Once on shore, Haganah personnel shepherded the survivors expediently onto buses waiting to take them to their new homes. Rabbi Groh was not assigned a bus. He clumsily wandered about until he was greeted by a Haganah man near the bus loading area.
“Rabbi Groh, welcome to Palestine. I am Yehudah with the Haganah.”
“Shalom, Yehudah. I am so happy to be here. It’s my first time. . .”
“Your first time on holy soil,” Yehudah finished the rabbi’s sentence with a smile.
“Yes,” the rabbi said through the wave of emotion that had just overcome him. After years of devastation in Europe, the scene of survivors from Hitler’s inferno coming to their new home in Palestine was exhilarating.
Yehudah recognized the power of the moment for the rabbi. “Rabbi, we are very grateful for everything you have done for this journey. Thank you for coming to Greece and helping to guide the Maharhash to Haifa. Your contribution is very much appreciated by the Jewish community of Palestine.”
Rabbi Groh was so grateful for Yehudah’s validation of his presence. His tiny contribution was appreciated. He’d helped his people the best he could, and in that very moment, Yehudah’s appreciation represented the entire Jewish world for the rabbi. Still, in the back of his mind, he wondered if Yehudah was also going to ask him if he would be staying permanently in Palestine. But Yehudah did not ask that question. While the rabbi remained focused on that point, the others around him had more pressing concerns.
“Thank you, that means so much to me,” the rabbi managed to say through a few choked-up tears.
“Listen, Rabbi, I will see you in a few days, and we will arrange your travel back to the States. In the meantime, hop on any bus you see marked ‘Kibbutz Nof Kinneret.’ You will be our guest there for a few days in the Galilee until I can coordinate your flight home. Excuse me now. I must continue helping the passengers get on the right buses.”
“Thank you, Yehudah, I will see you soon.” The two men shook hands, and the rabbi began examining the signs on the front of each bus that marked its destination. The third bus he saw bore the name Kibbutz Nof Kinneret, and the rabbi made his way onto the bus. He took one step and saw that the bus was nearly full of passengers. Walking towards the rear, he found an open seat and sat down on the right side of the aisle. Immediately to his left sat Natalia and Jan, who offered him a warm smile and welcome.
The rabbi greeted the couple and was delighted to see that they were holding hands with each other. The rabbi smiled and got comfortable as the bus began its short journey to the Galilean region.
“I cannot believe we are finally here,” Jan said, looking directly at the rabbi. “We are almost home. At the kibbutz!”
“It’s been a long journey, but you made it. Welcome to your new home!” Rabbi Groh responded.
“Did you change your mind, Rabbi? Will you be joining us on the kibbutz?” Natalia asked with a smile.
“Well, at least for a few days. I want to help everyone get settled the best I can. The Haganah said they would put me up on the kibbutz for a few nights, so hopefully I will be able to lend a hand to all the new kibbutz members.”
“Thank you, Rabbi,” Jan said. “I am sure you will be a big help to all of us. And hopefully it will be so nice that you will want to stay forever.”
“We’ll see, Jan. I’ve never been much of a farmer,” Rabbi Groh answered.
“You don’t have to farm. You can just be the rabbi,” Jan said. “Somebody’s got to do it, after all!”
“It’s a very tempting offer. Let’s just get through tonight, and then we’ll see how we do,” Sam said.
Jan and Natalia smiled. The rabbi looked out the window and was moved to see signs written in Hebrew. There was Arabic and English as well, but to see Hebrew on highway signs was a new experience for him. When he looked back at Jan and Natalia, he noticed her eyes were closed and her head was resting peacefully on Jan’s shoulder. The rabbi thought to himself that the kibbutz would need a rabbi for at least one wedding in the near future.