I am making aliyah today with my wife and son.

The day has finally come.

The plane will be taking off from JFK tonight around 8:30pm (with candle lighting and other festivities before hand).

Landing is at Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday around 2pm. As far as I know, the arrival ceremony is full, but if you want to come, contact NBN for more info.

I had wanted to post some more complete accountings of our packing and moving out of Boston. However, I am just so sick of packing right now that I cant really think about it anymore, let alone write something coherent about it. Maybe in a few months I will write something about it (along with some tips for those who will soon be going through the same thing).

Many people are asking me right now “are you excited”? My response is that I hope I will be excited by the time I get on the plane (in about 7-8 hours from now). However, the last few weeks have been so full of packing, moving, packing, unpacking, shopping, work, work, work, packing, parties and more packing that the only things I have been able to think about have been the details of what is it that I need to accomplish today. That said, it is very unreal – moving countries, packing up all of your stuff, saying good bye to people, canceling all accounts, getting lots of advice (and sorting through it).

But it feels good.

We are not necessarily happy to be leaving America. The US has been very good to us and our families for the last fifty years.

We are though thrilled to be moving back Home. It already feels different than the dozen times I have been already (for visits ranging from < 1 week to 9 months). We have one-way tickets, aliyah visas, and friends and families waiting to greet us.

Note: the name of this blog will be staying the same. This is both for the reason that I already have the domain and don't really want to change it, and also because the theme of the blog is not changing. Even after moving to Israel, or making any other big change, I (and we) will (or at least should) all be involved in some form of aliyah - or spiritual ascension - for the rest of our lives.

(Note to would-be commenters and well-wishers: Due to reasons discussed here and here all comments on the blog are going to be moderated for the time being. If you leave a comment I will get it, it will almost certainly be posted…just not until I land and get internet access again).

Seeya soon (with lots of pictures, I hope).