn in 1948 as a haven for Holocaust survivors and Chasidim from Russia.  This beautiful hamlet, established by the hard work and idealism of its first settlers who physically constructed their own homes in an empty field, is now home to 3,000 families.  Surrounded by hostile Arab villages, their sacrifice and commitment spanned generations: Today, children run freely in Kfar Chabad’s peaceful streets.  Today, young families have an oasis amidst the hubbub of modern Israeli life in which to live, study and pray in tranquility. 

Naturally, we visited the Kotel, Jerusalem’s legendary Western Wall—the last standing remnant of the second Holy Temple.  The emotional impact of this seeming relic cannot be understated.  For two thousand years, Jews have been praying for an end to exile at the foot of the Wall. For the Wall to be under Jewish control, under a Jewish government with Jews safe in their land is a profoundly powerful thing. 

Despite the fact that it was the middle of the week, the Kotel plaza was jam-packed with Israelis, visitors from foreign countries like Russia, Brazil and Argentina, and, of course, plenty of tourists, including those from good ol’ Texas—us.  Understandably, one feels a rainbow of emotions upon any visit to the Kotel, but this time, the feeling was that we are not a newborn nation—we are tied to this place for the past 3,000 years.  From the day King David bought this Jerusalem mountaintop from Aravna the Jebusite to build a house for G-d—the Beit Hamikdash that was later built by his son Shlomo—the Temple Mount has been our and only ours.  Touching the stones, writing a petition to insert into the cracks, requesting a blessing for the family and the entire Jewish community in El Paso, makes you fill good.  It gives you the sense that Someone is listening, that Someone cares.  It is a place to pray, to ask and to complain, because our Father in Heaven is listening—and when you come to His home, He’s there.  Just knock on the door.  

Touring around Jerusalem, our family learned more about the Old City.  We saw the mountains surrounding the ancient city, and the encroaching villages of neighboring Arabs that want to swallow it up.  And the question came up: Such a small city and everyone wants a piece of it! 

A highlight of our trip was visiting the Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Yonah Metzger.  As the Jewish State, Israel respects historical Judaism by including two Chief Rabbis in every government—one for Jews of Ashkenazic, or European, heritage and the other for Jews of Sephardic, or Middle Eastern, tradition.  Together with a few of my brothers, I was privileged to visit Rabbi Metzger, who welcomed us very warmly and was delighted to learn that 13 brothers and sisters of the same family are shluchim of the Rebbe around the world in places he had visited.  The Chief Rabbi showed much interest in the small Jewish communities in the States, and, while he expressed concern about continuity, also expressed amazement at the Rebbe’s vision of securing the Jewish future. 

While in Israel, we visited Jerusalem, Haifa, Miron, Bnei Brak, Lod, Beitar Elit and Safed.  Wherever we went, we felt one thing: Belonging.  We felt at home; the people, our brothers and sisters.  There was a great sense of unity.  The highways and streets in the cities are like those in the U.S. the small towns are very crowded but people don’t complain.  People are happy to be together.  We ate in glatt kosher restaurants.  You would think that only the religious people would come there, but there are respectful secular people who specifically opt for kosher food.  Everyone at the restaurant feels like family and joins in the conversation. 

When it comes time to leave Israel, you don’t want to leave home.  But you have to, and you hopes are to be back soon. 

For our children, it was their first trip to Israel, but hopefully, only the first of many.  Now back in El Paso, when we’re praying three times a day, “May our eyes see the return of G-d to Zion”  our children now know where Zion is. 

May we all merit seeing the return of the entire Jewish nation to the Land of Israel, together with Moshiach, Amen.