Page 10 - Holyland Magazine - 2023 Edition

In many ways, this was my return to civilization, leading the world in per-capita technology active father to deciding to work with a friend
all this contact with people and towns, cars development and innovation. I felt the pulsating building renewable energy projects in Africa,
and shops and houses. I stayed that night sense of life being lived at the fullest in every from widening the scope of my public activities
with friends in Caesarea, a surreal evening step, as I turned eastward to head inland reasserting the legitimacy of Israel and Zionism
watching TV with them as if it was just an along the river and acknowledged the smiles to strengthening my intention to open my own
ordinary weeknight, while for me I was very and calls of “Shvil Yisrael?!” (Hebrew for “Israel winery, I made all sorts of plans, not least
much still ‘on the Trail’. I continued the next Trail?!”) “Good for you!” by virtually everyone. regarding the possibility of falling in love again.
few days along the seashore to Netanya, (Others walking along what one might consider
discovering how many French and Russian- Tel Aviv’s answer to NY’s Central Park, the And yet…within a few hours, I found myself
speaking Jews had immigrated in recent Yarkon Park with its expanses of grass, row wandering along the meandering twists and
years, and enjoying the pleasures of the more boats, picnic areas, and more, were strolling turns of the Yarkon River snaking its way
cosmopolitan aspects of modern Israel, from to/from lunch or work or out jogging along… eastward, under the shade of eucalyptus
espresso on the beach to spending a night in so my huge backpack and its attached Israeli trees and tall bamboo-like thrushes. I soon
the luxurious home of a foreign ambassador to flag fluttering in the breeze was somewhat discovered a wilderness I had never known
the country in Herzliya. noticeable). was within a few minutes walk from my old
office building. For all its vitality, I was ready
Herzl’s theme of the new/old Israel, the Though still on the Trail, the experience of to leave behind me the excitement and urban
wonderful experience of renewed sovereignty being part of the energy of a big city was clamor of Tel Aviv, as I followed the river east
in our ancestral homeland, accompanied me contagious, and it inspired me to continue towards its sources in the hills of Samaria.
in my thoughts as I continued south along thinking of what my next steps were in my
the coast, arriving at the Tel Aviv lighthouse life, knowing that I had only another week Walking in the land of my people—where our
and port (now a modern shopping and or so until arriving home at my town of Beit prophets and forefathers lived and worked,
entertainment, office and restaurant complex Shemesh (“House of the Sun”) in the foothills fought and died, and introduced the ethical
not unlike Pier 39 in San Francisco, where I of the Jerusalem mountains. Walking literally monotheism of Jewish thought and tradition
grew up). minutes from where I had worked in my first to the world—at a time of re-established
hi-tech job, I made decisions regarding my independence here, was for me, as one
Crossing the Yarkon River (more about that professional life, and reinvigorated my sense friend suggested, “one long meditation”. It
soon), I was taken by the sheer size and of purpose, allowing myself to move from the combined my love of the outdoors with a
number of the towering office and apartment contemplative silence of the desert and forests deep emotional identification with the Zionist
buildings spread out across the city and and sea into the more active, focused, social enterprise and a powerful aim to enhance and
marveled at this miraculous resurrection of our and goal-oriented mindset of the modern improve my spiritual and religious practice and
ancient people, re-established now in our land, world. From recommitting myself to be an commitment. And without question, I was able
to recommit to my personal and national sense
of mission and meaning in being part of this
return to Jewish sovereignty in the Land of
Israel after 2000 years of dispersion.
An old roman building/storehouse
near the ancient synagogue in
Caesarea. Photo: Aryeh Green Whether from that perspective, or simply to
enjoy the exhilarating dynamism of the first
new Jewish city since the time of Jesus, I
highly recommend a visit to Tel Aviv – and walk
along Shvil Yisrael, the Israel Trail, on your next
visit to Israel.

Aryeh Green is the author of My Israel Trail
(www.myisraeltrail.com). A business leader and public
activist, Aryeh serves as the chief strategy officer of
Gigawatt Global. Write to him at aryeh.green@gmail.com.

The author hiking along the beach
between Netanya and Herzliya in 2014.
Photo: Aryeh Green

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