Hayim Leiter grew up in Philadelphia. Sure, his family was Zionistic. You know. Loved Israel, rooted for the IDF. But well, let’s just say it wasn’t at the top of the list for him in the same way that surfing was.

He surfed off the coast of New Jersey… Rhode Island … California.

But along the way, he began a dance with the Land of Israel that led him here permanently, where at least once a week, he makes sure to surf off the coast of Ashdod.

It’s a beautiful story about a relationship that grew and grew, and continues to grow.