25 Days of Israel: Day 6 - Come Together

This is Day 6 in a series of posts I have chosen to write during the time of my current - and last, for a while - trip to Israel in March 2023. My experience of Israel in these last 7 years of my residence has been vivid, inspiring, nerve wracking, debilitating, and wholly, precisely, profoundly the medicine I've needed. Words will not (yet) fully express the treasures I've received from my presence here, but I believe the commitment, challenge, and confidence of these 25 Days of Israel are a beautiful homage to their glory in my life.

I’m thinking about people today, and the tapestry of impressive souls I’ve inevitably woven over 7 wild years here. Your network of connections is the center of life in Israel, more so than in many other countries I’ve experienced, and helps fill in the gaps from everything to trustworthy repair workers (don’t underestimate how hard it is to find someone reliable…) to mail support to social satisfaction. You can complete the process of nearly anything through the network you’ve created for yourself, but will unfortunately struggle a great deal if you haven’t.

In the light of my own network, as I was walking down the street today for my much-anticipated haircut with one such soul, my mind wandered back to a little more than three years ago, in January 2020. This was a time of the final calm before the pandemic storm hit, and a time that drastically shifted my entire life trajectory.

For anyone who may not know, I was very unfortunately hit by an electric scooter while crossing the street in Tel Aviv. The accident resulted in an intense surgery and two week hospital stay… then ongoing chronic body pain, three months of paid injury work leave, transitioning out of my hi-tech role, diving into the dark night of my soul, studying light language, creating and officially opening Joy Journeys, and, well, Berlin. To this day, it’s the gift that keeps on giving, as I’ve been asked, directly and immediately, to become more intimate with my physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bodies in ways like never before.

Before all that, though, I spent extended time in Chateau Ichilov, a fine medical vacation institution that curiously offers a lot of opportunity to be with yourself. In my two week stint, I thoroughly explored themes of support, connection, and how to navigate this highly disruptive experience with the company of loved others.

Today, I was walking along the street in the cheerful afternoon, and I remembered the immense outpouring of love and support I received from so many wonderful people who graciously answered my hesitant request for help. To put that out there, on Facebook, in a big public way (or honestly, just in general), was itself very difficult and shameful, for many inexplicable (and perhaps a little irrational) reasons. Yet, it was essential to this current path, and essential to the experience of my own love and gratitude, as well as simply and necessarily practical.

So, I put myself out there, feeling I had taken up a little too much space. Despite that, wow. Boy was I answered.

I had friends showing up with real people food, homemade and restaurant-bought, to supplement my minimalist hospital diet. I had friends who brought me crystals and books and other items to entertain myself. I had friends who helped me take small walks around the hospital corridors, or outside, as I was feeling more up for it. I had friends who prepped me for surgery and accompanied me to the operating room, and friends who held me as I woke from the anesthesia. I had friends who simply kept me company, gave me someone to talk to, and listened to me process a little of the tempest that was storming inside me.

Where these people came from in my life was a kaleidoscopic mix.

Some were friends from the area reform synagogue I was enthusiastically part of for several years.

Some were friends from university days back in the States.

Some were friends I had met in festivals at the Desert Ashram, or friends of the friends I met there and later also loved.

Some were my fellow students in Ulpan (Hebrew classes) who became friends, and one was actually our teacher there!

Some were friends I had made when I accidentally discovered (and then quickly infiltrated ;D) the Mexican expat community here, and some were even compassionate work colleagues who amazingly took time to check on me in person.

And then, after I left the hospital, I felt more lost than ever, but people kept showing up, in different ways. In particular - and the memory that came first to mind as I walked today - I adore the visit I received from a lovely and ambitious soul to bring me some of his favorite homemade foods and give me some encouraging words. We had originally connected when I participated for a while in the queer tango lessons he was teaching. (And if that’s something you’re looking for in Tel Aviv, let me connect you to him!)

At the time of the accident, I was no longer dancing and we had never spent time purely socially together before, either one-on-one or in a group. I can no longer remember the finer details of what I had posted (another ongoing effect of the accident - greatly reduced and very selective short- and long-term memory 🤪), but what I do remember is that he came because he vibrated with my post for support and wanted to ensure that I was fed for at least another few days. He was called, and then he acted. The simplicity and love with which he did so - for me, someone he knew but didn’t necessarily share any other intimacy with - moved me deeply.

Again, I don’t remember the details of the conversation. All I know is that this visit was pivotal with respect to the way I was still relating to my existing network under those circumstances and that it allowed me to embrace further possibilities of care in ways I hadn’t before. I remember the nourishment and gratitude I was left with afterwards, and how high I flew.

I’m sure he isn’t aware of how much his kindness changed the course of my recovery, but it changed a lot. For that, I really must thank you <3

I’m conscious of the way that I never thoroughly expressed my gratitude to all who showed up for me. I include you now in these 25 last Days of Israel to immortalize that gratitude forever in a bigger way. You have no idea how much you moved me and how much you did for me - I’m aware that I also have no (complete) idea - since the effects of that love and kindness show up for me in so many different ways nearly every day.

I also want to highlight the fact that it does take a special kind of person, and a special kind of people, to share themselves and their resources the way these angels did with me. While these particular folks also represent a diversely international crowd, I want to enthusiastically showcase the way that, in my Israeli life, people have come together in big ways to support me in their community(s) when the circumstances necessitated it. (I speak now only of my own experiences, but I know that this is true for many people who live here.)

This accident was easily the biggest embodiment of that support until now, but I have always lived here confident that any of the people around me - those I know and those I don’t - have, do, and would still show up completely as a collective when times were truly tough.

It’s the feeling of “you’re never truly alone.”

It’s the action of “people sometimes do what they need to do, when they need to do it, in the name of kindness.”

It’s (almost) the wisdom of the recently award-winning movie, “every[one] everywhere all at once.”

It’s definitely true that Israelis are not (always) the most patient or most gentle or most forgiving. It’s not always a world you could see through rose-colored glasses. Day-to-day, people here can sometimes approach “formidable.” I don’t want to paint Israel as idyllic in ways it isn’t.

However, despite all that, despite the harshness of some of life here, this country was built on a foundation of iron-clad community. It is core in the principles and culture of who and what Israel is, and also as it continues to evolve. Even now, in the face of impending government chaos, Israelis are really coming together in well-organized, peacefully potent, and ever-growing protests all around the country to ensure the futures of themselves and future generations remain clear.

People, as a collective Israeli unit, are wild. They are ridiculous. But they are WOW.

I am certain I am forgetting people, as I have memories of this hospital period (and later) where I can’t see faces (so forgive me if I left you out - but please tell me, because I want to add you!), but the following are those who showed up in person, one way, place, or another, and carried me through the most radical shift in my life to date. This doesn’t include the (literally) countless people who messaged me and offered me their words, from Israel and all around the world, but I carry you with me strongly as well <3

Naomi

Elana

Dave

Pnina

Danielle

Susana

Cynthia

Ayelet

Marina

Minnie

Sivan

Sharon

Shani

Sage

Liran

Ruth

Otar

Amir

Laurence

My parents asked me again and again if there were people beside me to get me through the challenges I faced after I was hit.

Oh yeah. Absolutely.