Most people plan to make aliyah. Then they plan their aliyah. They come prepared, organized, with paperwork sorted and lift containers shipped. They find accommodation and start a new life straight away.

I didn’t know Hashem was choosing for me to live here. I didn’t know how lucky I was that aliyah was soon going to be on the cards for me! It wasn’t even something I knew to dream of.

I came to Yerushalayim for the chagim, and then had nowhere to return to in the galus of chutz laaretz after Succos ended, so I had to stay.

But I arrived with nothing.

I can’t say I had nothing, because truly, I felt I had everything. I suddenly had so much family, my freedom, and a strong, deep relationship with Hashem. And Eretz HaKodesh, Yerushalayim!

The truth is, I had lost everything. I was forced to........

© The Times of Israel (Blogs)