Jerusalem

There is nothing in this world quite like Jerusalem. Every time I visit this city, I feel lucky to be there but I can't explain the particular beauty of it. I'm not a religious person and I don't necessarily feel the ecstasy or power of places like the Western Wall or King David's Tomb. Yet, I feel very connected to the history and the people that walked the streets of Jerusalem that are now long gone. It's an emotional state of mind that makes these particular stones special. This time, some family friends drove me and we spent almost the entire day there. For the most of the drive up to the city, I truly felt that I was going somewhere special. And it's one beautiful drive too. Green hills, mountain ridges, villages... Everything is just a bit more significant. I can't really put this into words (again), but I'm very happy that I got to spend part of the Rosh Hashanah in Yerushalaim.
It's interesting that I specifically remember that it was on this day last year that I decided to stop dreaming about Israel and start doing it. "Next year in Jerusalem" took on a new meaning for me. I contacted Sohnut shortly afterwards. Who knew that I would literally usher in the new year in Jerusalem. Last week, there was a person coming to the kibbutz to do a class on Israeli/Jewish holidays. She asked us to spend the high holidays in a spiritual mood, think about the past year and sort of take a break from life to look within ourselves. When it was pointed out to her that she was speaking to olim hadashim she immediately said that it was understandable to her that those words were unnecessary. She knew that the people in front of her were going through that spiritual journey already. So she told us two phrases that I'd like to make my Hebrew lesson for today.
Bruchim habaim - Welcome
Behatzlecha - Good luck

P.S. 25 years ago, on Rosh Hashanah, I was born. Thank you, mom and dad.