My name is Alexa Singierman and I'm 25 years old and I am a Zionist. I returned from Israel 2 days ago, from leading a birthright trip for the second time this year. In less than 2 weeks, I will fulfill my dream of living in Israel by making Alyah with the Garin - Magshimim. For those of you who don't know, we are a group of young individuals who have all been involved in the local community at different levels, and have all realized that showing solidarity to Israel from the safety of our community wasn't enough for us anymore. The time has come for us to lead the way on the journey HOME. After a year of preparation, in the coming days and weeks, we will be leaving for Israel and will live together in Beer Sheva for an integration program.
In these difficult times in Israel, people constantly question my decision of making Alyah. They say: aren't you scared of terror, how could you leave the comfort of Montreal, have you lost your mind! Even well respected members of our community, who work tirelessly at planning rallies and raising funds for Israel, have asked us why we wanted to move, and if we were sure about our decision.
I think that every person who wants to express its solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Israel cannot afford to do this in a half-measured way. Is our blood more valuable than that of the Israelis?
Must we sit powerless to the struggles of our brothers?
Of course I'm worried and of course I'm hoping to live a long and healthy life, and yes it will be hard for me to leave the comfort and security of Montreal, BUT terror cannot and should not prevent anyone from making Alyah, fulfilling the prophecies, and realizing their dreams. Even with yesterday's terrible events, we are not backing down and neither should you.
We are going to Israel because we want to become actors in the great saga of the Jewish people. We are moving there because we know that being Jewish means that we can live as a normal independent people, with the good and the bad.
We are moving there, each of us for different reasons, because of a strange feeling that we get every time we come back from a trip, and that we can never explain to anyone.
I know or I should say I hope you have all experienced it at least once.We are leaving soon and I hope that all of you will continue to support us, continue to believe in us and most importantly, come visit us in Israel. There's one feeling that I don't want to have a feeling known and expressed by many Israelis, the feeling of being abandoned by the Jews of the Diaspora.
Israel needs us now more than ever. Let's prove our resilience and determination to achieving a peaceful state.
AM ISRAEL CHAI! |