Last week the wonderful opportunity arose for me to take a day off and go to Israel to attend my nephew's bris. Going to a nature reserve for some bird watching or a farm for some blueberry picking are fun activities to do on a day off. How does it make sense to drive three hours to the airport, wait three hours for my flight, take a 10-hour flight, spend one day in Israel for the sake of a 2-minute service and breakfast, and go to the airport that night and do the same exact thing, only this time it’s a 12-hour flight since I’m flying against the wind?
I can tell you that it was 100% worth it, I would do it again without question, and I highly recommend you take a day off in Israel as well, for the following three reasons.
Reason #1: Israel is a place like no other. Any opportunity to go there is an outstanding privilege that should not be passed up. We are talking about the land that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob treaded with their own two feet. This is the place that Moses so desperately desired to go, but tragically couldn't. This is a place that we have been exiled from for the last 2000 years. This is where God's presence is so concentrated and easily perceived, where miracles happen every single day.
This is the center of the universe where being a Jew comes naturally. As I once heard quoted by a great rabbi, being Jewish in America is like being a Polar Bear in the Bronx Zoo. Being Jewish in Israel is like being a Polar Bear in the North Pole. How could I have passed up the opportunity to be in Israel even for one day? Just think what millions of Jews brutally persecuted in the Diaspora over the past 2000 years would have given for one day in Israel?
As I got out of the car Sunday evening in a lovely, quiet town called Nof Ayalon, I took an intense, deep breath, filling my lungs with the pristine, holy air of Israel, and I would have been content getting back in the car, going to the airport and heading home. That one breath of Israel reinvigorated me, rejuvenated me and reignited a spark from deep within me that words cannot adequately describe.
Reason #2: I was able to be with my family who I rarely see, at a major joyous life cycle event. If there is one thing my Pops taught me growing up, it is that family is everything. I was blessed growing up in a beautiful, loving family. In addition to my wife and kids, there is no one I would rather spend the holidays with than my Momma and Pops, my bro and his family, and my baby sister and her family. I was also able to see my uncle, aunt and four little cousins. Being with my loving family at such a collective, joyous event, celebrating the bris of my nephew, welcoming him into God's eternal covenant with the Jewish People, was nothing less than magical. As my brother-in-law declared at the bris, "Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the universe, who has enabled me to live, and has sustained me, and has brought me, to this season."
Reason #3: My day off in Israel drove home a crucial lesson. The Mishna states: The day is short, but there's a lot of work. Our time in this world is limited and the clock is ticking. Being in Israel for all of one day drove this point home. I had 24 hours in Israel. What was I going to do with them? Was I going to use those precious hours reading ESPN articles or playing snake on my phone? Or was I going to cherish every one of my precious moments in the Holy Land? My one day in Israel made me realize I had no time to waste. I had to wisely use every second.
And looking back, sitting on the plane flying home, I cannot believe that it was only yesterday I landed. It feels like an entire week ago! In the last 24 hours I bonded with my parents, sister, nephew, brother-in-law, aunt, uncle, four little cousins, and my sister's amazing in-laws. I also learned Torah in Israel, prayed at the Western Wall, visited some old friends, went to my rugelech guy, and falafel guy, ate a mind-blowing sufganiya, and engaged in one of my favorite Israeli pastimes by shmoozing with an Israeli taxi driver. I accomplished an enormous amount in one day. Imagine how much I could accomplish if I use my time so efficiently 365 days a year for 120 years? The potential is endless.
(17) Anonymous, March 6, 2019 6:08 AM
Your article is very inspiring! Shar Koah!
(16) Jonathan, December 26, 2014 11:49 PM
Wonderful inspiration.I am deeply touched by your experience I most certainly would like to visit Israel someday if the lord is willing.GOD bless Israel and you.
(15) cindy gram, December 26, 2014 4:25 AM
just beautiful
How beautiful to go to Israel...I have never been there to visit. I can just imagine being there...if ever I get a opportunity to go to the Israel., once I step off the plane I would bow down to the ground and kiss the ground of ISRAEL..GOD BLESS ISRAEL....ONE DAY I WILL GET THERE....your story touched my heart...if I have a choice to visit any country outside usa it would be ISRAEL....blessing on ISRAEL
(14) Jeff Auerbach, December 25, 2014 7:11 PM
Wonderful Article
Wonderful article by a wonderful person. I'm proud to say that I have know Rabbi Wolfe for his entire life and am so proud of the mensch and leader he has grown up to be!!! A true honor! Also, his father and mother are true leaders in the Denver Jewish community and the closest of friends! Nice photo of Zayde as well!!!
(13) Anonymous, December 24, 2014 4:37 PM
go to nefesh b nefesh
you are the kind of person we need here full of love and enthusiasm regarding Israel Taking nothing for grantedJust imagine every Shabbat and Yom Tov spent w/your family without getting on a plane i write only in Israel stories and if you keep your eyes open the opportunity to do that is always present i hope u had a happy Chanuka but please think aliya...
(12) Dieter Rapp Junior, December 24, 2014 3:33 PM
I will visit ISRAEL in 2015.
Anonymous, December 26, 2014 1:02 AM
What a wonderful article about going toYisrael. I have.been wanting.to go for so long but cannot afford the ticket. I grew up in a Jewish.home but were not Torah keepers but I am.keeping Torah.now the only one from a hugh.family. Somehow I am.going. to make it to the Holy Land soon. Thank you for ur wonderful article
(11) H.E.Brown, December 24, 2014 12:24 PM
Israel.
I sure will visit there if I get the chance.
(10) Miriam W. Cohen, December 23, 2014 9:07 PM
Not everyone needs to live in Israel
Dear Anonymous,
There is much value for Rabbi Wolfe to live inthe U.S. not the least is that he is bringing true Yiddishkeit to the Jews in Albany.
We need Torah observant Jews badly in the US. And that is what Aish is about.
(9) Fred Campbell, December 23, 2014 8:03 PM
Sympatico
I am not Jewish, but Christian. In my mind that makes me a "kissing-cousin".
We have visited Israel twice (and hope to again).
Rabbi Wolfe makes a strong case for every Jew to visit Israel. I make an equivalent case that every Christian should do the same. The personal psychodynamics (and spiritual blessings)are similar.
I pray for the peace of Jerusalem.
(8) shoshana, December 23, 2014 5:12 PM
Very True!
About 10 years ago, my daughter was a flight instructor pilot working for Delta. Being her parents, we had unlimited free airline tickets.
My son and daughter-in-law,, newly married in Israel, made their first Chanukah party.
We hopped on a plane, surprised them and spent the day with them, and returned to the US that night.
We will never forget the experience!
(7) Susan, December 23, 2014 4:22 PM
Last week, my husband and I decided to go to Israel this week. we have been there many times.It is always the right time togo to Israel!
(6) Anonymous, December 23, 2014 3:52 PM
Imagine how much more you could accomplish
Imagine how much more you could accomplish if you and your family made Aliya and lived in Israel? Imagine the schar mitzva for yishuv haaretz, for performing mitzvot pertaining to and performed only in Eretz Yisroel, like shviit, birkat kohanim daily, and the joy of that special time Friday afternoon, erev Shabbat, that is prevalent only in Israel.
(5) Charles, December 23, 2014 3:19 PM
Love Israel
Having been able to visit Israel 3 times now, I still remember the first time my wife and I stepped on to the Land, it is life changing. If you can do nothing else try to make it Israel.
(4) Anonymous, December 23, 2014 2:59 PM
Two nights in Israel
I agree completely. I just spent a little more than I am comfortable with to buy a ticket to go to Israel for 2 nights. The opportunity came up, and I could not pass up the chance to daven at the kotel.
(3) Nancy, December 23, 2014 12:00 PM
I WILL get there!
Thanks for the inspirational article!
(2) Michael Fuzaylov, December 22, 2014 2:39 AM
An old Friend
Hi Danny, this is your old chavrusa from Rabbi Koenigsburg's shiur in YU. Glad to see you are doing very well,. Would love to speak with you again, email me, when you can.
Michael
(1) Mike, December 21, 2014 12:43 PM
awesome article!
I agree totally. Spending just a short time in Israel is definitely worth it, even if it's just a few moments!
I also made similar experiences with short trips in general, and what you wrote that upon return, it seems like the trips had been for a week.
In Israel, it's special.
I once made a trip to Israel for a wedding and I think we were in the country for maybe 30 hours but it was really great and had a big influence