Condolences/ Progress

First I'd like to extend condolences to the families and friends of all those who were lost in the tragic shootings at Virginia Tech. I would like to recognize Prof. Liviu Librescu (Liev ben Isadore), a holocaust survivor, husband, father, teacher, and hero. Prof. Librescu put his students life before his own, this is not only an act of bravery but one of love, compassion, and selflessness. The Talmud says that to save one life is as if you have saved the world, Prof. Librescu saved more than one life and most certainly sacrificed himself for others, a noble and heroic act.

Over the last month and a half, I have made a lot of progress towards aliyah.
In March, I met with Shalichat Aliyah in Philadelphia and successfully opened my Tik Aliyah. I went through an unnecessarily long proof of Judaism process which has been all settled now. Shout out to Rav Schertz! Once my file was opened I went forward with selecting an Ulpan and I will be studying @ Kibbutz Ein Hashofet in the Ulpan for Student Olim Chadashim (Student immigrants) . Things have been slow as there's not much to do when you are waiting for your file to be approved and I received word last week that it was. The most exciting news to report is that I booked my one-way ticket to Israel today!!!! It's really happening although I had wanted to leave in early September with Nefesh, family obligations which include the high holidays have led me to reconsider and I'm booked on the Sept. 29 flight out of Newark.
More news to come soon as I apply for my Visa in the coming weeks.