Preparing to leave to the holy land ignites many feelings. The last minute suitcase check, making sure everything is just so, the intensified feeling of joy and peace knowing that soon, I will be there.

This is my second trip to Israel, I left my last trip with this longing to return, an incessant need to explore the land again in a new way I have not yet defined. I feel so connected to Israel and to Judaism it is hard to fathom not going back and learning as much as I can with the time I have there.

I truly feel I am meant to go there and the experience will be life changing. I have gone through many changes and grown so much over the last few years however, I know there is still more to be discovered as I enter into this new journey in my life.

As the lyrics to the song Closing Time state:

every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end”

a changed person.