My first trip to Israel was six years ago. I participated in Livnot's ten-day Birthright Israel program. I fell in love with Livnot's purpose and mission, compassion and generosity. Upon getting on the airplane to return to America from that program, I knew I must return to Israel when the time was right. Even though I imagined it to be sooner than six years, the timing was perfect. I knew returning to Israel was interwoven with participating in another Livnot program, thus I signed on for the one-month Galilee Fellowship program, keeping open the possibility of staying longer, perhaps indefinitely. This time around, as challenging as it was, I returned to America. I again promised myself I would return to Israel when the timing aligns.
One of my established commitments in America is teaching yoga. Teaching yoga deepens my own personal practice with this ancient and timeless art. I strive to live a balanced and yogic lifestyle. In the yogic tradition, volunteering, service, "karma yoga" is part of the system for living a spiritual life. Thus, volunteering, serving the community with Livnot feels aligned with my yogic ideals and with my Jewish ideals, Tikkun Olam.