"THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME!" By Hazzan Holzer, Jacksonville Jewish Center
I’ve been privileged to see Israel through the eyes of so many people: a precocious six year old, kickstarting his Jewish education while instilling a love of people and country; �9�0s Hazzan at Kotel an archeology-loving 10-year-old who couldn’t wait to see more ruins; a 16-year-old having just visited places of Nazi horror only to find hope in the holy land; an 18-year-old learning of the diversity of Israeli society from Ethiopian and Russian immigrants; a Jewish educator purchasing hebrew one-sies on the brink of parenthood; a parent visiting sites from their childhood with new perspective and appreciation. In one way, these eyes were of one person, me. But, these eyes also tell the stories of others, and their experiences are unique in their own right. All of these journeys pushed the participants physically, mentally, and spiritually. As a child, I was gifted with the opportunity to travel around Israel as much as I was gifted with the chance to just “be” in Israel while lounging, shooting hoops with the neighborhood kids, or experiencing the day to day rhythms of Israeli life. As a teen, I finally got to test my Hebrew chops by tutoring immigrants in math, when the only common language was Hebrew. As an adult, I’ve participated in P2G Educator Missions and led our Jacksonville Jewish Center trips to Israel, creating a platform for learning, exploring and capturing that love to return to Jacksonville.
Israel is constantly growing upwards and outwards. There are so many layers to Israeli history, Israeli society, and Israel’s future. Just as an archaeological site grows and expands as we unearth more of our history, visiting Israel, being part of its awesomeness allows us to dig deeper and appreciate the foundations on which it was formed and the newest layers that add it to its flavor. No two visits are the same. There are new innovations, museums, and experiences. While we may 2222
be inclined to say “been there, done that,” it’s important to think of Israel like the reading of Torah, even if the text does not change, we will have changed each and every time we read it. The stories of those we meet and love have changed. And even if our eyes and hearts have not changed, our life experiences can show us a different angle or perspective, enabling us to see something for the very first time.
Wherever you travel in Israel, there are mezuzot on the door posts of hotels, restaurants and other public spaces. A mezuzah is not only a reminder of God’s presence in our world, but where we come from and where we are going; a reminder of where home is. Life can often feel like a slalom course, back and forth on a hill of life, yet it’s important to recognize the slalom posts on our journey that keep us on course. The last time I left Ben Gurion Airport, as I was heading through the tunnel before boarding our plane, I noticed a mezuzah on the left side of the doorway, the opposite side. As we leave Israel, it’s a subtle reminder that Israel is home. So while we may have been “staying home to stay safe” these two-plus years, it is a Hazzan and Doppelgänger on the reminder that the Northern Border words of medieval poet Judah Halevi still ring true: “My heart is in the East and I am at the edge of the West.” Zoom has been a lifeline, but the stopgap has reminded us that nothing beats the real deal. We crave human connection, seeing the world through our own eyes, in person, weather and health permitting. If you’re interested in seeing Israel for the first or our fortieth time, join us this summer. You’ll feel that unparalleled sense of home and belonging. Jacksonville Jewish Center is a beneficiary of the Jewish Federation & Foundation of Northeast Florida.
