I live in heaven...simply heaven...

 Tomorrow...I won't have time tomorrow to write, so I'll write it today.

31 years ago...tomorrow I did something that others thought was courageous. But it wasn't. I gathered what was left of my possession in the United States, held the hands of my two sons, and boarded an El Al jet to heaven.

Yes, heaven.

You see, that's where I live. In heaven. In a land of such beauty it still brings tears to my eyes, 31 years later.

I was born in a land of great beauty. Mountains so high, grass so green. Open space...and free. Back then, the United States was a land of freedom, a refuge for the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of those teeming shore. The homeless, tempest-tossed who had come to the golden door.

I came to a land where the mountains are lower, the grass not so green. But found a freedom I had not had in the land of the free. Because here, I was free to be a Jew - and not the ghetto Jew.

I have lived here in freedom for 31 years. Raised proud and strong Jews who now carry the land on their shoulders while I begin to sit back and marvel at their strength. Was I ever so strong, so brave as these young Israelis who run to help and save our people?

In the last two days, I have been to two funerals. My heart aches for their families and for my land. And still, I tell you I live in heaven.

We fight among ourselves too much, prices are too high, work too hard. And yet, heaven.

Because heaven is something you work your whole life long to deserve, unless you are blessed like me and get to encounter it in this life too.

Heaven is where you are surrounded by people you love, people who love you. People who will fight for you without reason; people you would fight for without hesitation.

Heaven is where you look at the land and your heart fills with joy, where you feel every step you take is on sacred land and you have been blessed to be one of its guardians.

And though you might not have known it, heaven is also where tears come too often, where the pain of loss is felt more clearly. Each is mine. The pain simply agony.

And though it might not seem obvious, heaven isn't always a peaceful place. It should be. It could be. It will be.

So, 31 years into this journey, I am grateful. Not everyone has the blessing to have children, never mind grandchildren. To find home with enough time to spend decades enjoying it.

Never has heaven been brought so low as it is today but even in our grief, we have made a solemn promise. We will dance again. We long to dance again.

Thank you, Israel. Thank you, God - for a life of such meaning, such joy, such beauty. For 31 years in heaven.