Introducing The American Israelite’s newest blogger, Lainey Paul

Just two weeks ago Lainey Paul, daughter of Nina and Eddie Paul, made Aliyah (immigrated) to Israel. Starting next week, Lainey will begin writing a blog about her exciting adventures as she enters the Israeli army and begins her new life. It will be posted and updated weekly on The American Israelite’s website. The following is an introduction to Lainey and her upcoming blog:

Shalom, my name is Lainey Paul and I was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. I attended Yavneh Day School (now Rockwern Academy) from pre-school all the way through 8th grade, where I graduated with a class of just 16. When I started as a freshman at Sycamore High School, I was thrown into a class of more than 450! During my sophomore year I attended Alexander Muss High School in Israel, and I truly believe this was the catalyst for the decisions I have since made. I was very involved in USY (United Synagogue Youth) in high school, so it was only appropriate to continue the “Conservative” journey by going on the gap year program called Nativ.

For the first semester I studied at Hebrew University while living at the Fuchsberg Center in the heart of Jerusalem. Being 10 minutes in either direction from both Ben Yehuda Street and The Old City definitely made living independently in Israel fun, exciting and meaningful. Second semester I moved up north to the small absorption community of Karmi’el. I volunteered in the mornings on the Educational Agricultural Farm and at K’far Yeladim in the afternoons. Nativ was definitely one of the craziest, most incredible years of my life, and it was ultimately the most influential reason I chose to embark on my most recent adventure, Aliyah (immigration to Israel)!

On Aug. 13, I made Aliyah to Israel. I am currently living on Kibbutz Tirat Tzvi with a group composed of some of the most amazing people imaginable. Since Alexander Muss High School I had always wanted to join the army, but Nativ made me realize that I want to be a part of the people that is inhabiting the precious land we’ve been fighting for for thousands of years. I firmly believe that protecting the Jewish state isn’t the responsibility of just Israelis, but of Jews as a whole. Individuals choose to express their Zionism in different ways, and physically being here was the route I chose for myself. My blog will hopefully allow you to follow me on my amazing journey. I hope you will join me.

Until next time—Lainey