V'Shavu Banim Season

It's V'Shavu Banim Season.

V'Shavu Banim is a song that we sing that is based on a Biblical story. When the Jewish people were exiled from the Land of Israel, all our forefathers spoke up on our behalf and asked G-d to return the people to their Land. Their requests were rejected. Only when our Matriarch Rachel poured her heart out to G-d, did He promise "V'Shavu Banim L'Gvulam" (your children shall return to their borders).

And so the promise has been kept for thousands of years, and in recent times, we have seen multitudes of Jews coming ever year from all over the world. This summer, B"H, 2500 Jews are making Aliyah from America and Canada alone. Then there are those from Great Britain, South Africa, France and Russia, etc.

Efrat, Gush Etzion, Bet Shemesh, Modi'in and Jerusalem are among the very popular destinations for these new immigrants. Thanks to a push from Nefesh B'Nefesh, they're even going north to the Galil.

Whatever community they join, every time a family makes Aliyah, on their first Shabbat in their new home, the father of the family is called up to the Torah. As soon as he completes the blessings over the Torah, the entire congregation bursts into song. The song, of course, is "V'Shavu Banim L'Gvulam" (your children shall return to their borders). We sing this song with great joy and sometimes a tear or two, because before our very eyes, we see the prophecies of old coming true. Indeed, the children are returning to their borders.

I think of the summer as "V'Shavu Banim" Season, because most families move in during these weeks before school. The children sometimes go to camp in Israel, so they can make friends before the formal year of learning begins. Sometimes the families travel around, so they can get to know their new country. I look forward to singing the "Aliyah" song every Shabbat for many weeks. And I love watching the little children around me dancing and jumping at the excitement of yet another new Jewish family joining their brethren in the Promised Land.

This blog is dedicated to all those families that have tied their destiny to that of the Jewish People in the Land of Israel. You have made the right choice!! May our olim chadashim (new immigrants) be blessed in every way. And special best wishes to Modi'in's newest residents - Zev, Farrah, Yakira Lee, Emunah Shira and Nili Rina. It's going to be a great adventure. Hatzlacha and bracha.