In his book The Will to Live On, Jewish American author Herman Wouk recounts a conversation he had with Ben Gurion during a visit to Israel in 1955.

The country was under constant harassment by terrorists from Egypt and Gaza.

Ben Gurion said to Wouk, “You must return here to live…here you will be free.”

Wouk replied, “Free? With enemy armies ringing you…with your roads impassable after sundown—free?”

Ben Gurion retorted, “I did not say safe. I said free.”

For centuries, Jews have lived as guests in other lands, building lives, contributing to society, and maintaining our identity.

The United Kingdom has been no exception, and my family is deeply grateful for the warm welcome we have received during the 10 remarkable years we have lived here.

Yet, for us now, there is a pull towards home. Israel—where Jewish life thrives in all its beauty, diversity, and complexity—calls to us.

In Israel, every street corner, café, and public bus is brimming with Jewish life.

It is a place where the bus driver wishes you Shabbat Shalom on Friday afternoon, where the person sitting at the next table in the restaurant answers “amen” to your blessing, and where the Jewish festivals are not merely community events; they are national holidays.

This past Chanukah, my son and daughter-in-law, who live in Nahlaot, Jerusalem, sent us a video from their balcony.

As my son lit his Chanukah menorah, a group of strangers passing by stopped to sing Chanukah songs with them.

Moments like these capture the essence of the vibrant, spontaneous connection that defines Jewish life in Israel.

It is unsurprising that current statistics show the number of people making aliyah this past year has doubled.

Our decision to make aliyah is deeply rooted in a desire to stand with and strengthen Israel by physically being there. It is a profound privilege to contribute, even in a small way, to the vitality of our homeland.

This choice is further reinforced by the fact that, over the past ten years, the majority of our children have voluntarily chosen to build their lives in Israel.

This is a decision of love, identity, and hope. It is a step toward living a free and open Jewish life in the land that has always lived within us.