I'm standing in the departure terminal at JFK with my suitcase.only one suitcase. I'm with a friend but no family members. That alone is unusual. Someone I have never met, picks us out from the crowd. Also impressive. One by one more people join us , all adults of my age group, men and woman from all backrounds from across the USA. We're about to embark on an adventure, a once in a lifetime trip, a pilgramge to our Homeland, our BIRTHRIGHT.
I love meeting new people and we have a great group . Everyone is sweet and funny and were gonna have a great time together.
We had to be at the airport pretty early but the time was completely taken up by the various stages of checking in, before I knew it we were up in the air and eating dinner at 2 a.m. I managed to sleep for a 5 hour stretch and felt pretty good. As morning came i walked about the plane stretching my legs, saying hi to group members spread throughout and meeting other passengers. There were newlyweds on their honeymoon, a group of USA army veterans, a guy with a long white beard who looked very much like my dad, and of course a minyan for mincha(shacharis?)
Because of the time difference, Tuesday was a short day, it was already dark when we landed. Things take longer in a group but everyone is already looking out for each other. Once everything was sorted we boarded a bus to the Golan heights.
We're staying in kibbutz ortal, in charming cabins. I'm rooming with an old friend and a new one. After 24+ of travel I'm happy to have a hot shower and a comfy bed. Alas a few hours later I was disturb by loud noise. Now I'm wide awake for at least as long as I had been asleep, and we are getting up in just a few hours. I'll be pretty tired tomorrow but I Don't care, IM IN ISRAEL!!!
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