People come to live in Israel for a variety of reasons. When I was about 15 years old, there seemed no other choice for me. My close family are from England, and never made or intended to make Aliyah. I was alone in my belief, that Israel is my historical home and that for a Jew living in the diaspora there could be no other way than to live in Israel. At that time dreams and reality were often confused as I battled through the difficulties of those young years. Many remarked that I would last for a few months, and then return to England. In fact that was kind of true, because in the early days leading to my emigrating to Israel, I spent a year studying in youth movement programmes in Israel, and returning to work for two years within the British Jewish community. I can honestly say that there was never a moment of doubt in my mind that one day I would step on to an El Al plane and come to live in Israel. It was after coming to live here that I encountered tremendous difficulties. Firstly the language, I felt almost handicapped, then the longing to be with my family and friends, I missed walking through the beautiful English landscape, so beautiful in its immense variety of texture and color, that it is easy to understand the great courage and patriotism of the British people to their country. Obviously many other hardships occurred. It was enlisting to the I.D.F that influenced me greatly. Firstly I was so proud to be a soldier in the Israeli army, marching fearlessly through Israel's land, protecting its people. It was the ability to cope with difficulties, physical and mental, that, if I had not overcome, I would not have believed possible. There were moments of total despair, but I knew that in our history the Jewish people have never had an easy time here. Gradually the hardships, became minor, as the positive and beautiful aspects of living in this wonderful country dominated. This is a country where one often experiences the most terrible and vicious acts of evil that humanity can offer, the acts of fanatic terrorism that pounds at our very existence, and yet Israelis carry on, living through such nauseating acts, mostly united in their optimism , that one day they will be able to live alongside the Palestinians , in peace and harmony. I hardly hear people talk of hate or revenge, but of hope that one day peace will prevail. Its a fact that our fiercest warriors, Yizhak Rabin and Ariel Sharon, when they had reached the highest echelons of power, fought for peace, not war, with their Palestinan counterparts, even against such enormous odds, and one day their courage that has warmed the hearts of the world, hopefully will win the hearts of those who hate us most.
Israel is a special country, a land where Jews anywhere can feel without any doubt, that Israel is their home. Israel is my home, and I know why I live here.
M.B.