Distance (n): the state or fact of being apart in space, as of one thing from another, i.e; she felt very far away from Him.

So I propose this question: What is distance? Is it more than just something physical, or perhaps something more spiritual? Because sometimes I can swear that I can feel my soul quite literally reaching out from my body eastward.

So I've been back from Israel for exactly two weeks. I've managed to snag a job at Starbucks and haven't done much else. What I have done, however, is realize this: the farther I physically get away from Israel, the harder it is to be Jewish. I have lived in Israel, Vancouver, and I now live in Toronto which is quite literally the middle point between the first two. It's no shocker that the east coast is more saturated with Jewish culture and religious luxury than us here on the west coast where intermarriage is at about 87%. No joke. Ridiculous right?! And we all think global warming is a problem.

So I propose this question: What is distance? Is it more than just something physical, or perhaps something more spiritual? Because sometimes I can swear that I can feel my soul quite literally reaching out from my body eastward.

For those of us who have no yet merited of making aliyah for whatever personal reason, then with your (somewhat) relaxed and free time this summer think about how you are going to keep your connection with Israel. The expression of "the time just flew away" isn't worded by mistake. Some days I'm sure you're so busy that you look down at your watch once, then again a what seems like a minute later, and really an hour has "flown" by. In our busy lives we've forgotten what it truly means to "spend" time on something. Because as they say "time is money" and if you're not really aware of what you're "spending" your time doing...then your not utilizing times purpose in a very constructive way. By physically taking a minute out of your day to think and feel about your yearning to return to Israel, just one minute consisting of sixty seconds, you are spiritually "spending" time to close the distance between yourself and your creator, and ultimately His land that He gave to you.

It's actually much more difficult than you think. One minute, when concentrated on a specific purpose, is actually a very long time. Start it easy, try and visualize walking down your favorite street in Israel. Try and hear the usual sounds and to feel the Mediterranean sun on your neck. Or imagine yourself alone in the vast Negev desert sandwiched between the sand and sky surrounded by G-d. Try this everyday for one week (that only 7 minutes!) and I can guarantee you that you will feel closer to G-d. Your connection will be stronger than ever before you are literally spending time, investing in your connection to Israel and G-d, and Israel won't seem that far away after all.

Seriously. Why wouldn't you do it?