I LOVE The Land of Israel and long for the day I can return. I have been blessed to be able to visit there two times (so far). My hope and prayer is that I can go again , and again, and again. If I can't live there, I hope to go often.
I will never forget the first Shabbat that I was in Israel. I was completely overwhelmed with emotion as I watched my youngest daughter lighting candles in the home of dear friends. I wept with joy and love for G-d, for His Land, for the holy Shabbat, and for my daughter.
(Note: This picture is not of my daughter. I got it from the internet because I don't have a picture of her lighting the candles.)To be in Israel was an amazing experience. To walk on the soil, to breathe in the holiness of the air - feeling the Presence of G-d surrounding me- was a feeling that would be very difficult for me to describe. Just being in Israel "spoke" directly to my soul, giving me renewed strength and vitality physically, mentally, emotionally, and of course, spiritually.
The Presence of G-d is so tangible in Israel that it would be impossible not to feel it. G-d promised in His Torah that He would have a constant, 24/7 connection with the Land of Israel. Devarim 11:12 says, "A land that the L-rd your G-d scrutinizes constantly; the eyes of the L-rd your G-d are on it from the beginning of the year until the end of the year." WOW! G-d must love the Land of Israel more than a mere human can understand.
Bresheit 12:1 tells us, "G-d instructed Abraham, 'Go from your land, from your birthplace, from your father's house, to the land that I will show you.' "
The Hebrew word for "go" -- lech -- is followed by the word lecha, meaning "to yourself." The classical Biblical commentator Or HaChaim asserts that going to the Land of Israel entails moving towards one's self, one's truest, deepest self. I agree with him.
Nachmanides, the great 13th century sage, claimed that the mitzvot of the Torah could be properly fulfilled only in the Land of Israel. Performing mitzvot outside the Land, he wrote, was merely for the sake of keeping in practice, so that when the Jewish people return to the Land, they will know what to do.
I do hope and pray for another opportunity to return to Israel, but in the mean time, I try to do something every day to demonstrate - both spiritually and physically - my love, support for, and bond with Israel.
Praying for peace for all of Israel (not only Jerusalem) connects me spiritually. I make physical connections by using things that are grown or produced in Israel. I have found it amazing that it is really more simple than I would have imagined to find things from Israel. Here is a picture of some of my "connections" with Israel.
I found this hand soap and hand cream at Pier 1 Imports. It is made in Israel, so every time I wash my hands or use lotion I am gaining the benefit of having the holiness of Israel attached to me physically.
I just found these great take out style plastic containers yesterday at Big Lots. I have also found some other plastic type items in the past at other stores so I think that plastic manufacturing might be one of Israel's industries. I feel good about buying anything from Israel because, not only does it connect me to The Land phisically, but it is helping to put money into the economy of Israel. If I can help to support even one business or help to put food on the table of an Israeli employee, then I want to do it. (Notice the label.)
I keep this souvenir I bought on one of my trips hanging in the hallway so I can see it many times throughout the day as I pass by it. My mind immediately takes me back to Israel when I see it.
I love eating and serving foods from Israel! I bought the coffee, pickles, and olives in a kosher grocery store when I was in Dallas a few months ago. I got the jelly in our local grocery store and found the tea in a small gift shop here locally.
To be able to actually hold in my hands, stones that came from Israel is such a blessing to me. I have a small bowl of stones that I picked up from various places while on my trips. (Note: Never take stones from the Holy Temple Mount if you visit there.) When I go to bed each night I choose one of the stones to hold in my hand under my pillow as I go to sleep. I say the bedtime Shema, then drift off to sleep with a tiny bit of Israel with me while I sleep.
A dear dear friend painted a beautiful smoothe stone from her garden and gave it to me as a gift. It sits on my nightstand near the bowl of small stones.
I keep pictures of Israel's captured sons on my fridg so I will remember to pray for their safe and speedy return to their homes and families.
There is absolutely nothing more beautiful than music in Hebrew! Each time I listen to one of my Hebrew cds my soul sings along - even though I don't understand the words with my ears, my soul sure does.
Other ways I attatch myself to Israel is by working on trying to learn Hebrew, by watching Israeli videos, Torah scholars, and rabbis on dvd, by studying Torah and teaching it to my grandchildren, and by giving tzedekah to Israeli charities.
I found this Dead Sea bath salt at Big Lots. I have purchased it from other stores as well, and have found that it is pretty common nowadays. Every year in the mall there are Israeli young people who sell Dead Sea products in little booths in the walkways throughout the mall.
I don't take baths, but the salts are luxurous for soaking tired feet at the end of a long day. When I have my feet in the water, I think of the day we went to the Dead Sea and spent the afternoon at the spa and floating on the sea. It was a wonderful experience.
The Dead Sea minerals have strong healing powers, so I know that I am making myself physically more healthy while I am connecting to Israel.
Other things to help me to stay connected to Israel, G-d, and His Torah as I go through the day.
Rebbe Nachman from Breslov said, "Wherever I go, I'm going to Eretz Yisrael."
That is my heartfelt desire as well. But until the time comes that I am able to do so I will continue to look for ways to connect myself to Israel in physical and spiritual ways every day.
