Identifying as a Jew
5 min read
The Benamous travel around Florida in an RV, homeschooling and seeing the local sights. They don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Over the past few years more and more people – mostly in their 20s and 30s – are ditching their apartments or homes and living in a van, RV, or mobile home. Sometimes it has to do with economics, but many of them want the freedom and adventure this kind of lifestyle offers.
Shmuely and Sarah Benamou, a Jewish couple in Florida, were intrigued by the idea of living in an RV with their four children, ranging in ages from 6 to 2, all of them 18 months apart. They rented their home and packed up what they needed for their RV adventure. Sarah homeschools (she calls it roadschools) the kids and documents her unconventional lessons on Instagram.
“As a homeschool mom, my job is to provide resources and a rich environment for my children to learn through experience,” she said. “I wanted to travel and explore more places while maintaining stability for our children. So RV life was perfect for us. We sleep in our beds every single night, but we wake up to a new view every two weeks.”
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The family stays in Florida because Shmuely has work there, and they are connected to friends, communities and synagogues. Plus, the state is perfect for RV life.
“Florida is very RV-friendly and rich in beaches and nature,” Sarah said. “It’s exactly what I'm looking for my young children.”
Sarah, who was born in Paris and studied international finance, moved to the United States and was determined to conquer the business world. She worked in real estate and banking in New York City, and became so successful that she decided to open her own company. She thought she had it all figured out.
But having children shifted her priorities. After seeing her oldest child miserable in playgroup and her second child crying during her business meetings, she took a pause from working to focus on raising her children instead.
“I accepted my calling to homeschool, connect with my family, and be present and joyful.”
Three years ago, the Benamous moved from New York to Florida. They lived in a townhouse and then their own home for a year, but they decided that they wanted to try something different. That’s when they began to travel around in their RV, which comes with its share of beautiful experiences as well as challenges.
In addition to making reservations for campgrounds many months in advanced, they also have to buy enough kosher food on Fridays to last them a week. And it’s hard to make long-term friends. But they manage to stay positive.
“Those inconveniences mean more learning opportunities,” Sarah said. “The kids learn how things work and where things come from. They learn great skills because we include them in every step of the process.”
In a recent video, the children are doing laundry at a laundromat, riding their bikes, exploring a forest, playing a card game, and doing woodworking.
“Our family bond strengthened in ways I can't explain,” Sarah said. “We spend more time outdoors, which means much less cleaning and more family time.”
The family has also had many memorable experiences together. Once, they were swimming the Florida Keys when they noticed dolphins jumping behind them, a magnificent sight to behold. Another time, they met a biology professor who joined their homeschooling class on anatomy.
“We meet many veterans, and my son is literally obsessed with survival skills, so he asks them a lot of questions,” Sarah said. “We meet so many amazing people.”
The Benamous are part of a Jewish homeschooling co-op in South Florida, so when they are in town, they participate in it. And when Shabbat comes, sometimes they decide to spend it with friends.
“We park in front of our friends’ houses, cook potluck style, and eat and play together,” Sarah said. “And we’re not invading their space. We’re only in their driveway.”
“On the campgrounds, we take long walks together, play, and eat a meal, Sarah said. “It’s very relaxing and peaceful.”
Sarah grew up going on road trips every summer. Her family used to drive from Paris to Madrid, transporting their entire freezer full of kosher meat in a trailer attached to their vehicle.
“Our vacation home was in the middle of miles and miles of vine field,” she said. “These were the best vacations of my life.”
Now, the Benamous hope that they can stay on the road at least for a year – but Sarah has a feeling it’ll be longer.
“We definitely want to travel across the U.S.,” Sarah said. “It’s just a matter of when. Maybe we’ll do it in the next year or two.”
Sarah doesn’t recommend RV life for everyone. She made videos detailing the pros of roadschooling, along with the cons. When families decide if this lifestyle is for them, they need to make sure that the pros outweigh the cons.
“Prepare your family well before the change happens,” she said. “Discuss your intentions like getting closer as a family and/or creating unforgettable memories. If togetherness is one of your family's core values, then I definitely recommend it. It’s been an amazing and rich learning experience for all of us.”
