Evy collects “a lifetime of luggage” at the baggage claim in Ben Gurion Airport

The hardest part of my aliyah was leaving my entire family behind. This was in stark contrast to the feelings I had upon my arrival in Israel as a new oleh (immigrant). After disembarking from the airplane that brought me and over two hundred other olim (immigrants) to Israel, we were shuttled to the terminal for our arrival ceremony. As the shuttle doors opened, I was hit by a wave of emotion when I observed the singing, dancing, music and cheering that erupted from the hundreds of people who had come to greet us.

As I walked through the path that was cleared by two rows of soldiers enthusiastically waving flags, I was given a unique emotional experience that has not been duplicated in the two-and-one-half years since my aliyah. That is, until my sister Evy made aliyah on Dec. 30.

It was this past April when my sister told me she wanted to make aliyah. For me, it was a dream come true to hear this, since I would finally have a member of my immediate family with me in Israel. In the months that followed, Evy began her preparations. Like me, she signed up to spend her initial few months in Israel living and studying at Ulpan Etzion. Also like me, she arrived in Israel with a job already in hand, since she will continue to work as an executive recruiter at the Israel branch of her New York City firm, AC Lion.

Then, finally, the day of Evy’s aliyah arrived. Our father had the responsibility of bringing Evy to JFK Airport the day before for her departure from the U.S. A few hours later, my mother and brother – who had arrived for a visit several days earlier – and I went to the Nefesh B’Nefesh arrival ceremony at Ben Gurion Airport. As I’ve mentioned in past columns, Nefesh B’Nefesh is largely responsible for reinvigorating and increasing aliyah from North America and the United Kingdom. In addition to providing significant help to olim both before and after their aliyah, they also arrange chartered aliyah flights to Israel, and the incredible ceremonies to greet the new olim.

As Evy’s plane landed, I was hit by a feeling of nostalgia when I saw the lines of soldiers waving Israeli flags while the crowd cheered, some people holding up specially prepared “Welcome Home” signs, and everyone waited for the olim to begin their welcome walk through the path of soldiers. However, I wanted to greet my sister in a somewhat more unusual fashion.

As I had worked at Nefesh B’Nefesh before beginning my army service, with the help of my former co-workers, I was granted permission to stand and wait for my sister where the shuttle buses would drop off the new olim. I waited patiently as shuttle after shuttle brought over olim from the plane. Before greeting Evy, I welcomed Orli Mintz, another Providence native, as well as Evy’s friend, Estee. Soon, the shuttle carrying Evy arrived. As emotional as my own arrival was, it was nothing compared to what I felt when I greeted my sister as she stepped off the shuttle. Both of us were moved to tears by the power of the moment. As a result, I was able to relive the high point of my own arrival, but this time it was done side-by-side with my sister who was experiencing it for herself.

Now, with her aliyah only a few days old, I look forward to helping Evy through these initial few weeks, months, and years of her life in Israel. My blessing to my sister is that her entire aliyah will be as smooth and meaningful to her, as mine has been for me. And, to help ensure this, I’ll make sure that I’m by Evy’s side through her own life and journey in the Land of Israel. Welcome home, Evy!

A Providence native, Daniel Stieglitz lives in Jerusalem and is studying for a master’s in creative writing at Bar Ilan University. Contact him at [email protected].