Community Magazine November 2009

The Other Community For decades, “the community” has referred to the 450 square block area in Flatbush that was home to the vast majority of America’s Syrian and Near Eastern Jewish communities. More recently, that definition has changed to include the vibrant community of the Jersey Shore area and even Lakewood. But there is another – often forgotten – segment of the community that lives right in the center of the world – in Jerusalem. Vital to this community are the well-established families that have been living here for as long as forty years. They came at a time when Israel was far less developed, and life here was far more difficult. In those days, even private house phones were hard to come by. At a recent event, some women described their experience of traveling here with two babies – by boat – a trip that took over two weeks! These pioneers are always eager to help us younger families, and serve as inspiring examples of dedication and self-sacrifice. Then there are us young couples who move to Israel (by plane, of course) with fervent idealism, to begin our marriage in the holy city and among the special people living in it. Most of our husbands dedicate all their time to learning Torah and other spiritual pursuits. With no immediate family on whom to rely, we all must support each other in surmounting the hurdles of settling down in a new land, and many strong and meaningful friendships are formed in the process. Single students are also an essential part of the community here. Scores of boys and girls come to Israel after high school every year, to learn in the yeshivot and seminaries in Yerushalayim, such as Mir, Mikdash Melech, Hevron, Brisk and Lev Aharon. They ESTHER ABOUD Special learning program in Lev Aharon The bet midrash at Lev Aharon Boys from Mikdash Melech Jerusalem at the kotel (L-R) Shimi Samouha, Rabbi David Amon, Ezra Halawani and Leon Tawil “Final boarding call for flight LY119 to Tel Aviv. All passengers proceed immediately to Gate 06!” The moment has finally come. After growing up in a tight knit community nestled in an insulated section of Brooklyn no larger than five square miles, our parents wave goodbye to us, their children (and sometimes their grandchildren, too), as we prepare to relocate almost halfway around the world. This scenario has recently been repeating itself with increasing frequency, as more and more young adults from our community – like me and my family – set out to spend significant periods of time in Israel. But how is it that people like us, who grew up so closely connected to their dear families, friends, and familiar surroundings, are able to suddenly move some 5,700 miles away, to the hotbed of the Middle-East? 40 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE