Rhona and Daniel Grodzinski touched down in Israel this month, marking the culmination of a journey that has spanned continents, decades, and generations. The couple, who made Aliyah from Canada with the assistance of Nefesh B’Nefesh in close partnership with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and Jewish National Fund-USA, have now joined three of their five children, and a growing number of grandchildren in Modi’in, closing the physical gap that has separated their family for so many years.
Originally from England and Canada respectively, Daniel and Rhona met through a yeshiva connection between Daniel and Rhona’s brother. What began as a transatlantic introduction quickly became a lifelong partnership rooted in shared Zionist values and a deep connection to Jewish tradition. Together, they built a family of five children and lived in London for nearly two decades before relocating to Toronto over 20 years ago.
Throughout their lives abroad, Israel was never far from their hearts. Frequent visits, close family ties, including Daniel’s sister and Rhona’s cousins who live in Israel, and a shared Zionist upbringing maintained their strong bond to the Jewish homeland. But as three of their children made Aliyah and began building lives in Modi’in, the pull to be closer grew stronger.
Now retired from successful careers as bakery owners, the Grodzinskis are entering this new phase with a sense of excitement and purpose. Their decision to make Aliyah was not spurred by urgency or crisis, but rather by love—love for their children and eleven grandchildren, and a desire to be present for the moments that truly matter. “We missed milestones,” they shared, recalling moments like a grandson’s bar mitzvah celebrated from afar. “We don’t want to miss any more.”
Their determination never wavered, not even in the face of war. During the conflict that began on October 7, the couple remained in Israel for extended visits, finding strength in being close to their children during a difficult time. “We felt more distant during COVID,” Rhona noted, referencing the travel restrictions that once kept them away. Thanks to modern technology, they stayed connected, but being physically present was always the goal.
Having already prepared a home just a few blocks from one of their daughters, the Grodzinskis now look forward to immersing themselves in Israeli life. Daniel hopes to take university courses, and both plan to volunteer and give back to the community. For them, this move isn’t a retreat, it’s an embrace of everything they’ve worked for and believed in.
“The Grodzinski family’s Aliyah is a beautiful reminder that the journey to Israel can begin at any stage of life,” said Adina Bennett, Director of Nefesh B’Nefesh’s Aliyah Guidance Division. “Their choice to reunite with children and grandchildren in Israel reflects the enduring strength of family, values, and modern day Zionism. We are honored at Nefesh B’Nefesh to support Olim like Rhona and Daniel, whose commitment enriches our communities and strengthens the very fabric of Israeli society.”
For Rhona and Daniel, the move is more than a change of address, it’s a powerful reunion, a homecoming decades in the making. Their story serves as a reminder that Aliyah is for those with deep roots, enduring dreams, and a desire to live their values alongside the people they love most. In Modi’in, surrounded by family and the land they’ve long held dear, the Grodzinskis are beginning again—not out of necessity, but out of choice.
Written in collaboration with Nefesh B'Nefesh