Moving Up: An Aliyah Journal
For centuries, Jews throughout the world have yearned, prayed, sung, and studied about returning to Israel, and throughout our tumultuous Diaspora experience, that very dream of returning home has sustained our people. Close to sixty years ago, with the creation of the State of Israel, a dream that seemed so elusive became a reality. What most Jews throughout history were deprived of in their lifetime, could now be a precious reality for a new generation. While North American Jewry did not pick up en masse and immigrate to Israel, a significant number of Americans did more than 150,000 made the journey home. Whether it is for national, ideological, or spiritual reasons, Americans are continuing to choose to make Aliyah because of their deep bond and connection to the land and the Jewish people. Although one man or woman s move is a fulfillment of a personal journey, its impact is felt and embraced by an entire country. In this small country of Israel, every person counts. Israelis eagerly anticipate the talent, the entrepreneurship, the contributions, the Zionistic ideological passion, and the Western education and professionalism that are embodied in all Olim that arrive on Aliyah from North America. It is with each and every new Oleh that Israel is enhanced and continues to prosper. The doctor, the teacher, the actor, the physical therapist, the musician, is all, in his own way, building Israel, one person at a time. Therefore, when any book, memoir, or publication is published, it is received with excitement and encouragement for it helps stress the viability of living one s dream in Israel and the fulfillment of our national destiny. We applaud Laura Ben-David for her honest, inspiring, and humorous Aliyah memoirs. The reader will follow her on her emotional roller coaster as she experiences the trials and the triumphs of establishing her family in her new home in Israel.  Many will discover a modern Israel that they were unaware of and some might even follow in her footsteps... --Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, Founder & Executive Director of Nefesh B'NefeshLaura Ben-David, a gifted communicator, captures on paper the clarity and purpose that lead a family to uproot themselves from a very comfortable life in Boca Raton, Florida to move to a settlement town in Gush Etzion. Ben-David s book, called Moving Up An Aliyah Journal is a chronological collection of the emails that she sent to friends and family leading up to the move and throughout the first year. These dispatches were forwarded onward to thousands of readers many of whom were captivated enough by her family s journey to begin considering their own Aliyah.  Moving Up is not a story about me, Ben-David writes in the very first words of the volume. It is a chronicle about Aliyah as seen through my eyes and written with my pen.  Ben-David s book will put smiles on the faces of fellow olim (immigrants), as will her frank observations about Israeli life and descriptions of the moments that bring her back to the original decision to implement the dream. She describes shopping for the first time at Jerusalem s Malcha Shopping Mall. Because this mall is in Jerusalem, there happens to be a large percentage of obviously observant Jews. It s really a hard thing for me to explain, it was almost like being at a synagogue, or a special rally for a Jewish cause, except that we are all simply at the mall. The point here is that I became so emotional over the whole thing that I started to cry. It was just one more reminder of where I am and why I am here. Because this land is MINE.  She also provides helpful advice for those planning their own Aliyah on everything from packing a lift (laments bringing a 40-foot one rather than 20-foot) to dealing (patiently and persistenly) with direct insurance companies after an Arab construction vehicle totaled their parked van. And for those not yet planning the move, Ben-David shies away from preaching but allows subtle jabs in the form of quotes from her kids. My daughter Lexi made a great comment today, she writes. She said, I don t get why people say that they are so jealous of us making Aliyah. If they feel that way, they should pack up and make Aliyah too! Right on Lexi!  The Ben-Davids arrived in Israel on the first chartered plane organized by the Nefesh B Nefesh organization, which seeks to remove the logistical obstacles facing Western olim. Laura s story, though seemingly dealing with personal experience raising kids, shopping at the local grocery and learning Hebrew is truly one very clear part of the chronicle of the American Jewish return to Zion.  The book is an invaluable primary source for those seeking a glimpse into the phenomenon of Aliyah-by-choice from Western countries specifically during these most violent and turbulent years in the State of Israel. These Jews are a mystery to many. They arise, amidst the apex of Western civilization and decide to move to a perceived war zone with third-world cronyism and minuscule salaries with no anti-Semitism or persecution to account for the decision to become immigrants. This book offers a glimpse of why they are coming, and why more will follow. --Ezra HaLevi, Israel National NewsOver the past two days, I started and finished a very good book called: Moving Up - An Aliyah Journal written by Laura Ben-David. The book is a collection of emails Laura sent to her relatives and friends describing the aliyah journey of her family. The humorous stories and inspiring words make the reading very enjoyable and will put a smile on your face. If you are considering aliyah or have made aliyah or just want to read how one family deals with a new life in a new country, I highly recommend the book. --Jacob Richman