To My Cincinnati Family,

As I come to the end of this amazing year, I want to thank you for becoming a part of my life and for making my year in Cincinnati such an unforgettable experience.

It is hard to believe that only twelve months ago I was finishing my final exams at high school and beginning to prepare for my year of shlichut in the United States.  As I was getting ready to leave my family, my home, my city, and everything that was safe and familiar -- everything that I love in life – to travel to the other side of the world, I remember that I was feeling scared. I had no idea what Cincinnati was going to be like.  I know I had high expectations, but I was not sure whether or not my hopes would be fulfilled.

Today, a year later, I can truly say that my experience this past year has actually exceeded all of my dreams.  Here in Cincinnati I discovered an amazing, warm, and genuinely loving community.  Each one of you has made me feel welcome in Cincinnati.  No matter where I was – at the Federation, at the JCC, in the religious schools – everywhere – Cincinnatians made me feel welcome.  Thanks to you, I will always feel as though this community is my home away from home.  A piece of my heart will always remain here in this special community.

As I think about the countless experiences that have made my stay here so unforgettable, there are two realizations that stand out in my mind.  First, I am proud that I have had the privilege of sharing my love for Israel with the Jewish community and the non-Jewish community here in Cincinnati.  It has been especially fulfilling to see that my country has so many friends, and this fact was so apparent when we celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of Israel’s independence as one community this past May.

Second, I have learned that I am not only a citizen of Israel, but I am a part of the Jewish people as a whole.  I am glad that I had an opportunity to see how the Jews of the United States live – what it takes to preserve Jewish identity in a place where most people are not Jewish.  Above all, I return home knowing that all of us – Jewish people all around the world – have a common bond.  Despite the differences in our culture, despite the different social and political challenges we face, we share the same special heritage.  We are all part of a great civilization that is more than 3,000 years old.  It is this heritage that unites us, and we must never forget that we have a historic responsibility to care for one another.  Or, as our teachers of old taught:  Kol Yisrael Arevim zeh ba-zeh  -- the people of Israel are connected to one another regardless of where they live.  We are one big family, and a family remains together forever.

A few months ago, I went to Disney World in Florida.  While I was there, I was given a necklace that had some words on it that summarize my year in Cincinnati:  "A Year of a Million Dreams."  Please know that I am returning home having had so many of my dreams for this year realized.

Thank you for welcoming me into your hearts.  Believe me, I will carry the memories of this special year in my heart for the rest of my life.

LOVE,

Ortal