B'Sheva's Dorit Aldoubi spoke this week with Dr. Rafael Kayam, whose daughter Dalit was wounded in a terrorist attack six days ago in Har Brachah. Dalit has already been released from the hospital, and no danger is foreseen to her pregnancy, but her husband Yaakov Tzvi ben Rivka Ruth is still hospitalized from wounds he suffered in the same attack. The Kayams, who lived in New York, immigrated to Israel with their five children six years ago; four of them got married in the past year.
"It appears that the Kayams had everything," Aldoubi writes. "Successful careers, good incomes, and quality of life. But, as they themselves say, 'Our soul was in the Land of Israel, with the nation and the history, with all the souls of the Nation of Israel.'" Aldoubi asked Dr. Kayam, "You knew the security and economic situation here in Israel. Weren't you wary of coming?"
A. "From the minute we landed at Ben Gurion International Airport, we felt that we had taken the right step. We went to my parents in Jerusalem, who were waiting for us very excitedly - they are themselves new immigrants - and they helped us 'follow our hearts.' We arrived here without having sold our house and without having found work here. We were wary, but we believed that just as Nachshon's faith inspired him to jump first into the Red Sea and caused the waters to part and allow the Children of Israel to pass through and be saved, so too in our situation. I felt that G-d wants us to jump into the water and that He would take care of the rest. Thank G-d, everything truly worked out."
Q. "How did you family abroad react when they heard of the terrorist attack?"
A. "They are always worried, always checking to see if we're OK. Yaakov's father [was worried] - his daughter Tamar already escaped one attack, on Jaffa St. in Jerusalem. But he understands the significance of the Land of Israel for us. Our friends and family abroad encourage and support us in this move, and say that if they had the guts they would do the same. This past period here in Israel has not been especially easy, and it deters people from coming."
Q. "Even now, after your daughter was wounded by a terrorist, you still feel that your decision was the correct one?"
A. "Yes. I feel an atmosphere of security. From my standpoint, I am living in Paradise; after years of Exile, I feel that I am in Redemption. We live in Gilo, and we hear the shooting and feel the dangers day-to-day, but despite it all, I am here, I am in Israel, and my life is full of the fulfillment and spirituality by which I have chosen to live and to direct my life."
Dr. Aviva Kayam, Rafael's wife, adds:
"There were of course some difficult moments, but I thank G-d for the miracles He did for us. We keep continuing onwards with strong faith that our destiny is in His hands. From the minute that people heard of the attack, the phones haven't stopped ringing, and family and friends keep streaming over here non-stop to visit and to help. It is very moving to receive so much warmth and love... Yesterday, when my children's friends arrived to recite Psalms, I said to myself that this is also a type of miracle: We made aliyah only six years ago, and here we are surrounded by friends and family. Our children still thank us that we made this move. Exactly a week ago, my son Shalev said, 'Ima [Mom], what luck that we didn't stay in the U.S. Picture what type of life we would have had there.'"
"It appears that the Kayams had everything," Aldoubi writes. "Successful careers, good incomes, and quality of life. But, as they themselves say, 'Our soul was in the Land of Israel, with the nation and the history, with all the souls of the Nation of Israel.'" Aldoubi asked Dr. Kayam, "You knew the security and economic situation here in Israel. Weren't you wary of coming?"
A. "From the minute we landed at Ben Gurion International Airport, we felt that we had taken the right step. We went to my parents in Jerusalem, who were waiting for us very excitedly - they are themselves new immigrants - and they helped us 'follow our hearts.' We arrived here without having sold our house and without having found work here. We were wary, but we believed that just as Nachshon's faith inspired him to jump first into the Red Sea and caused the waters to part and allow the Children of Israel to pass through and be saved, so too in our situation. I felt that G-d wants us to jump into the water and that He would take care of the rest. Thank G-d, everything truly worked out."
Q. "How did you family abroad react when they heard of the terrorist attack?"
A. "They are always worried, always checking to see if we're OK. Yaakov's father [was worried] - his daughter Tamar already escaped one attack, on Jaffa St. in Jerusalem. But he understands the significance of the Land of Israel for us. Our friends and family abroad encourage and support us in this move, and say that if they had the guts they would do the same. This past period here in Israel has not been especially easy, and it deters people from coming."
Q. "Even now, after your daughter was wounded by a terrorist, you still feel that your decision was the correct one?"
A. "Yes. I feel an atmosphere of security. From my standpoint, I am living in Paradise; after years of Exile, I feel that I am in Redemption. We live in Gilo, and we hear the shooting and feel the dangers day-to-day, but despite it all, I am here, I am in Israel, and my life is full of the fulfillment and spirituality by which I have chosen to live and to direct my life."
Dr. Aviva Kayam, Rafael's wife, adds:
"There were of course some difficult moments, but I thank G-d for the miracles He did for us. We keep continuing onwards with strong faith that our destiny is in His hands. From the minute that people heard of the attack, the phones haven't stopped ringing, and family and friends keep streaming over here non-stop to visit and to help. It is very moving to receive so much warmth and love... Yesterday, when my children's friends arrived to recite Psalms, I said to myself that this is also a type of miracle: We made aliyah only six years ago, and here we are surrounded by friends and family. Our children still thank us that we made this move. Exactly a week ago, my son Shalev said, 'Ima [Mom], what luck that we didn't stay in the U.S. Picture what type of life we would have had there.'"