Come one, come all

Oh gosh.  So much to share.  Let me begin with saying that this week,  Monday was designated as a new holiday, (Yom HaOleh) basically the day to celebrate all of the immigrants to Israel ,  all of those that have made aliyah.  Modiin's absorption department sent a bus of us olim (immigrants)  to the celebration in Jerusalem .  We had no idea what it would be  but we were told that Bibi Netanyahu would be speaking.  I have always wanted to see him in person ,  so I was sufficiently excited.  And then I heard that Natan Sharansky would also be speaking.  If you were a child in the 80's, then you likely attended many rallies in support of freeing the Jews of Russia .  Well,  now I got to see the main man.

Okay , so we go,  and we are waiting in the "line"  (scrum) .  In front of us is the senior center and behind us is a huge group of soldiers .  So of course ,  my ulpan beastie and her mom (Bubbie)  start chatting up a group of soldiers.  I was distracted by this man behind me who had a full chest of ribbons from military service .  Turns out they were from the Russian military .  Okay then,  that was unexpected .

Anyway,  there was some embarrassment when someone thanks the soldiers for their service  but uses the word for bathroom.  (I promise it wasn't even me this time) .  So lots if awkward laughs.  But then it turns out that actually you can use this word (confirmed by slightly scary but handsome security guy) .

So we are still waiting outside.  Luckily  someone from my class had brought her harmonica.  She starts playing and the soldiers and a bunch of us newbies begin singing and clapping .  Where else does that happen ? ? ? ? Thanks for helping us out  you young people and thank you for your service (and also for bathrooms ,  we like those ) .

We get through security eventually ,  but while in more security lines,  same person begins chatting up some men in the next line.  She was curious where they were from.  Turns out they were new immigrants from northern India .  So she welcomes them to Israel .  But it turns out they have been here a year and a half and we are only here for three months.  So then they welcome us to Israel ! ! !

Finally we find our seats ,  except not exactly because apparently our ticket said we were in the balcony but we didn't know that.  So we basically just joined the chaos of finding seats and sat down somewhere .  And it's a good thing we did because we were nice and close to Bibi .

I'm trying to keep this short so stay with me.  A band is playing ,  people are dancing and stealing each other's seats,  many many languages are being spoken ,  and Jews of every ethnicity ,  shape,  size and color are there .  Then the emcee announces the dignitaries .  You would think they were rock stars .  They walk in to music and with spotlights following them.  Everyone is up and cheering.  Very exciting !

My selfie with Bibi .  He spoke so well that he turned into a ball of light and smoke .

Now the speeches.  Bibi of course is a very polished speaker.  He spoke ,  I understood most of what he said.  Oh  did I forget to mention that the entire event was in Hebrew ?  They did have a few announcements in French   Russian and Amharic .  But not English .

After Bibi,  the minister of defense spoke ,  Avigdor Lieberman .  He was almost my favorite speaker of the evening. His basic message was this.  Israel has about six million Jews now.  But the rest of the Jews need to come here and make Israel even stronger.  The United States has over five million Jews.  We need to come and make Israel our home. I just felt like he was speaking from the heart .  So please no one burst my bubble .

Thanks Natan Sharansky spoke.  We all noticed that of course Bibi was surrounded by security ,  as was the minister of defense.  But then poor Natan Sharansky got up to speak and not even one security guard .  So Sharansky spoke as well with a similar message.  And then finally,  my favorite speaker of the night took the stage : Sofa Landver.  She is the minster of immigration and absorption .  She was basically the highlight of the evening for me.  And it wasn't even her message .  It was her style.

Here is a basic summary .  Sofa says something , pauses,   and a handful of  people applaud .  But apparently she was expecting more .  So she says ,  yes,  you can clap.   Then she says something else and didn't pause because she wasn't expecting clapping .   But as the clapping begins ,  she stops and says,  yes  bring the clapping !  And my favorite .  During another awkward clapping or not clapping time ,  she says , Nu  where is your clapping ,  come on!

Well,  we (maybe just me)  just couldn't stop loving her after that.  I mean,  maybe it's one of those "you had to be there " moments,  but you'd need to live here to do that ,  so nu ,  where are you ? ? ? Overall,  a great night of speakers ,  dancers,  singing groups,   video clips, tons of energy and balloons and streamers falling from the ceiling .  All in a room filled with immigrants from all over the world .  Including the Brazilian olim sitting next to me who were less than thrilled that Brazil wasn't mentioned.

I definitely don't want to turn this into a speech on why you should make aliyah.  I mean  look at me.  I was first approved for aliyah in the year 2002,  and didn't make it here until 2016. I get it.  It's hard to leave family and the comforts of America .  But whenever you feel like aliyah is hard or you're having a tough adjustment ,  or you aren't sure if you can change your life to live in Israel,  watch  a few video clips and photos from the Ethiopian immigration to Israel .  Because those images (aside from making me cry )  make me think to myself.  If they can do it,  then so can anyone really.

I definitely felt all the feels at Yom HaOleh,  and so that is a successful program.  In conclusion.  At least consider aliyah.  You probably won't end up in my amazing neighborhood,  but I hear that a few other good Jewish neighborhoods exist here in Israel.    Remember that many have come before you and will likely come after you,  as long as you get on it so you're not last.  After all,  there is a housing crisis over here.