In the 1920s, my bubbe (Bubi) escaped Poland. She left behind her best friend and cousin Libby. Ida Rubin arrived in Ellis Island with her family in 1921. It was a long road to Los Angeles – including stays in Chicago, Illinois; and parts of Florida and Connecticut. Libby left Poland later, and her ship took her to Israel.

In 1987, my father decided to plan a family trip to Israel. Our tour guide listened to this story from my Aunt Sema, my father, and my Bubi, and decided to make the connection happen. Yossi the Magical Tour Guide made some phone calls (because 1987) and found Libby Haimovsky in Jerusalem!

My dad rented a car and drove my bubi, my aunt, my mom, and me miraculously straight to Libby’s door (even without Waze or a GPS because 1987). My bubi only spoke Yiddish and English. Libby only spoke Yiddish and Hebrew. It was a joyous reunion for the grandmothers and a good beginning for the rest of us. This was my introduction to Israel and to my Israeli cousins.

Years later, my Israeli cousin Avi (z”l) visited me many times in New York City, Los Angeles, and even Austin, Texas! My parents and Avi shared a love of travel and of opera. When I was in Israel, Avi was always my home away from home, my tour guide, my restaurant guru, and my doctor. I met up with my other cousins through Avi for shabbat, for hannukah, and even for a wedding once. When Avi lived in Amsterdam, working as an orthodontist, his parents, his sister Anat, and her kids took care of me in Israel.

When my American cousins Jamie and Mark and I visited Israel five summers ago, Anat’s kids (Alon, Hadar, and Uri) took us through the shuk and on the shiny new train in Jerusalem. Anat even took us all for a beach day. We ate a delicious, meaningful Shabbat dinner at Moshe and Ruti’s house all together – not my first and hopefully not my last!

Since then, Anat’s kids are mostly in charge of keeping in touch with us (the American cousins). They send photos and holiday greetings on behalf of the Israeli side of the family.

This week, their job has gotten harder, but our American family really appreciate their hard work in sending us family updates and their own takes on current events.

Israel saved my bubi’s cousin Libby and her family. I like to believe that my bubi is glad we are still close enough for international telephone calls and to share a beach day in Tel Aviv, even now that our grandmothers have long-since died. I’m so grateful that Libby’s family escaped Poland and arrived in Israel safely. I’m so grateful that her grandchildren, her great grandchildren, and I are still family.

[Friends, I forgot how to put a photograph here! Help! If you want to see a photograph of the 1987 Polish Bubi/Savta Reunion – go to My Instagram!]