Queen of Sheba Mission 2013 Final from Giraffe Sheba on Vimeo.
How does one capture all
the experiences they had on a Mission trip with KKL-JNF in just one
page?
Let me begin by saying
that this was my first Mission and really my first experience as an
adult with KKL-JNF.
I came across the Queen of
Sheba Mission accidently when I was searching the web for something
to do in Israel out side of a normal tour or hanging with friends on
the beach.
Sometimes, things are just
meant to be. The Queen of Sheba Mission was exactly inside the dates
I needed to take my vacation time. Weird right? LOL
I really had no idea what
I was getting into, other than; I was going to spend nine days with a
group of ladies I didn’t know. How bad could it be? It was Israel.
We’re all Jewish. I’m sure there will be good food. I was sold!
I’m not exactly sure the
exact hour that it happened, but all of a sudden, I turned around and
I was travelling with my family. The connections I made with these
women were beyond explanation. You have to trust me on this. I know
what it is to have connections with people. I have spent the last 15
years serving in the Military, so I understand how strong bonds are
formed, but this was so unique.
I have to be honest. I was
so jealous of these women. For 15 years, I have dedicated my life to
people and countries not my own and yet, here stood before me these
amazing women. Selflessly, giving of themselves for the State of
Israel. I was beyond inspired. I knew I had to be apart of it, but
I was so frustrated in trying to figure out where or what project to
be apart of.
It
was in the Negev that so many pieces of “the puzzle of life” came
together for me. It wasn’t my first time there. My Fathers side of
the family came to Israel after the Shoah. I have a strong
connection with Israel, despite being raised in the west, but it was
like I was seeing Israel through different eyes.
Visiting the communities
being developed throughout the south. Meeting the people dedicating
their lives to populating that beautiful landscape. Feeling with all
your senses the dream of David Ben Gurion and so many others come to
life is something words cannot to justice to.
That’s when I knew that
I had found a new piece to my puzzle, but I still couldn’t quite
connect it yet to see the whole picture. I needed time to think, to
reflex, and to put everything into perspective. I had to ask myself
what about Israel changed for me this time? I’ve traveled all over
Israel throughout the years, but something was different. Something
was new and yet, for the moment it felt out of reach.
It took sometime, but I
realized what had changed. It was the realization that there was so
much left to do in Israel. All these years I had thought the work was
done. The dreams and visions of those before me had accomplished
their task and now Israel was there for me to enjoy, but I was so
wrong.
I knew then and there that
I had found what I was searching for. I had been searching for a way
to use 15 years of military experience for the State of Israel. It
was in the Negev that I realized that security is not only defined in
military terms or through military means. This may seem like common
sense to you, but it was like a revelation for me. This new
revelation that I could help in the development and population of the
south to secure Israel’s border was life changing. I felt
empowered to do something, to dedicate my time and my life to the
development of the Negev. I know this is a very general statement
and I may not have all the answers right now, but that’s ok,
because at least I know where it all begins.
Thank you KKL-JNF and my
Queen’s of Sheba for your inspiration to dream big, take action and
get stuff done.
Michal B.
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