Blue And White At Ben Gurion
Blue And White At Ben Gurion
By Sarah Paley
Last week, I experienced the entire gamut of emotions. I picked up my incredible nephew, a lone soldier in Golani, after three weeks of really intense training, when he finally got his six-day break, called a regila. It was such a privilege to be there to celebrate with him and his mom, Tova, who came to visit. Seeing their reunion was powerful and moving. I was simply in awe of this incredible young generation—these boys and girls who have committed years of their lives to serve Am Yisrael and Eretz Yisrael, while espousing ToratYisrael. They are true examples of what mesirut nefesh really is—unwavering dedication to Torah, to the Jewish people around the world, and to being active participants in the geulah and Jewish history.
That same day, I picked up my youngest son after his powerful roots trip to Poland. The journey took him through the footsteps of pre-Holocaust Jewish life, through the destruction of the Holocaust, visiting concentration camps and ghettos where entire Jewish communities were wiped out. In Poland, they were joined by the Eitan family, whose son Nati (Hy’d) was killed in Gaza in December 2023. His brother is a classmate of these boys.
Seeing forty boys from Shaalvim boys high school burst through Ben Gurion Airport, draped in Israeli flags, wearing their trip shirts, and singing songs of geulah in the arrivals hall was a deeply moving, powerful juxtaposition of the past and present. It once again solidified my awe at what we are privileged to live and witness here in Israel. n
Sarah Paley is co-founder of the Yes! Israel Project, leading its missions on the ground and coordinating political work in Israel and the US. She is also an occupational therapist and licensed tour guide for the State of Israel.
