Dear friends,

Welcome to another post. While our group assembles in Israel, as we're arriving in waves based upon the number of seats that we could get on already crowded planes, here is an essay by one of our travelers, Joanna Berke, on her feelings and reactions as she prepares to leave Madison for her journey to Israel:

"Whenever I’ve spoken to someone who’s been to Israel, and mention this trip, I’ve invariably heard the same response: “Oh, you’ll love it; you’ll feel so at home!” I’ve been thinking about this trip to Israel for some time. I've been wondering how I'll feel when we land there. Will I feel as if I’m coming home?

"A few nights ago I was in a store paying for some purchases. As I was leaving, the clerk called out to me, as has happened very often, “Merry Christmas!”. I responded as I often do, “thanks, same to you!”, and left. I would not consciously have thought another thing about it except I wasn’t alone in the store. A very dear, empathetic, friend of mine who happens to be Christian, asked me, almost immediately, “how did you feel when she said that?” This is my answer to her: I felt alone and I felt marginalized. As a Diaspora Jew I have felt alone and marginalized a good deal of my life. I know I’m in a minority: I know I belong to a group which is frequently open criticism and judgment. I know that via the media I’m privy to the non-Jewish world in ways unavailable to them; that the non Jewish world, therefore, knows little about Judaism. In other words, I know, always, I’m in a minority.

"So, how will I feel when I land in Israel? I believe I’ve been “coming home” to Israel for a long time. (Due to the fog we won’t be taking off until tomorrow. To be continued........)"

AND IN ISRAEL TODAY:

For Israeli news in English, be sure to try the website for the Ha'aretz newspaper. You can access this website at http://www.haaretz.com/, and you will find out what is happening there while we're visiting, and anytime.

Today was better weather-wise, and because of back-logs of other stranded travelers, we were able to send off only six Madison-based Beth El-ites to Israel. At this writing (Sunday evening, 8 PM), they have landed in Atlanta and are waiting to board their Tel Aviv bound flight. Today in Israel, four of our travelers -- children of our members who are traveling with us -- arrived in Israel, and are awaiting a welcome few days of travel in the central part of the country, primarily Tel-Aviv.

What will they encounter? They will see Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed on May 14, 1948. They will also see an underground "laundry" (located at a kibbutz) that served as an ammunitions factory during the Independence War. Tel Aviv is a bustling city, and is a very exciting town for eating, nightlife, and is very much like cities here. By the way, the high temperature in Tel Aviv today was a cool 64 degrees. And sunny and clear.

Thanks, again, for visiting our blog about our trip to Israel. Tomorrow, Monday, we board the plane in the evening, and probably will not be able to post again until late Tuesday Israel time, which is eight hours ahead of Madison. But look for more posts. Be well, and shalom.