Breaking Tradition and Breaking Fast

When I first arrived in Israel I immediately took a taxi to the little city of Ramla. I immediately went into quarantine with five strangers I knew nothing about, in a place I’d never been to. There were a million thoughts going through my head. Where the heck am I, who are these people, will I make friends, will I like it here, and what have I gotten myself into? We all spent the next week getting to know each other, finding different ways to keep ourselves busy and we could adjust to the time difference. Our group came from all over the world. Though we all came from such different backgrounds, we never ran out of things to talk about. It was scary to think about how this would be my life for the next five months.

Quarantine was extremely overwhelming, but it allowed us to take the time to get to know one another. Instead of trying to go out and do everything, we focused on the little things around us. We were also surprised by how welcoming the community was. Neighbors dropped off food throughout the week, knowing we were unable to leave the house. Once we were finally released from quarantine we were greeted with friendly faces, and of course, more food. I quickly realized I would never need to worry about going hungry while in Israel.

Everything was new and exciting, but also scary. I no longer had the comfort of my friends and family. I also had no routine. We all started teaching in schools for about a week, and then all the high holidays started. I was so used to spending this time with loved ones. I would usually go to Chabad and was very comfortable with their traditions and ways of celebrating. All of us shared the different ways we honored the holidays, and decided we would stay together and each bring an element from home to Israel. Our neighbor Natti invited us to join him at a Sfardi synagogue for Yom Kippur. We all went together the night Yom Kippur came in. It was an eye-opening experience. I was introduced to new cultures, met people within the community, and could openly talk about this with all my roommates. We then walked home and spent that night and the next day off our phones reflecting, playing games, or drawing. It was such a simple yet impactful day that I’ll always treasure. Life really slowed down. We took the time to talk about ideas and share the different ways we all liked to honor the High Holiday. Being surrounded by people who made me feel comfortable and at home so quickly is something I will always be grateful for.

We all cooked together and created a break the fast meal culminated of our favorite dishes from home. This simple day gave us all the opportunity to bond. Some of these people are now my best friends I will continue to stay in touch with them. I now even live in Tel Aviv with two of my roommates from Ramla. We go back to visit frequently because of how much we connected with the people around us. The High Holidays aren’t just about religion here. It’s about coming together, welcoming in anyone who needs, and taking the time to reflect and connect.