Where is Home?

Growing up in the Bronx, New York is home to me. Where I felt free, loved and had my parents, grandparents and all the extended family surrounding me. That was "home".

California for now, but Isra'el some day, I hope.

Lori - this is a provocative topic - thanks. My adult home is Los Angeles. When I think of home, LA is what I envision. So much happened to me here. And yet, when I think of what my neshama feels is home, I answer "Jerusalem." Maybe like you, I'm a bit schizophrenic - two homes...one for now (LA) and one that I know is the true home (Jerusalem).

I was born in Michigan, but lived in Chicago most of my life until having the zechut of making aliya in 1972, at the age of 25, with my husband and 2 our small sons. The desire to live in Israel was very great for both of us. It is where the Jewish neshama needs to be. When we visit family outside of Israel, we so love being with them, but after a week or two feel the urgent need to be back in Israel, where we belong. Lori, I wish all of our Jewish sisters and brothers would join us here and make dream come true! We need you!

I live in Toronto or close to it and I love it now for 33 years. I was still shocked to read that somebody feels about Toronto the way I feel about Budapest especially the Buda Hills. You are so right about Home. Thank you

I feel just as #95, I was born and grew up in Scotland, and when I go back to visit, it is just that. As much fun as it is to see familiar things I no longer belong there. Home is where you make it and it is now the United States. In retrospect Jews born here belong here, and quite possibly may never really feel they belong in Israel when they go there to visit, yes they may have a common tie with the wonderful country, but to say this is where they belong is tantamount to anti-Sematism in it's own right.

I was born and grew up in Brooklyn, NY. I lived there most of my life and now I've been living in Israel the past few years. I consider both places home. Brooklyn is where my family is and it's familiar and Israel is where I've chosen to continue to build my life. So yes, both places are home!

I feel like I have two homes actually. I definately still have a strong bond to Toronto, where I also grew up. When I see something that reminds me of Toronto or when I meet someone who is "like people from Toronto" whether he actually is himself or not, it gives me a very warm feeling. I also feel like my present location, Israel, is home however. Whent I visit Toronto, the lack of mezuzot on all the doorposts (such as at the airport), the lack of hearing "Shabbat Shalom" from everyone I meet on a Friday (in stores, taxis, buses etc.), these and other little "bits of home" which are missing do have their effects reminding me where our "real home" is. I do feel lucky that I can feel close to both places. I hope Toronto will always remain, "Toronto the Good." Shalom!

I was born and raised in South Africa and moved to Toronto 22 years ago with 3 of out 4 children. Each time I go back, it still feels very comfortable. My youngest son born in Toronto also feels a bit of that which he experienced in the summer of '09 when he spent 5 weeks with his cousins there. He sent me this video - I was hoping I'd see his comments here...

Where I grew up is no longer home to me. Yes, it's familiar but truly not my home. My home is where I live and make it loving and comfortable for anyone who visits, especially my family. My husband told me once that our house is not a home unless I am there. That was the best compliment I ever had.

I believe that all of the Jewish people belong in Israel. I was born in Detroit, with parents who were born in Europe, but my home is Israel, where all Jewish people should be!!

I feel very lucky to be living where I grew up from ages 4-10. I never felt as comfortable (at home) anyplace else that I've lived since I moved from Riverdale at age 10 except for the other part of the Bronx that I was born in and lived till the age of 4. So when my husband and I moved to Riverdale after we got married 14 years ago (because it was a religious Jewish neighborhood close to Manhattan) I was thrilled...and I still am.

Home - a place opposed to Galut. A place where one is safe and loved.

This video really hit home!! (pun intended) I live in NY but after being in Israel for a year i just got attached to the land, and now that i've really experienced what Israel is, I can really say that its my real home! Although im here in NY i have a real desire to go back permanently! I formed many lasting friendships with ppl that live there and so in a way i feel that it is where i belong. May Hashem send Mashiach now so that we may return to our beloved land, amen!!

I was born in Brooklyn and will always be from Brooklyn but home is my Aish Community here in North Bethesda. Being in the Eruv, davening in the morning with the Aish Minyan, being with friends and family on Shabbos. And it will be my home until we move to Israel (for part of the year) after retirement, G-d willing.

I was born in Belgium, grew up in NYC, lived in Denver, moved to Toronto and now divide my time between my homes in Toronto and Israel. I loved all the homes I have lived in, but I must say when I wake up in the morning I think, "If it's Tuesday, it must be Belgium"! Where am I?

I grew up in New York and made aliyah at the age of 28 together with my husband and three children. When we arrived here I was excited but it didn't feel like home. Now over thirty years later I can truly say, that Israel is my home. I have a daughter,son-in-law and grandchildren in the U.S. as well as other close relatives. Although I am always excited at the prospect of seeing them, when I disembark I always feel like a stranger. The people who surround me in the U.S. whether in religious neighborhoods or not, do not live my type of life. Their concerns and goals differ greatly; they may be wonderful people whom I love dearly, but they don't make me feel as if I am at home. When the plane starts its decent as we near Ben Gurion my heart begins to quicken; no matter if all the people around me are not religious or of a different origin they are part of our country and make me feel like I am home. May we be zocheh to soon see all Jews who feel that Israel is their home and be here to greet Moshiach .

I voted for you Lori for the last election: as the person who touched me most. Your question : Where is home? It is still an enigma for me because as a Jewish woman, it's Israel of course, as of French origin, it's where I used to live and where my parents still are. Conclusion it's where I am now: In Jerusalem!!

You are so right about it is where you are born. My husband and I have lived many places but Waterbury,Ct. will always be my home cuz thats where I was born. I have a love for I srael that is unbelieveable. I never have been there yet but I will someday and when I think of it I am reduced to tears.I have such a love I cannot explain. I know someday it will be my home and I will live there. Thank you for all you do .You really make me appreciate life and stop and think. Be Well Michelle

As a Jew I feel displaced and never really feel at home. I was born in the former Soviet Union - not home. I was raised in L.A. and live here now. I have lived in other cities and other states for years at a time. None of them are home. I feel like no where in Galus is my home. The Geula is my home, and boy do I want to go home!!!

I have lived in so many places and have moved 10 times, but I think home is where you are happy no matter where it is. Your heart can still be in Israel

I find it so heart warming to read so many comments about the yearning for Israel. Pleas G-d may it be soon that we all return to our land, our one true home.

Great video a topic of discussion in our household too. My home is also toronto; where i was born and riased. I have been living in nyc and always say home is toronto. My hubby on the other hand although lviing in his neck of the woods always says he wants to go go home and I respond we are home.. He is like no our real home.. Israel. ;-) Thank you lori great video!

My son just asked me your question yesterday. I made a comment about the beauty in "our home town" that we were driving through that moment. My son said, "but mommy, this is not your home town. You didn't grow up here. It's our (him and his sister's) home town. Isn't where you grew up, near bubbie and zaddie, your home town?" Well, I said something like "yeah, but I live here now (about as long as I lived there). But yes, I suppose you're right. My home town was where my parents were, and where I did my most of my growing up." (Where I was taken care of, had many friends, and just felt loved and secure with my parents.) But now I think I should correct my answer to him to be the old line, home is where your heart (loved ones) is. And now, it's with my husband and children. (However, I am more at peace and relaxed where I grew up, then here.)

I've lived in Brooklyn for 17 years. My family, my friends are all here. It's a great place to live, but I will never call it a home. I couldn't wait to get out of Russia. I don't want to live there again, but I miss it so much!!!!

Home is where I live (in the Diaspora), but my heart is in Israel.

Israel is the only place where I feel at home. Ienjoy travelling abroad for short periods, but I don't belong there

this house, this street, this neighborhood, this city, this country, this plant, this solar system, this galaxy, this universe. All of it is home.

Born in Manhattan but haven't lived there for 44 yrs, yet when I go back to visit with family, it feels more like home than the area of New Mexico where I've been living for the past 22 years.

Dear Lori: When I heard you speak about missing your hometown, it brought tears to my eyes....I've been living in Scottsdale, Arizona for 32 years, and I do miss my hometown of Chicago.....except when the weather back home is cold (like now) or when Arizona is real hot.....Living in Arizona has been a blessing, because I was given the opportunity to create personal growth & self awareness programs which has assisted humanity, and also wrote a fun book on astrology. In reality I love both Chicago & Scottsdale, but at different times of the year. My greatest blessings in life are close to me in Arizona, because this is also the home of my children and grandchildren.

i was born in London and left there when i was 23 but i always feel comfortable when i visit there. i know how to speak the language and how to get around but now Israel is my home and i miss it when i am abroad.

We have been in the US for almost 40 years now - almost 2/3rds of my life! Why do I still not feel that my home is here? We (my husband and I) as well as all our South African friends feel that South Africa is home. For me it is Cape Town. Yes, I love Israel, I live in Baltimore, but when I think of home - I think of Cape Town!

I have travelled a lot, and worked far from home where the family were. People come, people go from places. when you go back you can knock on the walls of familiar, but long deserted streets, peoople have gone. The walls sound hollow when you knock on them - the people and the life has gone from them, the focus is now elsewhere - or moving elsewhere. So where is home? Where they are now; the children, the grandchildren, the family, the friends. That's home. Appreciate it !

I was born in Chicago but our family moved away when I was four so I don't remember it at all. We moved to California but my parents and people I knew all abused me and were very mean to me to California is not really my home either. All I have of California is bad memories. Now where I live is my new home and feel comfortable here. So Washington is really my home now. I am not abused here and it feels comfortable for me here.

Growing up we moved around a lot. My parents are from the Caribbean. We lived in Canada, The US, Mexico in many different places. No matter where I went I never felt like it was really home. I was the observer watching what the natives were up to. France, Spain, Germany, some places I rather enjoyed and others I didn't care much for but I still don't know where home is. I guess I will know it when I get there.

One can have a number of homes in one's life. Each can be satisfactory, and each can be loved and remembered. There is no place like home, and I have loved each of them. Each has served me well, and I am who I am because of these homes

I live in Fairfax, Virginia now in a retirement community near my married daughter and son. home for me is where they are, but when I dream of home ....it is my childhood home, so long ago, in Brooklyn New York. I shall always be a New Yorker. I wonder where my children feel their home is.

I have lived in the same home for almost 25 years since I was a kid. Although, I was originally raised the first 4 years of my life in the next town over so when I travel there, it does tend to take me back. So, there hasn't been much mobility in where my home is, but I have been away at college at different places, and even went to Israel twice during my college years...But, as it stands right now, my home seems to almost always be the one I've been living in for the past 25 years. Many families are consolidating as a result of this bad economy. I thank G-d that I have a roof over my head, particularly in the same place for so long.

This subject strikes such a cord in me. I was born in Ct and am very nostalgic about it. My family moved to Brooklyn, NY when I was turning 15, and I married and had my children and still live here. I am very happy here, and there is a wonderful community that I love and appreciate here in Brooklyn. However, where I want to be- and feel we all need to be- is Israel. Everytime I visit Israel and return to NY, I feel as though I left my soul in Israel. It is a very tormenting feeling. Yet the way you expressed your feelings about how you love Israel- and you live there now- but yet you feel Toronto is your home, made me feel better about not being in Israel. It made me feel like it's ok somehow. I share your love of your hometown- I feel that way about mine too. I am usually left so conflicted about this subject, because on the one hand, Ct was where I was born, and I love it dearly. Brooklyn is home now, yet I yearn for Israel. It's confusing, but comforting to know, other people struggle with this too- it gives me strength, thank you for addressing it.

although i had a wonderful childhood and even finished graduate school living in the same house where i lived when i went to kindergarten, my home is across the country where i moved 32 years ago. it is here that i met and married my husband, and where we have raised our daughter who is now in college. it is here that i became part of a community, through my synagogue, work and other activities, and where i have people my family and i can count on - for anything - even though we do not share a bloodline. i believe that this could have been anywhere geographically, but 'home' is where one makes it, and that can change.

My apartment feels like home, but not the town in which I live. My synagogue feels like home, but not the town in which it is located. I am hoping to move to Napa, CA next year and think that might feel like home.

Right now it is a forbidden topic for me. I left my home ten years ago and never got a new one... just a burlesque one, shimmer of a real home. So in this situation I desided that home is whereever my body feels comfortable, surrounded with friends, good meal and music of life...

We have lived in several locations where we made friends, sometimes have had family, and have created memories. Going back to any of them feels wonderfully familiar, happy and easy to navigate within, but for me, no longer "home".

I am confused when I have to fill in the space in forms that asks for my "hometown". I was born in Philadelphia, moved to Florida when I was 4 1/2 and ran off to Philly when I was 20. After I lived in a few places but for most of my adult life I lived in metro NY city. It seems, now that I think of it, that I have been searching for "home" for a very long time. Especially now that my children are out of the nest and the house where I live is just a structure without the power of family to keep me here. The short answer is I don't know where home is any more. I think that is a question I will be working on for the rest of my life. I just don't know.

I was born in Toronto as well and have lived there all my life. I have never been to Israel, so for now Toronto is defiinitely they only place that I have felt is my home. Perhaps when I finally make it to Israel, my feelings will change. Guess I'll just have to wait and see...

I think of LA as my home since I have lived here from the time I came to attend university, to now. My birth home is Montreal ,where I left after a month, to live in Indiana where I stayed until high school graduation and where, never felt "at home"!

Lori, you were sincere and told us how you felt personally about you home "feeling", but that is only a personal and temporary attitude. The real truth - and dont forget that Torah is THE truth, not a feeling - is that Am Yisarel's home is Eretz Yisrael ! NOWHERE else! Every aspect of reality reflects that simple equation: Eretz Yisrael is our real real place, our only home. Just as not everyone merits to feel an uplifting feeling when they put on Tefillin, not everyone merits to feel an uplifting feeling when they are in Isreal. But many many do. Many many Jews that have never been in Isreal have an unbelievable feeling of belonging the minute they step on our holy soil. Dear Jews, I wish you all to merit that feeling, but even if you dont, Israel is definitly your only home! Never forget that.

I grew up in Toronto as well and still miss it I go back occasionally to visit some family still residing there It definitely feels like home I lived downtown near College and Bathurst and went to school on Viewmount We still had the "street cars" above- ground electrical system in the centre of the street You have my email, If your Mom went to Beth Jacob why don't you ask her to email me? Cheryl

I grew up in a not so healthy environment, so home to me isn't warm and fuzzy. Home is where I live now with my wonderful husband and community, though two years ago I met my son, who was in yeshiva for the year in Israel for Pesach break. When I left to come "home" to the rest of my family after 3 wonderful weeks, I was kicked in the backside by this overwhelming feeling of being torn away. I was crying when the customs agent was asking his various questions. It took me a week or two to get over that feeling. I have never felt that way before.

I have lived in my current house for over 20 years and it is home. I brought my daughter home from the hospital to this house after she was born. She is now 20 years old and even though she is away at college from most of the year, this is home to her too. Unfortunately, I was both recently injured at work and have also been laid off due to the economy. I do not know how much longer I will be able to financially afford this house. I was divorced a few years back, so there is no other income or anyone to share the load of upkeep on the house. It is very hard for both me and my daughter to think about giving up this house but I try to remind myself that home is where you make it. Still, it will be very hard to leave this house and all the memories that it holds.

Though I have never lived there, and only visited once or twice, Home would be in Soddy Tennessee, just north east of Chattanooga. But in Reality, I can't wait to live in Jerusalem

I was born in Detroit and grew up in the burbs. I served in the U.S. Army in Vietnam, South Carolina and Germany. I have been to Israel twice. Michigan is my home and my family is here. Great golfing and great boating in Michigan. I belong to a wonderful Shul.

Love this subject, it's so timely for me. I have made aliyah to Israel but I am heavily considering moving back to my home city where I grew up and where my family still lives. I miss them very much and I miss my home. But Israel also feels so much like home to me after 3 years here. I can't decide what to do, each day I change my mind. Do I want to give up my life here for the unknown of what kind of life I'll be able to rebuild back in my hometown? Am I just being nostalgic for my hometown but it won't be able to live up to my expectations? Or will it feel wonderful to be back home again with my family and old friends and I'll eventually make my way there again? I'm straddling two homes...one in Israel and one in the home I grew up in and spent many years in as an adult, and I can't decide which is the home that I'll be more happy in. It's driving me crazy! Yes, "where is home?" is an excellent question.

I grew up in Toronto. Today I live in Israel. I raised my children in Israel and Israel is definitely home. Not Toronto!

I feel like "yonah" who found no "manoach" for the sole of her foot. My husband left and is engaged. My children are scattered across North America. I have no permanent home. I am learning that Hashem truly is more than enough. My home is in Him.

I lived in Manchester till age 29, then London, then Israel, but I always think of Nanchester as my home.

Dear Lori, My husband and I left N.o.,La. the day before Katrina and have not retuurned. We were both natives of 75 and 70 years. We now reside in Owings Mills,Md. because we have a son in Baltimor and another in D.C. and after 5 years we are still New Orleanians. I tear up almost daily-but as I am mobility impaired we can't even think about going back. Just got SKYPE and it does so much more than the telephone!! Our phone bills were astro in the beginning. Anything that smacks of N.O. onthe TV has me glued. Love your articles, they have so much "Sechel". If you're ever this way ,would you give a talk at our retirement community? It"s Atrium Village in Owings Mills. Write me and I'll set it up. Our reason for not returning home was 5 inches of water and mildew covering everything,furniture,floors,ceilings as house was closed up 2 weeks without air and no one could even get back into the city for 10 days.so the mildew went rampant. Our son went in and took care of all that wwas necessary as there was no place for us to stay. Hotels were booked with emergency workers and rescue workers. In all we were blessed not to have attempted to ride it out. That would have been a nightmare. We are well and Ha Shem provided for us. BUT THIS IS NOT HOME!! We celebrated our 61st anniversary here.

The town I was born in does not seem like home. For me, home is wherever I am living with my wife, now of 53 years. Those home have been in four states from the east coast to the southwest.

i have lived in many countries - born in india, lived in australia, usa, and canada - but for me israel is home !and till i move there, toronto is second best!!!!

Dear Lori, thank you for this. This question troubles my mind constantly. I was born in Manchester UK, grew up there, was educated there, started my career there, and had my maturational experiences there. In 1971 I moved to Vancouver, a few years later to Israel, 10 years later to LA, 5 years later to Calgary, finally(?) back to Vancouver. I live here now with my wife of 7years (birthplace Taiwan) and our 2 Vancouverite daughters. Where is my home? I try not to be selfish, but my heart tells me that my home is Manchester, and for me, it is the place I feel most 'at home'. By the way, I really like your articles! Thank You.

I have lived many, many places during my life.....but the one place I left, where my heart felt like it was torn out of my body, was Israel. It took many months for my heart to stop hurting....and even now, I feel a loss when I know that I probably will never live there again. I left there in 1983.

Although I was born in NYC, and now live on Long Island, my real home is in Israel - and its where I would like to spend eternity, G-d willing.

My heart is in Israel; my body is in Texas. When I go to Israel I know I am home, Even though I have all the material wealth that I could ever want right here in Texas my heart knows there is more. I grew up in a small town where I was the only Jewish child and It took me a long time to find my way back to Hashem. The only place for any Jew is in Israel. May the time come very soon when we all know it and all of us are living peacefully in our land.

I was born in BC but throughout my childhood my family and I moved every 3-6 months offen spending summers in campgrounds. It was fun and usually without to many limits. After graduating High School in South America, I found myself in Miami. As an adult I've spent most my life in the south planning to finally move home to Israel. I hope to take all the pieces of other places I've lived home to Israel, someday. :-)

I greatly disagree with U! Bauch HaShem (& I do every single day, living here for nineteen years, & nearly 4 months & still counting). I always say that no-one chooses where he/she is born, but most of us CAN choose where we live our lives. And here I must stress the word LIVE. Before living here, it was existing -- meaningless.... I myself never think of the Galut, except with contempt or pity. I came alone with two young sons & now, Baruch HaShem, all my grandchildren are sabras of course. Regarding playing hopscotch, skipping rope & all those things that I did in anti-semitic England, I never look back at such a place, except, as I already mentioned, with contempt. I should mention that I was so dissatisfied with my native england, that as a teenager already,. I left. But I made the mistake then of not coming straight here. I went to the U.S. I lived in different places in N.Y. & in Washington D.C., but NEVER EVER thought of them as home. My sons were born in the U.S. & I brought them up, fully knowing that the u.s. flag /wasn't/isn't ours & that there's only one tiny Land that is all ours. There may be lots to be desired with all successive gvts. since '48, but each one of us is a part of something VERY BIG. Besides, I don't have to remind U that halachically, we're not supposed to live anywhere else but here!!! You see my email address -- surely that tells it all -- how much I love every millimeter of our Precious Land. I organize Shabbatot in Yesha & have done 46 such Shabbatot to date, plus now I also organize full day-trips to the inspiring, wonderful Ma'achazim. There's never a dull moment & life is full of challenges, but meaningful ones, not like those I remember from the galut.

I grew up in the Bronx(N>Y>) but I came to Israel when I was 20. I was married here and my children were born here. I rarely go back to the U.S.A. to my family but Israel is may home.

I grew up in Brooklyn, NY but have been living in Allentown, PA since 1964. I have no family left in Bklyn and my Mom and Dad moved to Allentown about 15 years ago. My Mom is deceased but my Dad is still thriving and living in a retirement community in Allentown. My 3 children were born in Allentown and we have been in our same house for the past 43 years. One of my children and 3 grandchildren live here. I love going into NYC for entertainment purposes or to see relatives who live in Manhattan, but it doesn't feel like home. My husband and I have deep roots in this community and in our synagogue community. So, for us, home is here!

Born in Sacramento California, at 29 I relocated with my bank to San Antonio for 12 years, still did not feel the 'home' feeling. I am now an "end-of-life" nurse and live wherever my clients need me, as I am live-in. I am now in the beautiful mountains(covered in snow) of Lassen Volcano Park, albeit wonderful, still not home. I revently went back to Sacramento for the holiday and YEP, Sacramento is and will always be home..... Bless you hon, love the reports....

I totally agree with what you said about home. I feel the same way every time I fly "home" to the city where I was born. I moved away when I got married and I do not feel like the current place I live will ever be home. I think, however, that the reason we have this ambiguous feeling about "home" is because that is what it means to be a Jew in exile. We have no true home without the Beis Hamikdash- and so we can never really feel like we know where home is- because right now, we are wandering in galus without a home. May Hashem quickly send the geula so that we can all have one definite and eternal home!

live in Teaneck Nj but I grew up in Toronto. Been away for 17 years and miss Toronto tremendously

I was raised in a small logging town that my parents moved to when I was 3. From the time I was 4, I dreamed of escaping. I was regarded as a foreigner since most of the people in that town could trace their families history there back 2 or 3 generations. I also was not very physically strong and in an economy virtually exclusively dependent on logging and fishing, that was paramount. So my hometown is Portland, OR where I went to college. I now live in OH where my husband was raised (in the house he was raised in) and know likely spend the rest of my life here and it will be home for my children. But PDX will always be home for me. I know I may never see it again (cross-country travel is not in our budget in the forseeable future) but it is HOME

home is where i live, where i gave birth to 4 of my 6 children, where i raised those 6 children, where we had bar mitzvahs, bat mitzvahs, where we married all our children from. where we made brisim for many of our grandsons and shalom bats for our grandaughters. Home is here where we gather together on the chagim and share our lives, children, meals, colds and ear infections. Home is here where we've invested 37 years of nurturing our family and eachother. I thank HASHEM everyday for our family and the home where we raised and nurturedd them and gave them the heart, soul and tools to go out and build their own homes, torah homes, each building a "bayit neeman b'yisrael" THANK YOU HASHEM!

I was born in the Bronx, NY and moved to Forest Hills Queens when I was 11 1/2 years old. I also lived in Quebec, Canada for a year while in College to learn French. I love to travel everywhere. My husband is originally from Israel. When we got married he wanted to live somewhere different because of our family situations at that time in 1998. We moved to Huntington Long Island. We stayed there for a year, but I was not happy over there. I really wanted to go back to Queens. I felt that the Queens Frum community was where I really wanted to be because I became baal teshuvah out there. So my husband and I discussed it, but we were invited for shabbos one week and really liked it. Now we live in Monsey 10 1/2 years. We have a beautiful daughter, but she needs a special ed yeshivah. There is nothing or noone that seems to be helping us with this situation here in Monsey, and I found a school located out in Rockville, Maryland. It is beautiful out there. I know it is important for our daughter to get the best education and hope that will become our new home for now. So sometimes we have to plan out our home based on certain circumstances. Home is where we need to be!

My wife and I are recent olim from Manchester UK and although we lived the first five and six decades of our lives respectively in the UK, the feeling of being at home here in Israel is unmatched. The structure of the week around Shabbat and the year around the chagim simply cannot be experienced in the same way in the Diaspora. Israel is truly home for the Jewish People.

I was born in Chicago but never lived there. Since I was a small child our family has lived in Pgh., PA but it has not felt like home. We were always the only Jewish family in the neighborhood because we always had to live upstairs or near my Dad's business. When I went to Israel in 2002 and 6 more times, I finally found my home, anywhere in Israel. I feel like it is my country and I belong there and have volunteered in the IDF 5 times including the time of the war in Gaza. Much as I love America and think it is a great country, and it is, Israel has so much more to offer in terms of quality of Jewish life. In America we have "stuff", in Israel they have Jewish family and a sense of belonging in their own country.

My husband is Israeli and we've been married for 11 years. He's been in the U.S. now since he left the army at 23 and he's almost 48. More than half his life here yet his heart still longs (and more strongly with each passing day) to return to live in Israel with our family. I love Israel but feel very American to my very core - and it's even more apparent to me when I am in Israel, how very American I am. We may fulfill his dream some day of moving to Israel where his parents and 3 ouf 4 siblings make their homes, but I am sure I will always feel that the Metro New York area of the stats is home.

I just wrote to a friend, about my current Home, and how we got here, meaning, Marshfield. I have recently taught about the Iliad and the Odyssey, about the blind Greek poet, Homer. There is home in the name Homer, and beyond this, curiously I live on Homer too, as we are in two places at present, a profound gift. I too grew up in Toronto, but I don't feel home there. I like to visit. I was born in New York. There are reasons that are about my growing up years that do inevitably color my feelings about Toronto. For a long time I was seeking a home, a kind of soul wanderer, echoic perhaps of Wandering Jew. I found myself in Boston. I truly did, grow roots, and the routes that took me here are profound and deeply my own story. We all have them. I am at home here. I have delighted in Israel, felt particularly in Jerusalem, a place, where I do belong, and yet it's here that I am truly myself, at home. I do believe, at a profound soul level, that all places have echoic connects to the "other", so if you never travel to the Grand Canyon, the Grand Canyon is right where you are, and the mountains and streams and the rivers of your life, are wherever you are, the same, but yes, of course, different. The course of our lives takes us all to different places, and yet, deeply, all is ONE. Thank You for your most beautiful article this morning, that I do feel, is so essentially about the journey home. Maybe it's never over, Laurie. Maybe we have, eternity.

When I bumped into a friend from Atlanta in the old city of "Jerusalem and asked what why he was here. He answered "a home is a place that you don't need to explain why you are there.

Born and raised in NJ, USA, very "American" in my outlook and values and what I hold dear - but although it has lots of faults, I love Israel, my home for the last 25 years, for its many virtues! There is a kedusha here that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world! My life is firmly planted here in Israel, and I can't imagine living anywhere else now!

I grew up in a not so healthy environment, so home to me is, for the most part, home is where I live now. Two years ago I met my son, who was in yeshiva for the year in Israel. When I left to come "home" to the rest of my family after 3 wonderful weeks, I was kicked in the backside by this overwhelming feeling of being torn away. It took me a week or two to get over that feeling. I have never felt that way before. The only explanation is that THAT must have been home.

Home is whenever and wherever I am with my family. It's the feeling of togetherness and love. Visiting with my older son and his family in Israel is like going home. After all, we go there a lot. Visiting my younger son in NY also feels like going home. I love being with all of them. But where is my real home? Somewhere in my memory bank is the house I grew up in, the friends I played with, my Nana and Pop, my mother and father, and my younger brother. While I miss them all, I'm quite content to be able to look back and then appreciate all that I now have and where I am now. Home is where and when I am with my family.

Once I learned I was Jewish, no place is home but Israel!

Born in Holland.(Left when 10) Toronto -5 years. Chicago- !6. Israel-38 years What was your maiden name? Related to Shirly Pasternak? Tommy Blass?

I grew up and lived most of my life in the US, and although I haven't been there in close to a decade, in many ways it will always feel like home to me. Israel, where I make my home now, is certainly home to us Jews, yet for me, in many ways it will never feel like home. It's hard to feel like a fish out of water, to never have that deep comfort of being in the place where you grow up and where you know the lay of the land and the way things are done. But I get comfort from the knowledge that for my children, Jerusalem is that home. They will never have to suffer the pangs of homesickness, living here in our holy city. For me this is one part of my avodah in preparing for the coming of Mashiach. May we all soon experience living in our land, with our Beis Hamikdash, at home and at one together with the Shechina.

I was born in Iran and lived there till the age of six, at which time my family immigrated to Israel. We lived there for six years and I was happy. It was home to me. I saw myself as an Israeli. I was very patriotic and hoped to serve in the army at eighteen. But, we moved to the states when I was thirteen and I never felt at home since than. I never felt that I belong. Even when I got my Ameriican citizenship, I felt out of place. All the people at the ceremony were so excited waiving flags and taking pictures. For me, it was just a meaning less ceremony. (I know that I may come across unappriciative and ungratefull to this country of endless opportunities, but I just feel that I am here temporarily). When I got married at the age of thirty, I felt a little bit more rooted in the states, but it never feels like home. I don't want to invest in anything permenant here. I also cannot understand people who invest or have long term plans here in America. I certainly love Israel but it's not my home now. I feel totaly like in exile and cannot wait till Mashiach comes so that we can all move to Israel. I don't have a home now. But anywhere my mother is, that is home for me.

I live in Passaic Nj but I grew up in Sharon Massachusetts When I go there - it is still home

for me being in hasem's presence and just feeling like his arms are wrapped me is home

Home is the area that I grew up in. My parents, of blessed memory built the home that I lived at until my 20's. I will be 55 yrs old this summer, and while I am content with where I currently live, I have purchased my first home, less than a half of a mile from where I grew up. The same grocery, the same bakery. There are many of the same Temples, and a few have moved. Home. Yes, it is where I am with each breathe Hashem gives me, and I am so excited to be moving into my new home that is as familiar as the palm of my hand.

I think it could become "home" way more than any spot I have ever lived. The one spot that is most home is not standing anymore I think, my grandparents farm where I lived the first 3 years...just crops today. But I refer to my REAL home as Jerusalem where I expect to live one day.

im sure its the obvious assumption for a teenage girl but i believe home is camp! This past summer was actually my last summer as a camper but my first summer in this specific camp. Wile i only "lived there" for 2 months, i feel that there i was a different person and that is my home. Camp for me is not like it is for other teenagers. In camp i had found true friends and i was the happiest person there. So, i believe home is where you've found love and you are truly happy, b.c there is where you feel things are familiar and comfortable.

I was born in Brazil but I always wanted to visit the US. I went to NY, Virginia and other places, but when I arrived in FL, I felt like home. Lived there for 4 years, came back to Brazil, where my family leaves, but it didn't fell like home. I am going back to FL, where my husband leaves, and I miss that place so much. I haven't been in Israel yet, so can't say anything about it. But I am sure I will love there too.

Home is wherever I happen to be living/eating/sleeping & paying the rent or mortgage. Whenever I visit a former "home", it simply feels like the place where I used to live.

Dear Lori, This is exactly how I feel. I have been living in Chicago 35 out of my 37 years of my life. I can not bear it anymore. I am in the Istanbul airport with my wife waiting for our connecting flight to go home (Aretz Yisrael) on our pilot trip. Chicago has been very good to us. We are very excited to go HOME.

Dear Lori If you rearrange the letters of emuna you get 'me an(d) u'.Home is indeed where the heart is.Emuna is our home-wherever we may be.

Thanks Lori for giving us a chance to explore the meaning of home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ My family came to this spot in PA in the mid 1840's. All were born and all died right here, within 4,000 feet of where I live. Which BTW is the house I was born in. So... this spot could not be anything but home. Right? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Or so I thought...... until I began to travel to Europe in 1994. I thought everything would be 'foreign' when I get there , but it wasn't. I felt a warm overwhelming hominess in a small town in Germany, especially on a certain street. Why?? I have no idea, I don't even know why I stopped there but it is on my mind since that time. Also, in an area of Alsace I felt safe and comfortable, like it was sort of home. I could live there and be at home. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I think 'home' is where we feel totally safe and unconditionally accepted.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

home is where we have loved ones. when I visit with my mom,even though its not the home I was born in, I feel that I am home. home is family, warmth, love.

I'm from Toronto, have lots of family in Israel and enjoy travelling when I can. When I was younger and thought no one understood me, I sure didn't feel at home with family. When I was in Israel and couldn't speak Hebrew smoothly, I still felt like a fish out of water with my relatives. I'm not sure how else to describe home but to say it's where I feel safe and happy. I'm not married but I intuitively know that wherever I am building relationships with my spouse, kids...that will be home...and I'll be skyping like crazy of course!

The sages of the Mishnah teach us that all members of Israel have a portion in the World to Come. That is where we came from and that is where we are going. Construction of our houses there takes place while we "are away". The foundation, walls, and roofs are built by the words we say, the deeds we do, and the thoughts we have in this far-off world. The drive some people have to travel is fueled by the "knowledge" that this is NOT our real home. "Home"sickness, on the other hand, comes from the realization that here is where the "action" is. So Home IS where the Heart AND Soul are, where they belong, and where they are going.

Home is in the arms, in the presence, of my soulmate, a dear man who suffered a mental collapse more than five years ago and ended up taking his own life. I was never more at peace than when I was sitting with him, looking into his eyes. We didn't have to say a thing to each other. We had found a once in a lifetime connection. That is home, to me. And so I am homeless now and will be forever.

Home is in Eretz Yirael, where I have raised my children, B"H married of 3 of them, where my grandchildren have been born, BE'H all of my grandchildren will be born, where my sons have served in the army, my daughters have done their national service, where we have had simchas, traumas,buried friends and where so far my children, in-law children, grandchildren, all my machatanim and I live.

I've lived in different cities and I'm about to move again. For the first time in my life, I went back to the city where I was born and suddenly it didn't feel like home anymore.

Home is a place where everything is beautiful. Surrounded by love in the presence of G-d, His angels; and all our loved loves and no longer enemies. A dimension where there is no time as we understand it now. Without the adversary; who is no longer necessary. The Olam Haba. See you There!

i have lived in various cities ( and countries) , I used to always think of the place i left last, as home. But now i know where home is.. wherever my husband is. And for my unborn child, home is within me, wherever i am.

I grew up in Montreal but it does not feel like home. I grew up in an English speaking city and then in a bilingual environment and now it is a French city. My memories were of a bagels from a certain bakery. Now I have left and so has the baker. Most of my family and friends have moved away. My music school was sold and no longer has nuns in black habits. The names of the streets changed. If I mapped where people moved it looks like an exploding star. Even my memories of Algonquin Park in Ontario where I went to summer camp have been changed by the information that the government has let people build great big homes in the park where they live year round and that in the summer the park is full of European visitors on excursions. So my memory is of a place in space and time that no longer exists. I am comfortable in any city with hills and water which is beautiful and which is about the same size of Montreal or smaller.