Moving to Israel

Being a proud American by birth who didn’t move to Israel until adulthood, I get no pride in relating negative stories about my country of origin. Unfortunately, today I must do just that in referencing an article by Rabbi Hanoch Hecht of a very disturbing incident that occurred right in Manhattan, one of the centers of the U.S.A. (if not the world).

It seems Rabbi Hecht was walking in the storied borough when he heard the voice of an approximately 11 or 12 year old Caucasian boy chanting the words “dirty Jew” at him. The mother of the boy was right there, apparently not caring and undaunted.

While I try to use this blog to encourage Aliyah and moving to Israel and try not to use fear tactics for this agenda, sometimes there seems to be incidents that just cry out to be heard with messages that are coming in loud and clear. This is one of those times. While this boy and his mother do not speak for the entire country I think Rabbi Hecht puts it best when he says the following:

“The fact that this mother let her son say what he said, and did not reprimand him, makes me wonder what this new generation is being taught.  When an 11-year old boy has no clue about tolerance and respect for another, and thinks that calling someone ‘dirty Jew’ is acceptable or even cool, then I think it is safe to say that we are in big trouble.”

Just another instance of G-d perhaps telling us that there is only one home for the Jews…and it is not America.

Ari

As I often try to bring successful case studies to this blog of people who have moved to Israel, today I have a particularly special one of someone who takes his Aliyah story, both mentally and physically, from beginning to end.

Howie Mischel, 58, is a new immigrant to Israel from the United States who had a long, successful career on Wall Street. While all Aliyah stories are inspiring, I particularly must advise reading this one as Howie, in this one little article, takes us through the challenges, fears and, ultimately, victories in his Oleh process.

Howie was someone who left America at the top of his game and profession after a 32-year career as an analyst and banker. He takes us through the process of his job search and it is quite a familiar story: lots of rejections, lots of discouragement and lots of eroding confidence.

However, as he managed to put things into perspective and change his outlook things in Israel quickly fell into place. Howie is now employed as an aliyah advisor for Nefesh B’Nefesh, far removed from the pressures of Wall Street and, as he puts it: “Today I have a new client— Am Yisrael (the People of Israel)!”

I have summed up the story very quickly but, again, this is truly a must read and an inspiration for all of us who have either made, or are considering making, Aliyah. Give it a read and be ready to be even more inspired to come home.

Ari

Nothing makes person who writes about and encourages moving to Israel happier than successful Aliyah stories and that’s why The Jerusalem Post’s Cafe Oleh section is such a great way for me to start my day. It is always inspiring to hear new stories of Olim who start over here in Israel and today was a great example with the progress of Simon Asher of London.

Simeon, who came here with his wife Galina and sons Gideon, 6, and Benjamin, 4, nearly three years ago, is a successful osteopath and left a booming practice in London to which he still returns for one week a month, and opened a new practice in Ra’anana which has really taken off. He grew up in London and until 23 was not religiously observant. He found religion through Lubavitch, just before he met Galina and they married in 1994. After 10 years of marriage, Gideon was born and two years later, Benjamin. On a visit here in 2007, they had dinner with friends and in the taxi on the way back they looked at each other and said “Let’s do it.” Looking back on the decision, Asher says, “You can’t really explain it if your heart brings you here.”

“When we think of our Aliyah, it’s been literally that, a going up and a wonderful experience that has surpassed all expectations,” says Asher. “Israelis don’t appreciate what they’ve got here, because they didn’t choose to live here the way we did. Living in England you are obsessed with news about Israel, and being here you have released yourself from that whole narrative. Israel only really makes sense when you’re here.”

Obviously, everyone has different experiences when making Aliyah and some are smoother than others. However, when reading the JPost’s Cafe Oleh section it makes for a great feeling for the rest of us Olim (and potential Olim) to see others in similar situations who manage to overcome their fear and apprehension to make Aliyah and moving to Israel a reality. It is a daily must read for many of my visitors and comes highly recommended by this North American Oleh.

Ari

It is always difficult to tackle the delicate happenings in the world when this blog is trying to focus on moving to Israel, yet today is one of those days. As the world continues to scream and shout at Israel regarding the flotilla story I felt compelled to point out a fantastic article to get some perspective on the ordeal from Kyle-Anne Shiver, a devout Catholic who freelances for various publications and who recently published a brilliant piece on the episode entitled “Shouldn’t We All Be Israeli Now?”

Shiver relates a story about how she had recently shamelessly berated a dear Jewish friend for becoming paranoid about unfolding events in America. The friend was noticing the telltales in American foreign policy under the new administration and calling her attention to signs she couldn’t then read. To her credit, Shiver has come to see the light on the realities of how America’s White House higher ups seem to be viewing the whole “Jewish question” and the article crisply and clearly takes us through her process of realization.

It is a highly recommended piece and puts a great perspective on Israel’s latest crisis from a non-Jew who ends off with the fitting statement “I say again, shouldn’t we all be Israelis now? Yes, we should.”

Ari

I unfortunately must report on some sad news today as Steve Averbach, a former member of the elite Israeli military and police units, died in the middle of the night Thursday. He was 44.

Averbach, who made Aliyah and moved to Israel in 1982 at age 16, tried to thwart a suicide bomber on a Jerusalem bus in 2003 and was left with injuries that made him a quadriplegic. After the bus incident, the Israeli Internal Security Ministry wrote Averbach a letter thanking him for saving lives; the terrorist had planned to blow up the crowded center of Jerusalem, but thanks to Averbach detonated his bomb prematurely.

Averbach was a personal friend of mine and I made many visits to see him in the years since his accident. I must tell you that there can be no greater inspiration to defend and love our country than Steve. The son of Monmouth Medical Center surgeon Dr. David Averbach and nurse Maida Averbach, he grew up in West Long Branch, where his parents still reside and could have lived the typical “American dream” life while Israel went about its usual business of trying to stay in existence as the rest of the world continues to plot and hope for our demise. Instead, he devoted himself to our country, spent his life defending it and ended up making the ultimate sacrifice. I am beyond proud to have had the privilege of knowing and being friends with him and can only hope that Hashem has him in a better place now and that he is being rewarded for his devotion to the Jewish home.

Steve is survived by his wife Julie and four sons as well as the rest of his family.

May his soul now be at peace and his memory be a part of us forever.

Ari

As common as it is to hear stories of immigrants who struggle after moving to Israel, it’s always refreshing to hear the ones about the Olim who had a dream of making it in Israel, made the dream happen and manage to live out the dream. I was in the mood to hear such a story today when I jumped over to the Jersusalem Post’s Cafe Oleh section and was certainly not disappointed as one of the lead columns, entitled Footloose and fancy-free, was the inspiring and emotional story of Esther Kunda, who is celebrating 60 years since her Aliyah.

The story of how Esther, now 81, and her mother arrived in the tiny, newborn Jewish state from South Africa is a must read for anyone who dreams of making Israel their home but is scared or discouraged by family, friends and finances that they will be leaving behind. Esther faced all that and more and now is happily celebrating 60 years since her immigration.

As Esther says regarding the best thing about Israel: “The most wonderful feeling of being in your own country.”

Read her story and inspire yourself to be the one celebrating your immigration in another 60 years.

Ari

While I would never discourage anyone from moving to Israel, today’s article of the week does, unfortunately, contain some sobering thoughts of the state of our country. Fred Moncharsh, an Oleh from the West Coast of America as well as a Likud activist and member of the Likud Central Committee, does a fantastic job of making his point and painting a very clear picture of some of the troubles facing the Jewish homeland today.

The biggest problem, says Moncharsh, is the lack of true leadership here in Israel and he points out that this is not a new phenomena. He talks of how this has been a problem dating back decades. In his words:

“Israel needs a real leader. A real leader who is more than hot air. A real leader who has a red line, any red line. A leader who knows that when the red line is crossed, the time to talk is over, and the time to act is crucial.”

Moncharsh is a true Zionist, lover of the land and a very astute observer of the political landscape here and in the Middle East. This is a highly recommended article and, as you’ll see by the comments at the bottom, a lively discussion and debate is already brewing. Enjoy the piece.

Ari

We here at the moving to Israel blog always like to acknowledge the Jewish holidays as they come and this week is one of the most special as the holiday of Shavu’ot arrives. Shavu’ot (over here is a fantastic summary and explanation of the holiday) marks the end of the time of The Counting of the Omer (another great link over here), the period from Passover to Shavu’ot and a time of great anticipation. We count each of the days from the second day of Passover to the day before Shavu’ot, 49 days or 7 full weeks, hence the name of the festival. As is expained in http://www.jewfaq.org/:

“The counting reminds us of the important connection between Passover and Shavu’ot: Passover freed us physically from bondage, but the giving of the Torah on Shavu’ot redeemed us spiritually from our bondage to idolatry and immorality. Shavu’ot is also known as Pentecost, because it falls on the 50th day; however, Shavu’ot has no particular similarity to the Christian holiday of Pentecost, which occurs 50 days after their Spring holiday.

“It is noteworthy that the holiday is called the time of the giving of the Torah, rather than the time of the receiving of the Torah. The sages point out that we are constantly in the process of receiving the Torah, that we receive it every day, but it was first given at this time. Thus it is the giving, not the receiving, that makes this holiday significant.”

While Shavu’ot is perhaps not as “well known” as some of the other Jewish holidays throughout the year, it is imperative that we understand its complete significance and how being given the Torah truly turned us into Hashem’s chosen people.

Let’s try and take this year to especially reflect and appreciate our lot as Jewish people who have been given the privilege to serve Hashem and to be worthy of the magnificent gift he has blessed us with, the gift of the Torah.

Ari

The heat has continued to rise in U.S. President Barack Obama’s tense relationship with Israel and this American Jew who moved to Israel over a decade ago couldn’t be more disappointed in the leader of the country he once called home.

The dust continues to settle in the wake of the Obama administration’s misguided rebuke of its best friend and most trusted ally in regards to potential new construction in Jerusalem and, thank G-d, it seems that some of Israel’s true friends are indeed beginning to lose their patience. A string of prominent Jewish communal, political and social leaders - including former mayor Ed Koch, ADL National Director Abraham Foxman, Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder - that have publicly called out the President and his Israeli policies have now been joined by New York’s senior senator, Charles Schumer. As this link and its corresponding article states, many U.S. Jews are continuously growing frustrated and breaking their silence against Obama’s seemingly one sided crusade against Israel.

While, obviously, it is Hashem that ultimately decides our fate as a country and a people, it is our job to continue to put pressure on the powers that be in America and around the world and let them know of the dire consequences that will result from more hostility towards Israel.

Ari

As we celebrate Lag BaOmer - the 33rd day of the Omer, which is, according to the Talmud, the time when 24,000 of of Rabbi Akiva’s students died from a divinely sent plague - here in Israel and we take in the atmosphere of happiness and bonfires, I wanted to point out a great article by Yonatan Sredni that reminds of us of the historic days’ true meaning and some inspiring things we can learn from it. I thought this article would be very apropos for the blog as Yonatan is a fellow Oleh who moved to Israel from America out of the heart of Silicon Valley.

The piece is especially poignant as it reminds us not to just count the Omer and light fires on this day but to do so while also learning a lesson from the tragic circumstances of Rabbi Akiva and his students and to make sure such a colossal lapse in judgment is not repeated by us and future generations.

Enjoy Lag BaOmer and, as the great Rabbi Akiva used to preach “Veahavta le-raiacha kamocha” - Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Ari