Basya Teitelbaum, 35, made aliyah from Fair Lawn to Ramat Beit Shemesh in August, 2022. She moved to Israel with her husband, Jonathan, and daughters, Daniella and Yael, 6; Nili, 3; and Sara, 1.
Aviva: Where did you daven in Fairlawn?
Basya: The Young Israel of Fairlawn.
Aviva: Where did you grow up and go to school?
Basya: I grew up in Teaneck and went to YNJ for elementary school. Then I went to Bruriah, Michlala and Stern and did a graduate program in speech pathology at Kean University.
Aviva: Did your schooling have any influence on your desire to make aliyah?
Basya: YNJ marched in the Israel Parade every year. It was a rite of passage for the older kids, and we looked forward to when we would be allowed to march. At the time, I don’t think I realized how Israel-focused the school was and how much it was affecting me, but looking back, it fostered a love for Israel.
Aviva: Did you go on any summer programs in Israel?
Basya: I went on Michlelet NCSY the summer before 11th grade. At that time, Rabbi Ari Winter ran it. I remember at the end of every Shabbos we would have an “ebbing” outside, where he would talk a lot about aliyah and the importance of Israel. That was probably the first time I ever really considered the possibility of moving to Israel.
Aviva: Are your parents Zionistic?
Basya: We started going to Israel as a family when I was 10 years old. As my older siblings began going to yeshiva and seminary for the year, we sometimes went for Succos. Around that time, my parents began speaking about buying an apartment in Israel. Their thought was to eventually move here—whether in 10 years or 20 years—that was their goal. Once they bought their apartment, they tried to visit at least once a year, and now that my sister and I are here they come even more frequently.
Aviva: What was your motivation to make aliyah last year?
Basya: Even though aliyah was important to me, I didn’t have a concrete plan until I met Jonathan. When we got married, our plan was to move in eight to 10 years. We got advice when we were first married to tell everyone that we were making aliyah, even though it was still many years off. We even wrote in our wedding thank-you cards, “Thank you so much for your generous gift. We put it aside for our aliyah fund.” Last year, we were at a crossroads because our twins were about to start a new school. We realized that if they were going to start something new, we might as well make the leap to Israel. People struggle with whether it is the right time. This was our clear time to go.
Aviva: What are you doing professionally in Israel?
Basya: I’m working at Tiferet Seminary in Ramat Beit Shemesh. I had been teaching at Ma’ayanot, so this is a great fit. In addition, I am looking to begin working as a speech therapist, either remotely or privately.
Aviva: What do you love about living in Israel?
Basya: We are living a 2,000-year-old dream. I love how interwoven my Jewish identity is with everyday life. In Israel, religion permeates even the most ordinary of life’s activities. When I check out at the grocery store on a Thursday, the clerk says “Lichvod Shabbat.” My husband’s train to work has a minyan with a sefer Torah. Here, we are not in the minority and our religious lives are fully integrated into the day-to-day routines.
Aviva: Do you miss anything about living in New Jersey?
We miss our siblings and our parents. We all had lived within a 20-minute drive from each other, so that’s different. We are very fortunate that my sister and brother-in-law moved here at the same time as we did. We’re also very lucky that our respective parents come frequently to visit.
Aviva: Do you have a message for anyone considering making aliyah?
Basya: If it’s something you believe in and you’re passionate about it, where there’s a will there’s a way. We have found that people are eager to help, and your friends become family. When we were on our pilot trip, we networked with many acquaintances for guidance or advice. The more people come, the easier it is for everyone else to follow.
By Aviva Zacks
