Rabbi Shmuel Goldin, 70, made aliyah to Jerusalem from Englewood in 2017. Rabbi Goldin and his wife, Barbara, served as rabbi and rebbetzin of Ahavath Torah for over 30 years.
Aviva: What schools did your children attend?
Rabbi Goldin: They went to Yeshiva of North Jersey, Bruriah, MTA, and Torah Academy of Bergen County.
When was your first trip to Israel?
My earliest trip was when I was in college. Then I took multiple trips, particularly shul missions to Israel. We specifically came at times when we felt others were not coming. We visited during the Gulf War and the intifadas and Gaza wars. We even organized two “Rallies in Israel” during the second intifada, which brought hundreds of people from all over the States.
Did you have any Zionist education growing up?
Yes, from my home and from the community. My parents were very, very interested in everything happening in Israel. The shul youth groups spoke to us about the importance of Israel.
What was your final motivation for making aliyah?
We came to Israel on sabbatical about 16 years ago, which was 12 years before I turned 65. Barbara and I agreed that when I reached age 65, we would make aliyah.
How was your departure from the shul?
They were surprised when I announced our move, but our parting was actually handled beautifully by the shul. It ended up being a celebration of our shared accomplishments.
Are you retired?
I consider myself semi-retired. The first year I was here, I worked for Nefesh B’Nefesh as a rabbinic adviser, but since then, I’ve been dedicating my time to writing, speaking and teaching.
What do you love about living in Israel?
I love the feeling that we’re in our land. I remember at one point very early in our aliyah we were at the bank, and I thought: Wow, the tellers are all Jewish. We’re part of a country that belongs to us after thousands of years of not having had that opportunity and it’s just a fantastic feeling. It hits me unexpectedly every once in a while.
Right after we made aliyah, we took a bus to the Misrad Hapnim (Ministry of the Interior) in a town near Jerusalem. When we got on, my wife asked the driver if he knew what stop we should get off at. It was his first day on the job, so he didn’t know. A lady in the front row started yelling at the bus driver that he should know and then turned to the rest of the passengers and asked if anyone else knew where to get off. Everybody on that bus was somehow invested in us getting to the Misrad Hapnim. People complain about the attitude of Israelis, but in my experience, here, we are family. Israelis may, at times, push you down, but they’ll be the first ones to pick you up.
I feel that aliyah is part of this unbelievable experiment, where Israel is bringing people together from all across the globe and creating a country out of it. The fact that we’re having our fifth election in four years is understandable to me because we have a very disparate population.
What do you miss about living in New Jersey?
I miss my kids. I miss the medical care a community rabbi receives at the drop of a hat. I’m a hypochondriac, and I was spoiled. Dealing with the health process here is problematic for me.
You can have private insurance here if you want.
I suppose, but in the meantime, even though I have doctors in Israel, when we go back in the summers, I see my doctors.
Do you have a message for anyone who’s considering making aliyah?
Firstly, go in with your eyes wide open. Don’t assume that it’s going to be a walk in the park, but it will be very meaningful and life-changing if you allow it to.
Secondly, we’ve been very fortunate in finding a place where there are like-minded people living in our community who have also made aliyah.
Lastly, don’t forget to embrace being an Israeli. Move past your own chevra; experience the country and its people.
