Living the Dream

ERETZ

Aviva Zacks and her family

Living the Dream

years old when we came, and they got used to living here pretty quickly. We moved to a community with many other olim, so they had kids to talk to in English. But we did try to make sure they were in classes with Hebrew-only speakers so they would pick up the language more easily. We were very easy on them when it came to their studies as it was much more important to us that they felt comfortable and had time to play with other kids. Now Daniel, 24, is married to Shifra and is the father of our two grandchildren, Eitan and Hadar. He lives and works in Kiryat Shmonah. Ephraim, 21, is serving in the Givati Brigade as part of Yeshivat Hakotel’s army Hesder program, and Nava, 18, is doing national service as a Bnei Akiva Komenarit (she runs a Bnei Akiva chapter of more than 250 kids). Since moving to Israel, I shifted gears because, while I taught in Hebrew at

The Jewish News has summer in Israel. Being Akiva, my Hebrew was not asked me to write a in Israel and enjoying the good enough to teach Israeli column interviewing freedom that children have children. And don’t even get former Detroiters living in here really made an impact me started on my American Israel, so I thought I would on me. accent! begin with myself. I was a As an adult, I taught Once I moved to Israel, teacher at Akiva Judaic studies at Akiva, and I taught English to native Hebrew Day year after year, my material English speakers for eight School (now pointed to the importance years and then worked at Farber Hebrew of living in Israel — from an e-learning company Day School), the promise Hashem made writing practice tests for Bais Yaakov and to the forefathers to Joshua adults and children taking

Aviva Zacks Yeshiva Beth conquering the land. I standardized tests in the U.S., Yehudah before thought to myself, “How can U.K. and Canada. After that, making aliyah I teach this and not live it?” I switched to content writing with my family in 2006. My family was on board, and now freelance through a

Why did I want to make so we got on the plane and content marketing company aliyah? When I was young, moved to Modiin. called Writehook that I run my family spent every My kids were 10, 7 and 4 with my husband Arye.

ISRAELI LIFE

What do I like best about living in Israel?

I love that everything revolves around the Jewish year. The pomegranates are in season on Rosh Hashanah, every house and apartment has a Chanukiah lit on every night of Chanukah, and you should see the streets filled with children dressed up for Purim.

My favorite time of year is Pesach. A few days before our first Pesach in Israel, I went to the shopping center to get a few last items that I had forgotten to buy. There was literally no parking to be found. I couldn’t believe it. It was supposed to be a working day, but people had taken off to shop for food, gifts and clothing for Pesach. It was the most incredible scene.

I also love our proximity to the Kotel. Any time I want, I can go up to Jerusalem and daven at our holiest site.

While I don’t miss the snow in Detroit,I do miss our family and friends we left behind. Being so far away when loved ones are celebrating happy times or dealing with difficulties is the hardest part about moving away.

And I really miss the slow, calm way Detroiters speak and drive.

Israel is our nation’s home. Every prayer points us there. We even daven in the direction of Jerusalem. If you haven’t been to Israel yet, you should certainly come see what all the hype is. Once you’re vaccinated and Israel allows you to, that is.