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Yaakov Loboda
Harkam Hillel Hebrew Academy
Beverly Hills, CA

                            Israel’s Meaning to Me

  Being Jewish has always been at the center of my life. Celebrating the Jewish
holidays, keeping Shabbos, and attending a Jewish day school are only part of the
aspects of Judaism that I cherish. Since I was a child, I have experienced the beauty of
Israel firsthand by visiting Israel at least once a year. Israel has brought me closer to my
Jewish heritage and has shaped who I am as a Jew and as a human being.
  One of the highlights of my trips to Israel is visiting my family in Jerusalem. My aunts
and uncles made Aliyah with their children many years ago. They chose to leave their
comfortable home in Los Angeles to live in the Jewish homeland. They sacrificed the
physical comforts and luxuries in the United States for a more spiritual, meaningful life.
One day I hope to do the same with my own family, to live in an environment that
focuses on the spiritual rather than the physical. Seeing so many American families
living in Israel shows me that Israel is a special place for a Jewish family, unlike any
other place in the world.
  My sister’s experience in Israel also demonstrated the power of Israel. Although she
grew up in a Jewish home, attending Jewish day school in Los Angeles, she
experienced a lot of changes when she spent a year studying in Israel. Being in Israel,
surrounded by Jews, she realized the importance of saying brachot (prayers) before
and after eating to thank G-d for what He provides. Watching Jews in Israel act
carefully when keeping G-d’s laws influenced my sister to be more careful in her
religious ways. The experience of being in Israel for one year has had a great effect on
my sister and the way she identifies as a Jew, forever.
  Visiting the Kotel in Jerusalem is an experience like no other one I have had. I had the
privilege to go to the Kotel with my grandfather this past year, which brought us to
tears. It was so emotional to be standing at the holiest wall, crowded by many Jews,
praying with my grandfather. Because of his old age, it is hard for him to move around a
lot, which made it even more special to be there with him. We prayed together, and at
that moment I felt a connection with all the Jews standing near us praying at the same
time. This powerful prayer could only happen in Israel, where the holiness can almost
be touched. Touching the Kotel, which has been standing for so many years and has
been kissed by millions of Jews, made me very aware of my connection to all Jews of
the present and the past.
  I have always had respect for Israeli soldiers in the Israeli army, but going to Israel
gave me a greater understanding of what they go through. I visited Hebron with my
family and when we arrived, we were greeted by a house with seven bedrooms and
one bathroom, where seven Jewish families live together. It was surrounded by 20
soldiers because of the danger in the area. These families chose to live in such a small
space in order to be able to live in Hebron, even though it was dangerous. One of the
families told us a tragic story that occurred there recently. A two year old girl who lived
there was hit and killed by a sniper while playing innocently. Despite this tragedy, the
family and the community remained in Hebron because they believed in Hebron and its
importance. Seeing these soldiers taught me that many Israeli soldiers spend their lives
protecting their country and their people. They dedicate themselves to protecting their
fellow Jews, even if it puts them at risk. This major part of an Israeli’s life became more
real to me when my cousin living in Israel enrolled in the army. For years, when I visited,
he was always armed with a gun, ready at a moment’s notice to serve in the army. Not
once did he complain about it. Instead, he felt it was an honor to help out his fellow
Jews when they needed help.
  The State of Israel was won back by the Jews in 1948. Since then, we have been
fighting for it almost every day, and unfortunately have had to battle several wars. Each
decade brought its own fight. Although each battle brings death and sadness, it is
important for the Jewish people to continue to defend ourselves and our country. Our
country Israel is filled with our history, from the Kotel in Jerusalem to Maarat
Hamachpela (Cave of Machpela) in Hebron. Even the streets of Israel have significance
for our Jewish heritage because they have been walked on by our ancestors for
thousands of years. Israel is crucial for the lives of Jews anywhere in the world.