World

ON THE COVER

Bound By
Land And People

As Israel
approaches
58, a former
Detroiter
tells her tale
of aliyah.

Amanda Sue Niskar
Special to the Jewish News

Editor's Note: After growing up
in Farmington Hills and build-
ing an international reputation
as a epidemiologist in Atlanta,
Amanda Sue Niskar immigrated
to Israel last September with her
mother, Joanne, through the aliyah
assistance group Nefesh B'Nefesh
(NBN). She shares the story of her
first few months as an Israeli, just
as Israel prepares to celebrate its
58th year of statehood on May.3.

M

y mind is racing. I
am about to become
a dual citizen of the
United States and Israel. I pray
my two cats have a safe flight in
the El Al cargo section. I hope my
mom feels at home in Israel when
she sees the country with her
own eyes for the first time. •
Moving from Detroit to Atlanta Former Detroiters Joanne and Amanda Sue Niskar leave their charter El Al flight after making aliyah together more than six months ago.
in 1993 was preparation for this
move to Israel. Mom and I know we
can learn to navigate new streets,
political and religious beliefs from across
I learn that Ramat Gan means Garden
Israel, followed by the holidays. When
complete local government paperwork
North America. We are bound by a land
Heights, and it is the biblical location of
American relatives learned of my plans,
and adapt to new foods and other cultural and people named Israel.
the tribe of Dan. The morning is sunny
they connected me to Israeli third and
experiences. Boarding the Nefesh B'Nefesh
and rejuvenating as Mom, my two cats,
fourth cousins. Although we are not
(Soul to Soul) charter El Al flight at JFK
Sept. 7
our luggage and I head for the Ramat Gan
close family, these people have welcomed
as olim chadashim (new immigrants)
We land to an NBN Welcome party featur-
flat I rented during a pre-aliyah trip. We
us into their homes and lives as if we'd
instead of tourists is like walking in a joy-
ing leaders from across Israel. We sing
are hungry and walk to the corner for a
known each other since birth.
ful dream.
"Hatikvah" in Israel as olim chadashim.
delicious fresh shnitzel and falafel. We
My mind and spirit are already in Israel,
We quickly move through the passport
eat our meal on my balcony, enjoying the
High Holidays 5766
waiting for my body to catch up. It has
control and arrival paperwork as coor-
Mediterranean sunshine and breeze. In
My first holidays in Israel are spent learn-
been that way ever since I participated in
dinated by NBN. Taxi vans are waiting to
the distance we can see the Mediterranean ing local traditions. A nearby religious
the Atlanta Federation mission in 2003.
take us to our first destinations in Israel.
Sea. I am smiling.
community blows a siren a few minutes
Observing fellow travelers, I see and
I see my cats with other pets that traveled
My aliyah date of Sept. 7 was scheduled
before sunset *to alert us to the holiday.
hear people with a spectrum of Jewish
in cargo.
so I could celebrate my 34th birthday in
The first few times I hear the siren, I think

114

April 27 • 2006

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