I'm now Israeli!!!

Augest 14, 2008....One of the happiest days of my life!  

After a long 14 hour flight from LA I arrived in the Holy Land. It was a good flight except for a few throwing up episodes in the bathroom, due to eating too many dried Endemme beans-thanks Trader Joes! As we landed my eyes swelled up with tears...I'M HOME!! As the wheels touched the ground everyone on the plane started clapping. I felt like I was going to burst, I was so happy! I got off the plane and behold my name was on a sign held by someone...YEY! I have always wanted to see my name on a sign at the airport-I always thought "those" people were so cool! I then was led into places that I have never been before in the airport...through secret passages and elevators that require codes. I felt like I was in the FBI. I waited in a room that had a coffee, water and juice machine...which I made good use of. Apple and Orange juice, not suck a good combination-keep that in mind. I then spent the next hour watching the Olympics in Hebrew (sorry America for losing to China in women gymnastics). 

I was then greeted by a lady who was going to look over my paperwork and issue my Entrance ID card and 'lo and behold she doesn't speaks English! I guess they really want to make sure new immigrants feel welcomed :) She asked me my name and as I spelled it out to her in English she starts writing"T...R...V". I took the pen and wrote it for her, the rest of our session was done in sign language...just kidding. After working through the language barrier I got my bags and the minute I get out of baggage claim I saw my wonderful fiance, Yosef!!! Whoo Hooo Long Distance is over!

I cant believe that my dream has become a reality...I have made ALIYA! There is so much I have missed about Israel! For ex: when I got a cab this morning, the cabdriver asked me if he can stop really fast to drop off a prescription before he took me to my destination. We get to the pharmacy and he jumped out of the car, which he kept running. It's a good thing I have morals because I could sure use a car here! I tried to go to Misrat HaPanim (Ministry of Interior) today to get my ID card and after the wonderful episode of pushing, shouting and shoving that comes along with trying to get into the building (Gotta love Israel) I am told that I'm not in the system yet and I should come back later....yeah, easy for her to say!

With all the craziness here I have to say it's still good to be back home! It's like family...they drive you crazy but at the end of day, they're family and you love them! Well...here starts the next chapter of my life...and in less than a month I get married!!!! Whoo Hooo! Ani Israeli Achshav (I Am Israeli Now)!!!! Love, Daniella

Why I'm making Aliya???

Why do people leave their home?  Why would a person leave their parents, family, friends, their comfort, their work, the guaranteed success of their stable future?  Why?

 In 2002 I joined a Birthright college trip to Israel - five years ago was the first time I stepped foot, on the holy ground of Eretz Yisrael.  I had no connection to Israel, knew very little about what it really meant to be a Jew and thought it would be just some “cool” free trip - plus I heard they had great clubs and beaches there!

 On our second day in Israel, we took out first trip to the Kotel.  In my mini skirt and low cut tank top, I walked down the stairs to the entrance of the Wailing Wall and behold, in front of me I saw this big beautiful gold dome.  I said to my friend “It is so big, I cant believe it, I finally am seeing it in person”.  She said to me, “ Ummmm, we aren’t here to see the dome! It’s the wall that we care about”.  I responded, “Ohhh, why would Jews all go to this wall?” I slowly walked up to the wall and I saw people crying and shaking their hands to the sky as they spoke to whoever they were speaking to and I felt an intense energy that I have never experienced before and as the tears started to form in my eyes.  BAMM, It hit me!

 I realized in that moment, that I was part of a much bigger picture.  My ancestors fought so hard to preserve their Judaism in face of hatred and anti-Semitism and now I am at a place in my life where I can live a religious life without prejudice, and connect with my Judaism in a way that they never were able to.  From that moment on, every step I took I felt a deeper and deeper connection with this land….  Suddenly I realized I wasn’t a tourist anymore, I was home!

 In ten days I learned what it meant to be a Jew, I learned what it meant to be a Zionist and I learned what it meant to find that missing puzzle piece I have been searching for my whole life.

 I left America a sorority girl, who loved to party and was soon to be engaged to a non-Jew.  After my Israel experience, I returned to America wearing a long skirt, covering my elbows and calling myself an Observant Jew.

 Since then I have sought out true meaning in my life and have worked on creating a Jewish Identity for myself.  Since my birthright trip I returned to Israel several times.  Israel had this indescribable effect on me – friends and family saw it as an  irrational pull on me that kept me going back over and over again.

 I returned to Israel five months later to learn for a summer (’03) in seminary, then again in 2006 when I spent a year studying at Machon Pardes in Jerusalem.  At the end of the year, I just couldn’t go back to the US and what was suppose to be a “year in Israel” turned into “two years in Israel”.  I spent the next year as a Madricha at the Alexander Muss High school and followed by learning in Ulpan.  Living in Israel for the best part of two years showed me how much I yearn to live there.  There is nothing that makes me happier in the world then walking the streets of Jerusalem with my camera, searching and capturing its uniqueness and beauty.

 I was compelled to return to America this year to finish my masters in Jewish Education, and further my passion of educating children to connect to their Jewish roots.  Birthright gave me the gift of knowledge about my heritage and I want it to be my mission to spread this knowledge to children that don’t know it.  This summer I graduate and as I close another chapter of my life I look forward to fulfilling my dream….to live in my homeland.

 “Go forth from your land, the place of your birth, and from your fathers house to that land that I will show you….So Abram went forth as the Lord had commanded him and Lot went with him. Abram was seventy five years old when he left Haran. Abram took his wife Sarai and his brother’s son Lot, and all the wealth that they had amasses, and the persons that they had acquired in Haran, and they set out for the land of Cannan (Israel)."

I feel blessed and honored to follow the path that Abraham took, I guess it is in our tradition to leave what’s comfortable and to have faith that our journey will take us to where we are suppose to be - and for the Jewish people that is to be in Israel! I hope to make my ancestors proud as I, please G-d one day, build a family in Israel and be able to have the chance to walk with my children to the Kotel to teach them the importance of being apart of the BIGGER PICTURE!

*August 13, 2008 my deam becomes a reality....I get to go HOME!!!!

A letter I wrote to my students (end of the year)

Dear 8^th graders,

This year I received the honor of teaching the most passionate, caring, and dedicated group of young adults that I have ever met. Being your teacher for a second year was a gift beyond my imagination. I had the pleasure of witnessing how much you have grown since fifth grade, and I’m not just speaking about your height! You have evolved into mature role models for the younger grades by exemplifying what it means to be a dedicated student and friend.

            On the first day of school I read to you the book Oh, the Places You’ll Go by Dr. Seuss. We have been on a long and beautiful journey together this year. I want to share with you something from my heart: If I can give you some advice for the road ahead it would be to discover yourself. Try new things, go on adventures, step out of your comfort zone and trust your gut feeling. Become your own unique person and stand up for what you believe in. Life will not always give you what you think you want.

            You know how I like country music, so I just need to add that Garth Brooks said it best when he said, “Some of G-d’s greatest gifts are unanswered prayers.” I pray you have very little hardship in life. Know, however that everything is an opportunity for growth and through that growth we become stronger. The name “Yisrael” means “to struggle with G-d.” Even in our tradition we are encouraged to question and explore. Sometimes it’s hard to connect to G-d and prayer so search for ways to find your own unique way to talk to Hashem.

  Remember that you have two homes: the place where you live and our homeland ISRAEL. You are part of a bigger picture. The Jewish people may be small in numbers, but we have a BIG responsibility: to take care of each other, the earth and Eretz Yisrael. Keep in mind that your ancestors had to endure anti-Semitism, pogroms, the holocaust, expulsions, etc. in order to hold onto their Judaism. Make sure you hold on tightly with both hands to this gift  (your heritage!). Mark Twain said it best when he said," If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one per cent of the human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of star dust lost in the blaze of the Milky Way. Properly the Jew ought hardly to be heard of; but he is heard of, has always been heard of. "

  I love you guys and I can’t wait to be invited to your college graduation! Here is my promise to you: When you come to Israel to visit (which I know each of you will!) your first falafel is on me…you have my word!

Please stay in touch and know that you have all left an imprint on my soul that will last a lifetime.

 We shouldn’t ask “Who am I?” but rather “Who am I becoming?”

Life is about discovering; it’s a process. Find passion. Find meaning. 

Find YOU!

 

With much love and admiration,

Morah Daniella (dlbenveniste@gmail.com)

 

“Congratulations! Today is your day. You’re off to Great Places! You’re off and away!

                                             Oh, the Places You’ll Go!  -Dr. Seuss

Everything happens for a reason...

When my Bubby passed away four years ago I was given her diamond earrings. I wear them in my ears all the time so that I can feel close to her. They meant so much to me that  I decided to get “2nd holes” just  so that I can keep them in my ears at all times, and still wear different types of earrings everyday. Last night something was irritating my ears and so I took them out. When I went to put them back in my ears this morning I dropped one of them down the bathroom sink. It felt like my heart stopped and I stood there in shock for about a minute.
  Lately,  I have been thinking how sad it is that I am starting to “forget” details about my Bubby (this is hard to admit, but as time goes on it’s harder to imagine exactly how she looked, smelled, felt etc.). I was very close to her and we had a really deep connection. She lived a few blocks away and many of my childhood memories came from Bubby’s house. As soon as the shock wore off and I was able to move again, I cried my eyes out as if she had passed away all over again. I felt like she was torn from me a second time and it hurt so much. And at the same time, I “felt her” and “saw her” and all these memories of her came flooding back…I felt she came back to me.   Fast forward a few hours later…..I had a talk today with my 8th graders about Purim. We talked about why Hashem’s name is not mentioned in Megillat Esther.  The word megillah means "revealing," and the word Esther (or hester) means "hidden." Together it is "revealing the hidden." Hashem is always the “main character” in all the holiday readings so why not in Megillat Esther? The lesson we learn from this is that nothing is coincidence; Hashem is always in the picture (even when it might not seem obvious). As I  am talking about this with my students I realize how Hashem is behind the scene of this whole “ring fiasco”. 

It has been 4 years since I felt so close to my grandmother, and even though the thought of loosing her earring brought so much pain to me this morning, it also brought an appreciation and closeness to her that I can only describe as a GIFT. 

  I got a call 20 minutes after my lesson….the plumber retrieved my earring out of the drain and a big smile came across my face… 

THANK G-D!!! 

 I hope you have a meaningful and happy PURIM…may we always see the beautiful gifts that Hashem puts forth everyday!!!

My journey back home!

Live life with Passion....

     I want to welcome ya'll to my new endeavor into BLOG WORLD! I am in a very exciting place right now in life (to say the least). I want to start blogging in order to record my journey.... 

     On February 18th I got engaged to the most loving, passionate, supportive and amazing man I have ever met in my life. His name is Yosef Silver and he lives in Israel. This August I will be fulfilling one of my greatest dreams...I will be moving HOME- I'm going to be living in Israel!!! Just writing that sentence brings tears to my eyes. Since I stepped foot in Israel for the first time (December '02) my life has changed and I have wanted nothing more but to live  in my homeland. I spent two years in Israel ('05-'07) and came back to America this year to finish my masters in Jewish Education. Three days before I left Israel (this past June) I sat at a park, overlooking the Old City and wrote this entry in my journal:

"As I sit here looking at the walls of the Old City I am enthralled with a state of nostalgia...I remember seeing the wall for the first time and crying my eyes out when the realization first hit me that my ancestors struggled so hard to remain Jewish and I am here today because of their struggle....I am able to be in this beautiful land because they refused to give up on their Judaism, and I was given the most amazing gift-to be born a Jew. I cant believe I'm leaving Israel this week!!! Daniella, you need to remember how you feel about Israel!!! I want to live here. I want to make Aliya Aug. '08, please G-d!!! I belong here, the Jewish people belong here. Im so scared about getting "sucked" into my comfortable American life. Im sooo afraid of forgetting this feeling. Please G-d dont let me forget! Please help me to come back here because I know it is so much easier for me to be in America so that I can make everyone happy (especially my family). But my neshama yearns to be here...I am the happiest when Im here. Please give me the strength!"

Well Hashem sure gave me the strength...he sent me Yosef! The most passionate Zionist I have ever met. G-d sure knew what he was doing..LOL. I knew I wanted to make Aliya in Aug. '08 and he sent me this perfect angel to make sure that happened. 

This September 15th I will be married in Yerushalayim (please G-d)...

Welcome to my journey back home!!!

With Love, Daniella