JWRP 2014 Israel Here We Come!!

There is a palpable excitement in the air as I get closer to leaving Baltimore for Israel in just THREE short days. I have planned an itinerary for my children, confirmed all play dates and carpools, texts are coming in from close friends and family with well wishes, and colleagues at work are dumping as much as they can on me before I exit the building. It is starting to feel very real. I am going to ISRAEL. I am going to walk in the spirit of those who came before me and define my Jewish experience.

Everyone keeps asking me, "are you getting excited for your trip?" And my answer doesn't come as naturally as I thought it might. I keep thinking...'I am walking away from my life for 10 whole days. Will I be missed? Am I essential to my own life or will it just keep moving on without me? How significant am I to the people in my world.' Well, I guess I am about to find out.

In celebration of our trip to Israel, I opted for a special manicure!

My hope is that I will find a new appreciation for my life and that the ones I love will find a new appreciation for me. I am sure that my kids will flourish without me, but will they begin to understand the significance of my existence in their lives in some small but important way? My colleagues will shuffle the work around until I return, but will they value my contribution when I return more so than they did before I left? I don’t know the answers to these questions, but I am hopeful. Hopeful that whatever the answers are, I will be transformed for the better.

One thing I know for sure, my life is about to change. I already feel an awakening in my spirit with the hope of what lies ahead and the meaningful experiences that await me in Israel with my new and amazing JWRP sisters.