From the first summer Elana Price spent in Israel on Michlelet NCSY, she was hooked. The feeling only grew stronger after spending the year in Israel following high school. Eventually, that draw would prove to be so strong that she would come to Israel, entirely on her own as a single parent with a five-year-old son, fighting bureaucracy to get on a plane, with the world shut down, at the beginning of the Covid pandemic.
Elana was born and raised in Silver Silver, Maryland. Despite always feeling the yearning to be in Israel, Elana got married, had her son Akiva, went through a divorce, and found herself still living in Silver Spring. One erev Pesach when Akiva was three, she was speaking to her sister and brother-in-law about navigating through life changes when her brother-in-law suggested she follow her dream of living in Israel. It was just the advice Elana needed to hear. She spent a summer in Israel in 2019 to check out communities, decided on Efrat and then proceeded to plan for aliyah the following summer. She was already in the process with her aliyah interview, scheduled for March 16, 2020, when the world shut down because of the Covid pandemic; closing government offices, halting airlines and shipping containers. Found in an unprecedented situation, aliyah organizations were unsure of how to advise but Elana had been sent a link to an aliyah WhatsApp group right before the pandemic hit and with some of the others on the group, she managed to get through the insanely complicated process to get to Israel, including the additional documentation needed as a single mother. She arrived in her new home in Efrat that August, with the whole aliyah group applauding her strength and great efforts. Although she and Akiva arrived at an empty airport with no signs, the Efrat community welcomed them warmly, preparing them meals and offering support as she and Akiva spent their two weeks in mandatory home isolation. Only a year later, the Efrat community would once again show them that warmth and support.
A few months after her first aliyah anniversary, Elana was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder and for months, she was unable to walk or use her hands. While this would be difficult in any situation, it was especially so in a new country, without a spouse to help, or any close family members nearby. Elana’s mother and sister flew in for part of the time, but she couldn’t have managed without the incredible community of Efrat who came to her aid, as well as a group of single mothers in the community who volunteered to help her during this difficult time. Elana says when she chose a community, she specifically looked for one in which there would be other single parents and where the community would be inclusive of families of all types and she found the entire community has been so embracing and was especially so during this difficult time. She also found that the socialized medical system which some fear, was actually very helpful to her with doctors aiding her in the bloodwork, diagnosis and treatment and costing a lot less than it would have in the States. While some appointments did take some time to get, she discovered Sharap, which is semi-private care, offered through insurance. Her son Akiva is now 9 and has made tremendous inroads. When they arrived, he was starting Gan Chova (Kindergarten) and refused to speak Hebrew. This year, at Parent Teacher Conferences, his third-grade teacher told Elana that she didn’t realize he had made aliyah. “He has so many opportunities,” Elana says, “He is playing basketball for the second year and just started football. We have great neighbors and community support. Akiva’s connection and contribution to the community was brought to a whole new level after October 7.
“A neighbor started taking my son to shul and through my neighbor, my son got set up with his chavruta. They started learning together in May of 2023 and in September of 2023, they made their first siyum together on Mishna Masechet Sukkah. After October 7, they continued their learning in memory of the neshama of our neighbor, Roey Wiser, Hy”d, and our friend, David Newman, Hy”d. With school initially closed, they learned over the phone, then continued in the kollel at our shul and when school resumed, they continued to learn and made a siyum on Mishna Masechet Brachot in December. After the siyum, Roey’s mother told me that before her son was killed, he and his father had also been learning Masechet Brachot, so my son’s siyum in his memory was all the more very meaningful to her and to me.
“When we got on the plane to make aliyah, the world was shut down and I didn’t know when I would see my family again. This was so difficult, especially since they had been so helpful to me in raising my son. But since we’ve made aliyah, I’ve always had a niece or nephew here and I’ve been able to open up my home to them and their friends, and we were thrilled to welcome our first niece as she made aliyah last year, with signs and all!”
Elana hasn’t just welcomed her own family; she also now serves as an admin and advisor for others who are making aliyah on the same WhatsApp group that helped her with her aliyah a few years ago. It’s important for her to help single mothers making aliyah and for them to realize that anyone can make aliyah, no matter what their family situation – and with proper research, support and a good attitude – anyone can fulfill their dream and make a happy and successful life here.
