HEARTFELT PLEA

I write this letter with a heavy heart – a heart which should be filled with joy and nachas as the date of my grandson becoming a bar mitzvah approaches. You see, my husband Aryeh and I made aliyah from Edison, New Jersey, in 2009. We left behind a married son who would grow his family to two sons and two daughters. My daughter also remained, hoping for a bright future; she has since married and has a three-year-old son.

My husband and I had already purchased an apartment in Jerusalem’s Talpiot neighborhood during the intifada. It was our way of showing solidarity with the State of Israel while maintaining a haven for our family should the world turn against us. Through the years since we made aliyah, our employers were always generous in giving us time off to visit our family in the US. Here in Israel, we only have cousins whom we rarely see, so a trip back was essential.

Since Purim of 2020 we have faced the pandemic with the guidance of the Health Ministry. We have followed every mandate and have lived a lonely existence. We were fortunate to visit our daughter in New Jersey in December – but only after entering bidud there and emerging on the final day to see our grandson Shalom receive his first haircut. We were unable to visit my son in Maryland due to corona restrictions. Back in Israel, we thankfully and gratefully received the two vaccine doses.

We have been planning for weeks (truthfully years) to travel to Maryland in time to see our grandson Elisha become a bar mitzvah on Purim. Unfortunately, the airport has been closed and we were forced to exchange the tickets we had purchased. The tickets would have brought us to the US a week ahead of time, ensuring we would be in traveling distance of Maryland and be there in time to celebrate on Purim.

We have been living with the constant anxiety that the airport would remain closed. As it turns out, the airport will stay shuttered until March 7.

As described, we are a small family. My son and daughterin-law are planning a very modest celebration in their home in order to comply with the COVID-19 restrictions; meals will be eaten at their home and Aliyah L’Torah will take place in a tent outside their shul.

I know family life is highly valued in Israel. How do I know? Last week newspapers reporting the lockdown had been lifted showed pictures of the happy reunion of Israeli grandparents with their grandchildren who they haven’t seen in as much as a year. While glad that life is returning to normal, we feel imprisoned in our apartment, unable to see our loved ones in the US.

My family is important to me and my husband. We haven’t seen our son and his family in over a year. While living in Israel we have been fortunate to be able to travel to the US to enjoy every simcha. We cannot miss this one!

This situation reminds me of the classic story Animal Farm by George Orwell. His readers will remember the classic refrain: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” We have given up everything to make aliyah and are now being punished by not being allowed to travel “home.”

The responsibility the Knesset carries is a burden I cannot fathom and I respect the restrictions; I understand the importance of the greater good. Yet in this case, I feel I must be selfish and ask that the airport be reopened so those that need to leave may do so.

Wishing everyone a Purim sameach. SHOSHANA (JACQUELINE) SHORE Jerusalem