Welcome to Ira

Welcome to the newest site to learn all about me, Ira! As I graduate from the University of Delaware this month, May 29th to be exact, I am beyond excited for what the future holds. I am not pursuing future education, looking for a job, or taking a gap-year; instead I am uprooting my life, joining a foreign army, and leaving all of my family and friends. You can call me crazy, but I'll call myself a Zionist.

Like every college student, senior year brings its unwanted stresses. Last month, all seniors received a "what-are-you-doing-next-year" survey with 8-10 different options, and no choice for "other." Surprise surprise, but making Aliyah and joining the Israeli army was not an option. I guess my path is unique, but I already knew that.

But, how did I get to this point exactly? Well that's a story in itself.

I was born and raised on Long Island, Plainview to be exact, and I essentially grew up in a "Jewish bubble." I went to the Schechter School of Long Island for 13 years, spent my summers at the Young Judaea sleep-away camps, went to my Synagogue, Midway Jewish Center, several times each week; and was active in almost every facet of my Jewish community. To say Judaism and Zionism was "a part" of my upbringing is simply an understatement, it was my upbringing.

Then senior year of high school came around, and I had to start making decisions. I was going to university, that wasn't a question, my parents believe strongly in education. Early on I knew I wanted to become a Blue Hen and study at the University of Delaware (UD), but what about a gap year first I thought.

I have a twin, his name is Jeremy, and he decided to take a gap year in Israel. On his program, Nativ, the gap-year program of the Conservative Jewish Movement, he spent half a year in Jerusalem studying at Hebrew University, and half a year volunteering at a school in Yerucham (you can ask him about it, it's his favorite spot in the Holy Land). I, however, decided to go straight to college.

College was fun, and I loved every part of my experience. I met some of my closest friends, joined the ultimate frisbee team (I'm a big sports guy), and became active in the UD Jewish community, both at Hillel and Chabad. College was great, but I was missing Judaism, Israel, and that core aspect of my identity.

You know that saying "you never really appreciate something until it's gone," well that's exactly how I felt. The Judaism I grew up with, in my small Long Island Jewish community, was suddenly gone, and my appreciation for Judaism, Israel, and the Jewish people grew...a lot. I became more engaged in learning about the Jewish people, my people, and all of our history. I was no longer forced to learn about Judaism and Israel from educators or my parents, but this was finally my decision, and I took the opportunity to learn, and learn, and learn.

Ultimately, and I can't pin it down to one specific "wow" moment, I decided I had enough. I loved Delaware and all of my friends, but I didn't want to be there, I wanted to be in Israel. I was 19, there was a Jewish state, I'm Jewish, I don't belong in Delaware. I belong in the Jewish state, and I belong in the IDF.

I told all of this to my parents. I made it clear what my intentions were, and why, with all my heart, I had to serve. This wasn't a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a culmination of my entire upbringing, and everything I grew up knowing. My parents, however, pushed onto the brakes. First graduate they told me, and then do what you want. They are both Zionists, they both love Israel, and they were both proud I came to this decision. However, like I said, education was important to them, so I studied on.

After graduating, I knew I'd be in Israel serving in the IDF, but I couldn't wait that long. I had to get back first.

Throughout all of this, I knew that eventually working in the Jewish world and giving back to the community that gave me so much, was of big interest to me. I came across The Nachshon Project, a study abroad program in Jerusalem for college students interested in working in the Jewish world. I took this as the perfect opportunity to return to Israel, so that's what I did.

Unfortunately, COVID hit, and I came home early. A once in a lifetime pandemic while studying in Israel, never could have predicted that!

So I came home, and there is one thing I forgot to mention. Yes, I couldn't wait 3 more years of college before returning to Israel, but I also couldn't wait 3 more years. Period. I decided to graduate early.

I picked up a major in economics at UD, and two minors in education and Jewish studies. I made a plan to graduate early, and now, weeks away from graduation, I can say that this plan turned into a success. I still need to pass these final classes, but I'm in good shape.

COVID provided me with the opportunity to take a step back, reflect, and start thinking about this next step in my life, the important step of making Aliyah and joining the IDF. Weeks of boredom at home, quarantining from the coronavirus, gave me the opportunity to open a book, or two, or three, or thirty. I thought, if I was going to serve in the IDF, shouldn't I read and learn more about Israel. Thirty books later, in a span of 5 months, I can say quite simply that I became obsessed. I read and read and read, and soon enough, I felt like an expert on Israel, ready to attack my senior year and get ready for my ultimate goal thereafter.

I applied to Garin Tzabar. "Family for Life" is their motto, and this program is essentially a Lone Soldier program built on creating a framework and community for soldiers who serve in the IDF with no immediate family inside the country.

This program is split into three parts; a preparation period, absorption period, and a soldiers actual service. Right now, I am in the first part; the preparation process. Since January 25th, a group of around 20 passionate and excited North Americans Jews have been meeting on zoom once a week (because of COVID obviously) to meet, learn, and prepare together for this next step in our lives. I am happy to be a part of this group.

Everyone seems so nice and as excited as I am, and I can't wait to jump into Israeli society with this Garin (what we call each group).

So, there I am. That is all how I got here, and now here is where I'm going.

As I said, I will soon be graduating, and leaving my UD community forever. Well physically, but my heart will always remain a Blue Hen.

Then, after a summer at my summer camp Sprout Lake, serving as a Merekez (a unit head), I will be off to Israel. I'll say good-bye to my family and friends, pack my bags, step on the plane, travel 10 hours, and kiss the holy ground of Israel in mid-August.

When do I become Israeli? When I kiss the ground? When I receive my Teudat Zehut (Israeli identification card)? When I join the army? The first time my commander yells at me? When I no longer feel American? Will I ever not feel American? Do I ever want to not feel American? While I'm going to Israel, I still love America after all. I don't know and I can't make any predictions, so I guess time will tell.

I'll be living on Kibbutz Erez, half a mile from the Gaza Border. This will serve as my home for the absorption period, where I will learn Hebrew and acclimate to Israeli society, and will serve as my home for at least one year of my service, and possibly more.

I am excited to see my friends and family in Israel. My sister, Shira, will be taking a gap-year on the Young Judaea Year Course program, so I'll be happy to see her a lot as well.

But most importantly, I am excited to do my part for the State of Israel and for the Jewish people. For thousands of years my ancestors have been saying "Next Year in Jerusalem," and now after the miracle of a Jewish State in the Jewish ancestral home, that dream has become a reality. How lucky am I to be living in a time where Israel exists, where I can help write the story of the Jewish people, and all I need to do to ensure Israel continues to exists is just to do my part, serve in the IDF like (almost) every Israeli is required to do.

Like I always say: Israel is a dream come true with the present day responsibility to keep that dream alive. Serving in the IDF is my responsibility, Zionism is the dream, the State of Israel is a dream come true.

L'shana Haba'ah B'yerushalayim, or more like L'shana Haba'ah B'kibbutz Erez!