During the past four years, my wife and I have had at least one child learning in yeshivah/seminary in Yerushalayim. I had the good fortune to visit and spend a few days in Eretz Yisrael each January.
This year, as we don’t have a child learning there, I wasn’t planning on going to visit Eretz Yisrael. But as the winter wore on, I yearned to spend a few days there, as in past years.
I booked a flight with Austrian Air that had a two-hour stopover in Vienna and would land in Ben Gurion Airport on Thursday afternoon. I was set to fly back to Newark Airport the following Monday night. It would be a short trip, but I was excited to have whatever time I could.
Since my time there was so limited, during the days before, my wife suggested I reach out to our travel agent to ask if there was another flight leaving a little earlier. The travel agent replied that, in fact, there was a direct United Airlines flight leaving Newark on Tuesday evening and arriving in Eretz Yisrael late Wednesday afternoon. Though it cost a bit more, it was worth it to have an extra full day there, so I booked it.
After I landed in Eretz Yisrael on Wednesday afternoon, I saw the news headlines and my heart skipped a beat. At the time, Iran was gripped by protests, and the United States threatened to attack Iran if the Iranian government opened fire on protestors. Iran, in turn, threatened to attack Israel if the United States struck them, and Israel warned Iran that there would be severe reprisals if Israel was attacked. Austrian Air had canceled all flights to Eretz Yisrael because of the precarious situation in Iran. Had I not switched my flight, my whole trip likely would never have occurred. By booking the earlier United flight, I thought I was gaining a half day in Eretz Yisrael. In reality, it was the difference between visiting Eretz Yisrael or never getting off the ground. I had extra reason to be grateful for my visit to Eretz Yisrael this year.
The Torah relates that when the time for the redemption from Egypt arrived, the Jewish People were rushed out of the country. It had been over two centuries since the fledgling family of Yaakov Avinu arrived in Egypt. For much of that time, it felt like they would never leave. Yet, when the precise moment arrived, exactly 400 years after Yitzchak Avinu was born, they were hurried out to the extent that they couldn’t bake the dough they carried on their shoulders.
The final plague – the Death of the Firstborn – began at the stroke of midnight. However, when Moshe informed Pharaoh about the plague, he said it would occur at “about midnight.” Rashi explains that although G-d knows the exact moment of midnight, Pharaoh and his cohorts did not. Therefore, although the plague would happen exactly at midnight, Pharaoh and his magicians may incorrectly think it was shortly before or after. Therefore, they were told it would be around midnight. That, however, doesn’t change the fact that the plague began at exactly midnight.
The redemption played out with incredible precision, at the exact time ordained by Heaven.
Our lives are full of moments when a minute, or even a second, makes all the difference. Sometimes it works to our delight and sometimes not, but it’s always exactly as Heaven orchestrates it.
Somehow, it seems that in Eretz Yisrael those things happen even more. That makes sense, since the Torah describes it as, “the Land that the Eyes of Hashem, your G-d, are upon from the beginning of the year until the end of the year” (D’varim 11:12).
After I arrived home from Eretz Yisrael, I realized that during my five-day trip, I had quite a few “incidental” meetings.
When I was visiting students in Yeshivat Netiv, in the direct vicinity of the Kosel, I asked them if Rav Nebenzahl was in yeshivah. They told me that not only was he there, but he was attending a bris milah on the porch outside where I was standing. I was able to attend the bris milah and see Rav Nebenzahl serve as sandek.
There was one Heichal alumnus that, for whatever reason, I didn’t see while I was visiting Netiv. He and I both felt bad that we missed each other. Later that afternoon, as I turned onto a street in the Geulah neighborhood, I literally almost bumped into him as he was walking down that street.
In previous years, I went to Rabbi Gamliel Rabinowitz for a brachah. It entailed waiting some time for the brief audience, but it was worth the wait. This year, however, I didn’t have time to go.
When I arrived at the Kosel on Motza’ei Shabbos, Rabbi Gamliel was just leaving, and I was able to receive a quick brachah.
For those familiar with the Meaningful Minute status, it was also fun meeting “Yankel,” the Erev Shabbos dancer, at a pizza shop while I was there meeting with students.
On my last day in Eretz Yisrael, I went to the Kosel and davened Minchah at the minyan of Rabbi Yaakov Ades. That was a very inspiring experience.
Then, as I was leaving the Old City through Shaar Yafo, I noticed one of my current ninth-grade students purchasing something in a small store at the edge of the Shuk. He had wanted to meet up with me in Eretz Yisrael, but any plans to meet didn’t work out. Yet, we met “by chance.”
While walking through the Machaneh Yehudah Shuk shortly before leaving for the airport, I walked past a rebbi of mine and his wife. I had just spoken to that rebbi at length in his home in Monsey a week earlier. During the meeting, he shared that he was coming to Eretz Yisrael but would only arrive shortly before I left. It was fascinating that we met up in Yerushalayim during the very brief window when we were there together.
Our lives are limited and confined by time and place. Redemption occurs at an exact moment and then transcends physical limitations. In that sense, being in Eretz Yisrael always has a taste of redemption.
Whenever someone returns from a visit to Eretz Yisrael, I am particular to never say “Welcome home,” but rather “Welcome back!” No matter where we live and for how long we are there, we only have one home.
Rabbi Dani Staum is a popular speaker, columnist, and author. He is a rebbi in Heichal HaTorah in Teaneck, New Jersey, principal of Mesivta Orchos Yosher in Spring Valley, New York, and a member of the administration of Camp Dora Golding. His writings can be found at strivinghigher.com. Looking for an inspirational speaker or scholar-in-residence? Contact Rabbi Staum at 845-641-5094 or at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..