Leaving Home to go Back Home. Just another way.

Of the 12 years of inner and outer journey to many parts of 'our' world, I have been privileged to have lived - and experienced- more than 6 years in Israel.

I came by boat so many years ago, having left everyting behind; but in the right mood: No looking back!

Tomorrow, in a sense of deja-vu, there is an era completing when i ll take ...a boat back direction native Belgium. A 12 year period comes slowly to closure, and a way different person is leaving now the Middle East.

At first, everything felt so strange. Now, many apsects of the Middle East are ingrained in body and soul.

The golden city of Jerusalem, where I lived in a high tower for 3 years near Damascus Gate, overlooking the eternal city. And so, its people slowly became familiar.

"The Jews" or Jews of all expressions and beliefs, Israeli's from the right to the center to the left.

"The Arabs...", or Palestinans, both Christians and Muslims.

"The Christians" and the wide spectre people of all their denominations.

"The Seculars", who just happened to have had enough of organized religion and last but not least a whole bunch of 'other' guys and gals hoping, looking and searching for 'their' identity.

Shopping in the big Middle Eastern 'souk' for 'a new suit' to put on...

Inch'Allah, Baruch HaShem, God willing...

After all these years... The chanting of Orthodox Jews, the call of muezzin for the daily prayers and the Christian churchbells have finally merged.


There were moments of deep peace and moments of extreme tension. There were warm hugs and guns pointed at me. There was the warmth of people,and grea hate in eyes of others.

There were chidren singing and adults yelling. There was the holding of breaths for peace wripped apart by the first shots initiating the second Intifada.

There was my Galilean hut, well hidden in the clouds of silence, defying the rain of Hezbollah rockets during the 2nd Lebanon War, and tears of so much pain when people died under our noses in the latest Gaza War.



Yet tomorrow by take the boat again to leave these lands, but to a new life. And I know already to feel homesick long before the shore line will disappear. But life has to be lived its course.

And now has come the time to say: Maase Salaame, Lechitraot, See you all later!

The old journey reached its destination. A new adventure to begin...