01/28/2022
We left Israel earlier than planned because my daughter Rachel tested positive for Covid; she woke up Wednesday morning with a cough and tested positive.
Our plans to go to a class I love, enjoy an Israeli breakfast together, take a brisk walk, attend a bris for the grandchild of a family friend and enjoy a fun dinner with our buddies Rabbi Heshy and Rooky Billet, all went flying out the window.
She does not feel well to boot.
In response to my “Oh my!” and “what happens now?” Rachel said firmly, “Go Home!” I asked her, “is it a mistake to go home?”
Rachel’s response, “Mom there are no mistakes, just choices.” Rachel was very worried about our vulnerability and she felt we had no choice but to go if we want to stay safe.
And so we did. We cut back on our dream trip by three days and suspended all plans for dinners, meeting up with Rabbi Merrill in his new home, walking around Jerusalem and getting to spend more precious time with our distant family.
Saying that I’m not happy is an understatement.
Bob and I spent the next two hours on hold with El Al, figuring out how to change our flight tickets, haggling over best seat availability, Covid testing(five tests in three weeks, antigen-negative), spending more and more money and packing. We got so caught up in the planning that we did not take a breath or a moment to reflect or to reconsider our decision.
And if that is not enough, a major snowstorm threatened Jerusalem(kids were joyous with excitement), closing schools early, shutting down the roads to the airport and causing all cabs to stop driving after 5:00 pm. Our flight, there is only one a day, was scheduled for 12:45 am; try getting someone to take you and your multiple bags to the airport.
As I sat on the endless 12 hour plane ride after getting to the airport hours early in anticipation of the storm, I pondered, did we jump the gun? Was it a mistake to get out of town because of two lines on a rapid Covid test?
Or did we make a choice?
Traveling or simply going anywhere during these last two years has been a challenge. Remember the good old days when all you worried about was overweight luggage when you were checking in?
Now, there are tests and more tests, folders with documents and long slow lines.
And how about the days of casual dates with friends, attending weddings, parties, going to the supermarket, shopping or spontaneity, where have they gone?
Is everyone vaccinated, boostered, exposed, had it or does not care?
At my age, thanks for all of the birthday wishes, I hear constant warnings from friends/colleagues and the media that I am at risk and need to be more careful; my senior status is considered compromising.
Yet, I happily come to work every day feeling safe while trying to be vigilant.
I digress here with a funny story. Our admin team recently interviewed a student in person in a bigger office, not mine! I was flanked on each side by Michal Wasser and Rabbi Hazan, when all of a sudden the little boy sneezed and coughed into his “mask”. Michal and ROH both jumped and threw out their arms and hands in protection.
I burst out laughing; I choose to come to work every day so that I can live!
Apart from a lightning bolt hitting the plane and causing it to light up and jolt, scaring grown men, the flight was pretty uneventful. I watched three feel good movies and slept. After eating only delicious meals at multiple restaurants across Jerusalem, the vegan plane food we special ordered was awful. We have Global entry and we were out and on the way home within an hour.
The soggy cold weather impacted our luggage, all the bags were wet; my clothes are now drying in the laundry room. I usually pack into plastic bags, no time for this trip.
Our stuff is wet but not ruined.
Of course the house was at 48 degrees when we got home. It happens every time we go away. Luckily, we were able to remediate the situation ourselves, the temperature is creeping up 62 already; hopefully the house will be warm soon.
Bob and I made the choice to see our family in Israel despite so many stumbling blocks at every turn. There are many, my own friends and family included, who were deterred and changed their plans. They did not go at this time, to Israel or anywhere.
Some friends we planned to meet up with in Israel do not leave their houses.
I completely understand those choices, but for me it would be a mistake.
Even though we had to cut our trip short, pivot on so many issues, get tested and tested again, had to spend dumb money and felt too much stress at every turn, we did not make a mistake when we decided to go on this trip.
What I have learned is that in this upside down world, we have to grab what we can when we can despite the obstacles; the opportunity to nurture our hearts and souls is not always there for us to grab.
Make the right decision to do what you can when you can, to be with those you miss and love.
As we continue to learn the hard way, you never know when a door will close for a short time or forever. Please take these last few perfect days of break to call someone you miss, connect with an old friend or tell a special person that you love them.
That is never a mistake, it is a choice.
House is getting warmer; Shabbat Shalom; we hear snow is coming.
Stay safe.
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