Yeah, I'm Back. I shoulda stayed, but I'm back.

Thanks, Stx, for blowing my cover...I wasn't gonna post for a few days yet, but with all the pressure from y'all...

Wow.

Before I left, everyone kept asking me why I was going. My answer: "I need to." And I did. It's amazing how you don't know how much you need something until you have it again. And how much more you miss it once you taste it for a moment.

I needed to see the Kosel.
I needed to see the lady at the Kosel who reached into her change purse every single time that one of the women asking for money came over to her.
I needed to see the chayelet who turned around and gave tzedaka to the old lady sitting outside the Tachana Merkazit.
I needed to see the friends of mine who left extremely comfortable lives in Chutz La'aretz to begin their marraige on holy soil.
I needed to see friends who left less comfortable lives in Chutz La'aretz for not-so-easy lives on holy soil.
I needed to see my sister, brother-in-law, and their children, who have planted themselves Ba'aretz and have directed their lives exclusively to Torah and Hashem.
I needed to see my grandfather, who represents a generation that has lived through so many eras and has more knowledge and life experience than anyone I know.
I needed to see Rebbetzin Kanievsky and have the zchus to watch her holy husband make havdala.
I needed to daven at Kever Rachel.
I needed to speak in Hebrew, which is far closer to Lashon Hakodesh than the language that I speak here.
I needed to walk on the streets that had led to the Beis Hamikdash.
I needed to be able to give money to a random guy in the airport who couldn't pay his taxi driver, but knew he could ask us because we were frum.

I needed to stay for longer.

I went to remind myself of what I miss in Chutz La'aretz.
I came back with the knowledge that I must return.