We are both on a high from our amazing Israel trip. It was more than we ever could have imagined. No, we do not take going to Eretz Yisrael for granted. It has not been an everyday occurrence in our lives and perhaps that is why our feelings are so over the top. For years as a travel agent Nina would implore her clients going to Israel that if they had never been there before they must take an organized tour in order to fully appreciate each pebble that they pass along the street. There is significance in every stone in our holy country.
On this particular trip we found it to be a journey of tribute, particularly to the Rabbi Dr Mordechai Glick that so many former Montrealers who now live in Israel knew and loved for many, many years. We walked the streets meeting old friends constantly. We take great pride, in fact, that our minyan in Côte Saint-Luc, Ahavat Yisroel, has nurtured and encouraged many to make aliyah. On one of the first nights of our stay, friends arranged a reunion of our minyan. Dear friends arrived from Safed, Ranaana, Efrat, Modiin, Nehusha and Yerushalayim. Again, distances do not interfere with closeness. It was a sparkling night thanks to our friends Ivan and Anna Lerner who hosted.
Every one of our friends, all of whom are like family, who made aliyah are thriving in Israel. All went at different stages in their lives. Some with young children, some with teenagers and others in retirement. We are so proud and happy for them.
We stayed with a close friend in Yerushalayim who we consider our daughter although she is close to our age. She became Jewish almost 49 years ago and lived with us off and on and we spent many wonderful times together. If it were not for Rabbi Glick she would not be Jewish today. She considers him her father. Our Temimah made aliyah six years ago and has blended into her new world easily and we are so impressed with her fluency in Hebrew and learning. She now has two married children living in Israel as well.
Friends came to visit with us from Givat Shmuel who had also davened at our minyan. Avshi and Rochel came with young children in order for Avshi to do a postdoc at the Jewish General Hospital. Now one of those little boys is in the army. Avshi told us many times that he had never met a rav in Israel who was as accessible and friendly as Mordechai Glick.
Each day, every place that we walked and went was an exciting experience of breathing in the air of kedusha and finding an old friend. It was an astounding experience to reach back into our minds remembering all of the wonderful occasions and experiences which we shared with so many. Suddenly Nina met a woman in a restaurant who reminded her that Mordechai was the sandek at her baby’s brit when she and her husband lived in Montreal. He was the Rosh Kollel at the Kollel Torah Mitzion. One after the other our memories were jolted. It reminded us of who we were before we moved back to the States.
We envy all of these families who are well aware of the zechut that they have living in Israel. It brought us constant joy to see them all flourishing.
We are grateful that we had the opportunity to have made this trip down memory lane. We are not even touching on so many other amazing experiences. All of you that have sent your beautiful children to learn and study in Israel, kol hakavod. We met kids everywhere and they are so happy. Spending time with our granddaughter Shira who is studying at MMY was an extra bonus. We will not discuss the pounds we gained while stopping to have an “afuch” with a little something. We will not discuss our breakfasts at Cafe Shosh outside in the garden. We will not relate our giddiness at riding on the Lightrail. We loved taking the bus to the Gush and meeting tons of Yeshiva guys in costume ready for a fun Purim seudah. Nina especially loved driving in Jerusalem and then on to Haifa to visit the graves of her grandparents. She found it “no big deal” to drive in Israel. Mordechai took pride in visiting his grandparents at Har Hamenuchot, buried literally 10 feet from Rav Moshe Feinstein. Every few minutes we would pinch ourselves and smile. Yes, it is us enjoying this amazing experience. Yes, this was really us and we were enjoying every breath and step that we took. We continue to smile.
By Rabbi Mordechai and Nina Glick
