By Sarah Stern

There have always been strong ties between Israel & the Diaspora. Israel is the Promised Land that the Jews have been striving to reach ever since biblical times and it makes sense to call moving to Israel an aliyah, meaning going up. We are not only going up geographically, we are going up spiritually, ascending in holiness. The ties between those who have reached this Promised Land and those who are still on their way must never break. Col Yisrael arevim le le le, all Israel is responsible for one another; the Jewish World must look out for Israel and Israel must look out for the Jewish World. In fact, this very phrase does not distinguish between Jews in Israel and outside of Israel, rather we are all seen as one.

My name Sarah Fanya Ahuva Stern tells the story of my own Jewish heritage and Israel as the place that makes us one people. Sarah, Fanya, and Ahuva were three sisters born in the Russian Empire. Sarah remained with her family in the Russian Empire, Fanya, my great grandmother , immigrated to America, and Ahuva went to the Palestine district of the Turkish Empire, Eretl Yisrael. In March of 2002, I sat with 4 generations of Ahuva's branch at a Pesach Seder in Holon, Israel. Through visits such as these and determination to keep the family together, the 3 branches of my family have been able to help each other out in times of trouble and keep a strong connection to our Jewish heritage.

To me, this family story illustrates how the entire people of Israel can draw strength from being one family. Jews must maintain their solid link with Israel because it's where we all came from and where it will always be home. It's the root that keeps the Jewish people together.