Why I never came back to living in Israel

Isn't that sad?

Please don't misunderstand me; let me share my views and experience, and then you'll let me know what you think.

When I think of my country of origin, I feel a deep admiration and affection; yet, I never wanted to return to live there once my parents emigrated back to America when I was a baby.

I was 18 when I arrived...

Well, I would like to give you first a broader picture.

Israel is a fantastic country. It is modern and beautiful. It's a hugely diverse country regarding races, nationalities, languages, etc. It has excellent "free" health care, a low unemployment rate, and very high education. Even though it is not part of the European Union, it is an associated state.

Many great minds, scientists, and tech geniuses are developing all kinds of world-transforming innovations. Did you know that today, it is considered by many the innovation nation? That they just invented a complete electric airplane? That the Waze and Siri you use daily were created in Israel? As the USB memory and the PillCam (a capsule you swallow that contains a miniature camera that captures images as it travels through your gastrointestinal tract and sends them wirelessly to a recorder)? From solar floating panels and surgical roots to an app that diagnoses heart failure before symptoms, the inventions and contributions to shaping the world as we know it today are countless!

Israel is the second country "producing" Nobel Prize winners (13 laurates, just one below Norway), despite being one of the smallest (149th position in land area and 93rd position in world population) and youngest (it was created in 1948 just after WWII) countries in the world. How wonderful is that? 

But the thing is that...

I was 18 when I arrived at Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv. I was a bit nervous, you know? After all, even though my passport wasn't from Israel, it said I had been born there and was at the exact age to serve in the army for two and a half years.

The country was not at war then, but it shocked me to see many boys and girls in military uniform guarding the streets of the cities (in America, women don't serve in the army unless they choose a military career). They carried all kinds of weapons, submachine guns, and military equipment.

When I came to the Kibbutz I was born in, at Nahariya, I was very impressed when they showed me the shelters; "they are almost unused, but just in case." I couldn't sleep a night during the months I stayed there traveling through the country. I was petrified to think the missile alarm might sound any minute.

Even though visiting Jerusalem, feeling the incredible vibrations at the most beautiful holy places, watching the multicultural and cosmopolitan population (from the most orthodox religious people to business neat executives) and visitors from all backgrounds filling the streets was amazing, it didn't help me get rid of the fear.

If those were times of peace, I can't imagine what it would be like to live now under my aunts, uncles, and cousins' roof. There are so many innocents suffering this terrible situation. Good people -from both sides- who have built friendships and have celebrated the peace together so many times in the past. 

As I write these words, in Acre and Nahariya -where I was born- all shopping centers are closed, buildings evacuated, and people are hidden in shelters underground, waiting for the war to reach them. The Jordan River, where I was baptized and named after, is now witnessing horrid scenes. 

Although I'm not religious, I love this holy land and its beautiful people. I hope they will catch a break soon. As Gandhi said, there is no 'way to peace'; there is only peace."

Please help me send love, light, and good vibrations to everyone back there -not only in Israel but the entire region- so they will see better days.

And please also share your valuable thoughts and insights. I would love to read you.

Big love,

Y

#Israel #love #telaviv #endwar