By Katherine Podolak
Walking through the Ben Gurion Airport, I was filled with anticipation and joy as I realized that not only was I back in Israel but that I would get to stay for six whole months. I arrived in Herzliya the day before the rest of the cohort, thanks to the suggestion of my father, and spent the extra day sleeping for 18+ hours; traveling can be exhausting! When the rest of the cohort arrived, I immediately felt at home. Everyone was kind and excited to meet others, and it felt as if all of our hearts were effortlessly opening up to each other and the cohort as a whole. Being from a less observant family, I was anxious that my Jewish identity and experience in the Jewish sphere wouldn’t compare to those around me. This anxiety immediately diminished as the whole cohort met together for the first time, and I realized as others introduced themselves that I was not as different as I had previously believed. In fact, connections began developing; whether it was a mutual friend, a shared interest, or even a similar Jewish background, we all found commonalities to connect with.
As the week continued on, the usual feelings of homesickness, uncertainty about the future, and missing our home universities crept up on me. Though these feelings were valid, I was initially scared to express them as I was unsure if others were feeling similarly. While these feelings were occurring, however, I was able to develop friendships with other fellows that then allowed me to express my true emotions. These feelings I expressed were met with not only validation but empathy as I was not the only one to be experiencing these emotions. Even the minimal acts of kindness from my peers, like asking how I was doing, made me feel so comfortable that I was able to present my true self, something that is not easy for me.
Although arriving in Israel I experienced fears and worries, the environment of the Dan Hotel in Herzliya and the incredible openness and kindness of my, now, great friends, helped remind me of the feeling I always have when I’m in Israel; I’m home.
