Three Houston families to make August aliyah By Michael C. Duke Jewish Herald-Voice, Texas August 7, 2008 This month, three Houston families will be swapping one Lone Star State for the other Lone Star State. All three families - the Friedmans, Landwebers and Levises - are making aliyah (immigration to Israel) with assistance from Nefesh B’Nefesh. And, all three families described the move as a special “homecoming” and the realization of a years-long dream. Making aliyah is a mitzvah (a Jewish obligation). Nefesh B’Nefesh, founded in 2002, has revitalized western aliyah, bringing 15,000 olim (new immigrants) from the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom. Though global aliyah has been declining over the past decade, North American and British aliyah have increased, thanks to Nefesh B’Nefesh. By minimizing the logistical, financial, professional and social obstacles that olim face, Nefesh B’Nefesh helps ensure their successful absorption in Israel; in turn, the olim help ensure the future of the Jewish state. By summer’s end, Nefesh B’Nefesh will have helped 2,000 olim resettle in Israel this year, including Houstonians Eitan and Chana Friedman. The Friedmans left Houston for New York on July 30. They are scheduled to arrive in Israel on Aug. 13. Like most olim assisted by Nefesh B’Nefesh, the Friedmans initially will be living in Ramat Beit Shemesh, an Israeli community located in the Jerusalem district with a sizable North American and British population. The Friedmans have two daughters, Leeba, 6, and Esther, 2½. Upon arrival in Israel, the family will participate in an ulpan, an Israeli immersion program that includes intensive Hebrew language courses. “We’ve wanted to make aliyah for a long time,” Eitan explained, prior to leaving Houston. “My parents actually lived in Israel shortly after they were married, but then moved to Houston. However, their hearts never left Israel, and we grew up always knowing that Israel is our home.” For the Friedmans, making aliyah means homecoming. “For us, it’s going home, going to where Jews belong. Making aliyah is doing what a Jew is supposed to do; that is, living in the land that G-d promised us,” Eitan remarked. The Friedmans will be joined on the same flight to Israel by the Landwebers. Also a family of four - parents, Naftali and Yocheved, and son James, 18, and daughter Daniella, 7 - the Landwebers, too, will be living in Ramat Beit Shemesh and participating in an ulpan. The Landwebers, like the Friedmans, have been yearning to live in Israel. “But our daughter, Dani, is the most important reason,” Naftali explained. “We want her to grow up in a place where Jews can be Jews. We really like the way children grow up in Israel, where the communities are very tightknit and built around the family structure.” With several visits to Israel over the past decade, the Landwebers gained a greater understanding of what it means to be a Jew living in Israel today. “For us, making aliyah ensures the future of the Jewish people in their historic homeland,” Naftali said. The Levises will be making aliyah on a later Nefesh B’Nefesh flight, on Aug. 18. Like the other Houston families, the Levis’ move to Israel is motivated by their desire to fulfill the aliyah mitzvah. Their move to Israel is also a promise fulfilled - not just by G-d to the Jewish people, but also between husband and wife. Michael Levis proposed to future wife, Rivkah, at the Kotel (Western Wall in Jerusalem) during the Jewish Federation of Greater Houston’s Connections 2001 Mission to Israel. Upon their engagement, the two promised each other to make aliyah before their first child turned 6. They fulfilled that promise - and just in time. Eldest daughter, Chanah Sarah, celebrates her 6th birthday on Sept. 4. The Levises also have two younger children, son Refael, who’s nearly 3, and daughter, Atarah Sarit, 11 months. For the Levises, who also will be living in Ramat Beit Shemesh, making aliyah is a profound family and historical moment. “Aliyah means we’re going home,” Michael commented. “In 486 B.C.E., and again in 70 C.E., the Jewish people were dispersed all over the world. If not for those events, we’d all be in Israel today. So, for us, it’s a homecoming - we’re returning to the place where we are from, Eretz Yisrael, where it all started for Jews.” The Levises noted that they are grateful for the assistance they have received in making the transition from Texas to Israel. “Nefesh B’Nefesh is an amazing organization. They help you every step of the way, and provide you with a book that helps new olim move to Israel, beginning with the planning stages one year from the date of aliyah. For many families, making aliyah can be a culture shock starting out, so Nefesh B’Nefesh helps soften the landing,” Michael pointed out. For all three Houston families moving to Israel this August, the greatest challenge is saying goodbye to a Houston community they dearly love and will miss. However, the Levises, Landwebers and Friedmans each noted that they greatly look forward to seeing their Houston families and friends in Israel soon.