Last family photo before Aliyah to Israel from Boca Raton, Florida. Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Packing up our life. Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Downsizing... Photo credit: Mike Stocker
The Goodbye Party. Photo credit: Mike Stocker
So hard to say goodbye... Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Emotional parting upon departing JFK. Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Filling out Ministry of Interior documents right on the plane. Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Almost there... Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Getting off the very first Nefesh B'Nefesh plane. Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Greeted by some serious VIPs! Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Packing our life onto a taxi at Ben Gurion. Photo credit: Mike Stocker
In our new community of Neve Daniel in Gush Etzion. Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Photo credit: Mike Stocker
Photo credit: Mike Stocker
A year later: the first Sabra. Photo credit: Wittie Lynn
Laura Ben-David is the author of numerous articles and the book, MOVING UP: An Aliyah Journal, a memoir of her move to Israel. She has done public speaking about Israel and Aliyah all over the United States and Israel. Contact her at laura@aliyahbook.com or follow her tweets at http://www.twitter.com/laurabendavd 
Tears rolling down my face – tears of joy. Such a wonderful window into a pivotal moment in your lives. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks so much Hadassah! ~L.
Wow! Look how much you’ve all grown and changed. I am still so proud of you and can’t wait to be on our own flight, although probably without the official photographer!
Love you!!!
I can’t wait either. I’ll be your official photographer!!
Beautiful pictures.
Laura!!! I cried too! The photos gave such insight into your lives. I love photo journalism and I L O V E D each picture. Mike Stocker did a great job but…he had gorgeous subjects to work with!!!
I hope all is well and you are enjoying the summer!!!
XXX OOO
Jamie
Thank you Jamie! So glad you saw the pics and got to ‘know’ my family and my life a bit more! Mike was fantastic. We felt like mini-celebrities having our own reporting team following us around. And now we have these great photos to show for it. I don’t know why I’ve been keeping them buried in a folder in my computer all these years!
Love, Laura xox
Stunning pictures. The time line of photos really tells the story. My favorite is the one where you guys are filling out the documents on the plane. Anyone who’s lived in Israel can relate to mounds of paperwork…the right paperwork. Cheers!