In our eternal capital , Judy Markose is an example of one who matured within the system, eventually becoming an active part of the leadership. From a camper at age 10, she became Director of Camp Ramah in Canada while working on her Ed.D. in education and also serving as a Hebrew school principal in Toronto.

The Markose family at the bar mitzvah of the eldest son, Noam. l-r: Leor, Howard, Elina, Noam, Judy and Eran.

“I knew from age ten that I’d end up in Israel,” Judy notes. “It was a visceral thing.” Her husband Howard’s motivation came later, after several visits and Israel programs. Married at age 24, they planned to make aliyah three years later, but, although “routine things like family and career delayed it an additional eight years, it eventually all worked out for the best.”
There’s no perfect age for aliyah. “We were both 35 when we came. We had a natural, non-traumatic adjustment. We were here on summer visits the last five years prior to aliyah, and my mother and sister had preceded us with their aliyah. Howard had part-time offers as an English teacher and rabbi, and I had my work at Ramah waiting. We knew we wanted to be a part of the Conservative community in Talpiot Mizrach. It all went smoothly; we planned well.”
Two years ago, Judy became Director of the Ramah Summer Seminar , overseeing the hundreds of North American teens visiting Israel and supplementing their Jewish education. There’s an old joke about the problem a priest, minister and rabbi have with bats in their belfries. The rabbi is the only one with a permanent solution.“We just bar mitzvah the bats, and then we never see them again.” Ramah, with its Israel programs and educational focus seems to be keeping the bats around after age 13. While some, of course, turn it into a career.
In terms of opportunities in the field of Jewish education, Judy says, “I’m fortunate to have found a full-time job that is challenging and enjoyable.” High motivation and good preparation are an unbeatable one-two combination punch that ensures a successful aliyah.

by Joe Romanelli

Joe Romanelli, a former New Yorker, is a freelance writer living in Jerusalem. A former employee of the Jewish Agency’s Immigration and Absorption Department, Joe served as a shaliach and as head of the American Desk.