Coming Back Home – My Summer At Camp Ramah

I came to Canada initially because I wanted to understand more about Jews around the world. In Israel, there is so much we take for granted as being Jewish is a given. We think our cousins in North America are privileged and have it easy, and yet, living as a Jew outside of Israel takes more work than Israelis realize. Going to synagogue, for example, costs money. Enrolling children in Jewish education – more money. And, of course, the camp that my pupils went to also has a cost. This doesn’t even touch upon your casual antisemitism which is becoming more apparent outside of the Jewish state.

Understanding their sacrifices and witnessing their joy of being Jewish first hand was gratifying.

Conversely, they would learn from me as well. The kids would often ask me about my army service, most recently my involvement in Israel’s latest operation in May, Guardians of Walls. They would ask about life in Israel and joy would spread across their faces with every word in Hebrew they learned from me.

While I said goodbye to Canada for now and am regretful that I probably won’t bike along one of Toronto’s many rivers any time soon, I know in my heart I will be back.

For now, the plan is to travel and make progress in a book of poems and short stories I’m writing about my time in the army and travels meeting new and unique Jews worldwide.

But no matter where my travels take me, I know that I’ll always be comforted by the letters, outpouring of support and well wishes from my extended family I’m so blessed to have known.