Jewish Blog-Con: Countdown to a Zionist Take-Off

” title=”Nefesh B’Nefeh”>Nefesh B’Nefeh charter aliyah flight to Israel. I’m looking forward to vicariously enjoying the organization’s ceremonial, joyous, fan-fare filled take-off and arrival for its new olim—the kind of reception I never got when I made aliyah independently about ten years ago, only to return to Los Angeles last September.

I just re-activated my Israeli cell phone. It’s now on a pay-as-you-go plan. Turning it on makes me feel like I’m re-activating my old life there, a life I edited with every phone number added or deleted. Scrolling down my phone book is like scrolling down the memories: the good friends, the boyfriends, the missed opportunities, and the dreams realized.

I plan to reconnect with old friends and colleagues, and also to make new ones, especially at the