REBBETZIN ARIELA DAVIS Director Judaic Studies, Addlestone Hebrew Academy, Charleston SC
Rabbi Moshe and Ariela Davis have served as spiritual leaders in Charleston, South Carolina (BSBI Congregation) for eight years, following four years in Houston, Texas. Following their very successful careers in the rabbinate and Jewish education in America they will be making aliyah with their children this summer be”H. On this Parshat Shelach, Torah Tidbits is honored to have Rebbetzin Davis share her thoughts and emotions as they begin packing up and will soon board the plane for their beloved new home in Eretz Yisrael.
Fulfilling a Lifelong Dream; Leaving Past Dreams Behind
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t’s a big week for our family. My oldest is graduating 8th grade and my youngest is completing kindergarten; each bookend symbolizing an end to an era, a concept that resonates with our 70
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family this summer. These events, even celebrated via zoom, are exciting not just on their own, but also because they give us a break from the ever-expanding list of errands to take care of in preparation for our upcoming aliyah. Our floor is littered with amazon packages of items we have ordered to bring with us- particularly those that will hopefully get us through the mandated two week quarantine and there is an equally large pile of items we need to give away. But with all the celebrations and busyness in the house, there is another milestone that is happening this week that is less noted but certainly present in my mind. This week, with the end of the school year, I am concluding a 17 year career of teaching and working as a Judaic administrator in the Diaspora. While I am excited about the possibilities that lie ahead in Israel, I find myself at an uncertain moment, wondering what will be next. My heart has always been in Israel, as anyone who is acquainted with my obsessive thirst for Israeli politics, history and advocacy will attest. For years, I have shared this love with my students and congregants by teaching Israel and taking them around my beautiful country on trips. At home, I’ve been enthusing my children about aliyah since they were
