Post-Pesach Thoughts from a Proud, Matza-Crumb-Covered New Oleh: Why We Made Aliyah (and Why We’re Not Crying into a Croissant in Paris)

They Told Us to Stay in Exile. We Said: “Thanks, But We Prefer Running Water, Jewish History, and Not Being Hunted.”

Well, Pesach is over.

The chametz is back, the scale is traumatized, and the kids are still finding matzah crumbs in their socks like some biblical prank from Elijah.

And as I sat back, post-seder, watching my children play on the ancient hi…