Kenny Cohen in Israel with daughters, from left, Liat Shpigler, Rochelle Cohen, Karen Shpigler and Roni Cohen.

At the conclusion of the Passover seder each year, Diaspora Jews say, “Next year in Jerusalem.”

But those children from Cleveland families who have made aliyah rightly say, “This year in Jerusalem.”

The CJN spoke to parents who described the impact of their children’s decision to make Israel their permanent home.

Internship brought him to Israel

Although Ben Bresky works for Israel National News in Jerusalem, his parents, Toby and Norm, rarely listen to news reports coming out of Israel. “If the news is bad, I don’t want to be depressed,” says Toby. “And we never talk politics with our son.”

Norman Bresky, left, and his children Jill and Benjamin Bresky visit the shuk (market) in Jerusalem.

Ben, who had made frequent trips to Israel through Betar, a Zionist youth group here, decided to make aliyah three years ago. “Four years ago, Ben traveled to Israel through a program that matched him with a six-month internship in broadcasting,” Toby explains. “When he was offered a permanent job on Israeli radio, he took it. Everything fell into place. The frosting on the cake was meeting his wife there.”

Would she rather her son stayed in Cleveland? “Yes,” admits Toby. “I would like him here, especially since it is not easy to pick up and travel to Israel at a drop of a hat. But we never denied him his right to make aliyah.”

The Breskys will be traveling to Israel very soon; Ben is about to be a father. “When we visit Ben and his wife, we are thrilled to see how happy and connected they are,” says Toby. “Cleveland is a much older community; I can understand why young people like my son are drawn to the vibrant Israeli lifestyle.”

Daughter developed Zionist spirit young

University Heights resident and CJN freelance writer Herb Geduld says he is grateful that his daughter and son-in-law Elana and Kenny Marsh, eight of his 16 grandchildren, and five of his 8 great-grandchildren, all of whom live in Israel, are just one phone call away. “We talk every day,” he says. “I used to visit them every six months, but as I got older, that became very hard. Regrettably, I haven’t traveled to Israel in a few years.”

Herb and Toby Geduld’s daughter Elana Marsh (with hat) pictured with her husband Kenny and her children and grandchildren.

When Herb and his wife Toby lived in Israel almost 40 years ago, their daughter Elana, then a youngster, developed a Zionist spirit and a love of the country. She returned to Israel and made aliyah when she was 19.

“My daughter and her husband, both raised in the U.S., would never leave their homeland and return to America,” says Geduld. “But I am glad we left the country when we did, because it is much easier to make a living in America.”

Although it is a blessing to have children living in Israel, Geduld adds, “It gives you something else to worry about.”

Fuchs Mizrachi students make aliyah

“Our two oldest children Avi, 23, and Ariella, 21, are fulfilling my husband Yoel’s and my dream to make aliyah,” says Marcia Anouchi. “We sent them to Fuchs Mizrachi School so they would be instilled with a Zionistic spirit and a love for Israel. We are thrilled that propelled them to make Israel their home.”

Even though two of her four children live half way around the world, Anouchi says e-mail and cell phones have shortened the distance. “When I went to Israel after high school, it was very expensive to call home, and most times you could not get a good connection,” she says. But even with today’s more sophisticated technology, “I miss the older two and wish I could see them more often. We only get to Israel once a year to visit.”

Nefesh B’Nefesh, a support program for people making aliyah, was very helpful to her children, notes Anouchi. “They let all of us know ahead of time what to expect and gave us a practical timetable. Their understanding of the Israeli bureaucracy helped my children avoid getting tangled in red tape.”

Anouchi is always mindful of daily news from Israel but does not overly focus on the political scene. “I am determined not to worry,” she says. “The important thing is that my children are happy. They made aliyah with their eyes open, and even though they encountered some surprises, they were as prepared as they could be.”

One pleasant surprise is that Ariella just became engaged. “We are happily planning a destination wedding in Israel,” says her proud mother.

Four daughters living in Israel

El Al airlines must have Yael and Kenny Cohen on their speed dial. All four of their daughters n Liat and Karen Shpigler, Rochelle and Roni Cohen n have made aliyah over the past 11 years. The Cohens make frequent visits to see their children, and Yael spends up to four months a year in Israel.

“As youngsters, our children had a comfort level and familiarity with Israel because we visited there so often,” says Yael, who was born in Israel and maintains an apartment near Tel Aviv. “I was very happy but not surprised when each of our daughters announced her intention to make aliyah. I’m also thrilled they can make positive contributions to the country.”

Liat just finished her master’s degree in diplomacy at Tel Aviv University; Rochelle works for a high-tech company; Karen is a master’s student of counter-terrorism at the Hertzliya Interdisciplinary College; and Roni, 18, who made aliyah this summer, is currently in the Israel Defense Forces (See article on p. XX).

What does not please Yael, who is president of Friends of the IDF in Cleveland and is involved in American Israel Public Affairs Committee, is the current Israeli political scene. She follows the news carefully and reads Israeli newspapers online each day. The Cohens even have an Israeli cable channel they watch when there is a news-breaking event.

Yet, Yael says Israel continues to be a dynamic, growing country, and she is thrilled to have her children living there. “Although I miss them, our children made the right choice for their lives.”

Family roots run deep in Israeli soil

Irving and Leatrice Rabinsky have so many children and grandchildren living and studying in Israel, you need a flow chart to keep them straight. “They are all making such valuable contributions to the country, from medicine, gerontology, education, law, ecology and religious studies,” says Leatrice, as she easily lists all of the family members’ names, awards and occupations.

Her family comes by their Zionist passion naturally. Irving’s father Frank Rabinsky was the original president of Hapole Hamizrachi, a religious Zionist organization. Leatrice’s family was active in Hashomer Hadati, also a religious Zionist organization.

“When we were first married, Irving and I contemplated making aliyah,” says Leatrice. “But we could not leave our parents. We sent all our children to study in yeshivot in Israel and to attend summer camps there.”

Since 1963 the Rabinskys have made 54 trips to the country. The couple plans to return for trip 55 in May for a granddaughter’s wedding.

“We feel blessed to have so many family members living in Israel who are living the legacy of the Jewish people,” says Leatrice. “It is wonderful that our young people are able to fulfill a covenant and the promise of a Jewish future in Israel.”

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It is a blessing to have children living in Israel.