Moving to Israel

As Israel and Hamas have begun to implement a supposed “truce,” it has got me thinking more about the amazing things Israel has put up with since it’s inception and the way, despite all this, she continues to thrive.

This latest truce is designed to halt Hamas attacks on Israel as well as Israeli reprisals on Hamas. The absurdness of that concept (here’s an idea to halt Israeli reprisals on terrorists - don’t attack to begin with!) just underscores the double standard that Israel deals with which adds to the other miryad of challenges that she meets on a daily basis (23 Arab contries vowing to drive her into the sea, world Anti-Semitism streaming in at faster than ever pace, endless UN resolutions being churned out specifically against her, etc., etc., etc.).

Yet despite all this the tiny country continues to survive and thrive. Real estate in Israel continues to explode. The Hi-Tech sector continues to expand. Medical and technological advances continue to be disproportionately attributed to Israeli leaders of the fields. The list goes on and on. Amazingly, the country continues to be one of the fastest growing in the world. Against all odds - and people are noticing.

With all the challenges people continue to immigrate and move to Israel and don’t look back. These are some more reasons to join the crowd and make Aliyah. In addition to all the previously mentioned determination, Israel continues to be a beautiful, flourishing land where culture, entertainment and history soar. Come join and be a part of both the miracle and physical beauty of Israel.

 Ari

I ran across a great forum posting this morning over here that really made me smile. Basically, it’s from someone in Australia who is making Aliyah. On the surface it doesn’t sound all that incredible. What seems to be a single, Jewish male coming to Israel and giving it a shot. Just an “ordinary” story.

 However, to me there are no ordinary Aliyah stories. As I wrote in my previous post, every move to Israel requires bravery, determination and alot of inner belief. I think the author of the post puts it best:

 ”See, I’m backing up my rhetoric with action!…..I love Australia dearly, probably more than than most of my friends and certainly don’t take my unbelievably fortunate life for granted, but I suppose I’m just looking for a greater a sense of purpose and a good adventure…..Actually, you know its more than that, for more than 2000 years, my ancestors have been praying and yearning for an opportunity to return to the land of Israel, and now I have it and so in a way, I have a responsibility to go….”

Just a very inspiring story.

I have posted on this gentleman’s forum and will try to get more information and as soon as I do I will share it here.

News of an incoming Olim is always fantastic so please let us know any stories about you or people you know who have made Aliyah or are thinking about doing it and let us know what it is that inspired you.

 Ari 

Why? The question has been asked thousands of times to thousands of people. Why? Why did you move to Israel? Why leave the comforts of North America to come here? Why enter the financial questions that will arise? Why leave that great job in the center of Manhattan? Why leave your friends and family that you grew up with over the course of decades? Why enter into the hardships? The rudeness of seemingly everyone. The endless bureaucratic hassles that seem to be daily. And why move to a tiny little country surrounded by countless enemies whose dream is the end of said tiny little countries’ existence?

Perhaps the only thing more fascinating than this question is the wide range of answers you hear. “It is where G-d wants us to be.” “I am Jewish and want to live in a land where (almost) everyone else you encounter on a day to day basis is Jewish.” “I want to be near my parents/children.” “The atmosphere is much nicer.” “I came and ‘something’ just kept me here.”

These are but a short list of some of the wide range of answers we hear. Some mundane, some fascinating, some mystical even.

As an Oleh from North America in the past decade I too have been asked this question many times and while my answer has, admittedly, varied over the past ten plus years, some time ago my official answer to this often asked question just sort of hit me and has gone unchanged since. My humble take on the question is as follows.

Israel is a miracle. Not just a miracle in the traditional sense i.e. the fact that the country even exists since the events of 1948. But also a miracle of circumstances that puzzles me to this day. The astonishments never cease. With so much catastrophe occurring around the globe, turn on CNN or any other major news source in the world on any given day and Israel will be front and center. How are the “negotiations” going? How is Israel “disproportionately” responding to today’s terror, er, sorry, I mean militant attack? How have the Palestinians been humiliated lately? What’s the latest UN resolution against Israel? The list goes on and on. With life and death disasters which, one would think, dwarf Israel’s in size and relevance, occurring universally on an hourly basis, Israel continues to dominate the news, usually painted in a negative light. One might suspect that this would be yet another deterrence for coming to live in the Holy Land, yet for me it has now become the clinching factor in my remaining here indefinitely.

The hate is illogical. The focus is disproportionate. Throughout time this continues to occur. With all going on in the world Jewry and Israel continue to dominate the headlines. To me, this can be no coincidence. How could this continue, without disruption, throughout time? Somebody is trying to tell us something. While not trying to get all mythical we have to admit that, whether by G-d (which I personally believe) or some other divine force, somebody is trying to tell us that Jewry/Israel/etc. is different. It is of supreme importance and uniqueness and always will be. This will never change. Times, fashions, cultures and technology all change but the one constant, as illogical as it may seem at the time of occurrence, has always been fascination/contempt/disproportionate focus on Jewry.

I want to be get on that train! While I was born Jewish, even our non-Jewish brethren, when thoroughly contemplated, would be amazed at this phenomenon. It’s just too illogical to ignore. I want to be a part of that. We need to look at this miracle and all the amazing circumstances surrounding it and not blow it off as coincidence. It’s just too big and, as has been proven throughout history, too important. While I too enjoy indulging in the pleasantries that this world has to offer I cannot ignore the message being told to us that the Jewry/Israel issue is one that has to be tackled. The disproportionate reaction to our existence is not by chance. It is a calling, in the most blatant terms, that this is an issue that, at worst, is at least as important as any issue facing man.

This is why I choose to live in Israel. Somebody is telling us something. This tiny land, smaller than Lake Michigan, is treated with more focus than the entire planet and galaxy combined. The Jewish people, a total world wide sum so relatively small so as to be considered statistically irrelevant if it were any other people, who have always been the most loyal citizens in any land they have inhabited, given to the most endless, unreasonable scrutiny at an outlandish amount of time and resources. The Muslim population, over 1 billion plus strong, considered the underdog. These are not reasonable calculations. Even the most indifferent among us would have to agree there is something else at work here. For me, what is at work here is a message. A message that says you/we are being told something. We are being told what and where is important. Do we listen? Do we answer the message? I have decided to and will continue and, while I am not suggesting that Aliyah and moving to Israel is for everyone, I am definitely suggesting that these amazing miracles of circumstance are questions that anybody alive might be anxious to address.

Ari Strauch

  Though we’ve already started posting material, we came to the realization the other day that we never really introduced ourselves and our blog properly so we’d like to take today’s post to do that. Ronen and I are both born and raised in America and have made Aliyah to Israel in the last ten years (he from Los Angeles, me from New Jersey). We were roommates in college and met back up here in Israel upon arrival. As many new Olim, we have spent the years struggling in both the financial and emotional adjustments to Israel. I think most people are familiar with the financial difficulties associated with the move from “comfy” North America but equally, if not more difficult, is the whole draining psychological process of making Aliyah. The people you are leaving. Adjusting to a new culture. Bringing your family up in a strange environment. Where do you send your children to school? Where do you go to school and/or get a job? What’s the health care situation? The list is endless and can be very intimidating.

This is why we have started this blog associated with everything about moving to Israel. As two established, hi-tech trained, North American Olim, we have seen a lot here in Israel and would like to help the community at large. We’d like to tell you our experiences, share some of our connections, provide you with expert analysis from highly regarded sources on the news and a whole lot more in attempting to become THE source for people moving to Israel and interested in life in Israel in general. We will be posting regularly and hope to establish a long term relationship with you, our readers, while hoping that you enjoy our postings for years to come.

One final, important note: we think that the most important aspect of a successful Aliyah/moving to Israel blog is you. We want and encourage you to regularly comment and post on our blog as often as you wish. All comments are welcome: critique, praise, questions, answers, and suggestions; anything related to Israel and, especially, making that tough, life altering move to the Holy Land.

Thanks so much and looking forward to a very fruitful relationship.

Ari Strauch

An old saying often used by Olim - How do you make a million dollars in Israel? Make Aliyah with 2 million.

The Finance Ministry of Israel has come up with a plan to further increase the economic divide between rich and poor - if you’re rich you don’t have to pay taxes.

According to the plan recently posted on Arutz7, any wealthy Jew who makes Aliyah would be exempt from paying taxes for the first 10 years. The ministry claims that as of now the exemption will be only on income that originates from outside of Israel. If one were to ponder on the finance ministry’s track record, a full tax exemption for the rich is not far behind. Just another step closer to ultimate goal of turning the average Israeli worker into a modern day slave,

Corruption in the Israeli political sphere is rampant and may be the real force pushing this new plan. Rich Israeli’s are very successful when it comes to wooing Israeli politicians and getting laws passed in the Knesset that benefit the rich and trodden on the poor.

The Jewish Agency, Israel’s main NGO responsible for Aliyah, decided not to cut Hebrew language classes in Russia. The classes are to help Russians learn at least a minimal amount of Hebrew, especially if they will be moving to Israel.

The Jewish Agency claimed it considered closing down the language program due to budget cuts. Many people question the effectiveness of the language course amongst the Russian immigrant community. Throughout Israel there are many Russian immigrants who still don’t speak a word of Hebrew. In addition Russian immigrants tend to form tight social groups in places such as workplaces and schools further limiting their exposure to the Hebrew language and their integration into Israeli society.  

Members of the Israeli parliament of Russian background were mainly responsible for influencing the Jewish Agency’s decision. They claimed that the Hebrew language programs are considered the backbone of the Aliyah program and also highly regarded in strengthening ties between Israel and the Jews in Russia.

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert declared the establishment of a high level committee whose goal will be to to alter Israel’s relationship with the Diaspora. In what some may call a revolutionary change, Israel is to take a more direct role in Diaspora affairs, to give and not just take. Although some believe there is more to this recent media spin by Mr. Olmert.

According to Mr. Olmert, Israel should not be seen as a poor and needy state, always in need of financial support from Diaspora. According to figures presented by the the prime minister’s office, the financial situation in Israel would get along fine without the monetary supplement.

But financial experts have claimed this for years, so why is the prime minister’s office only waking up now.

Perhaps there is a connection to a statement made by Mr. Olmert at the recent high level peace summit held in Annapolis. During the negotiations Mr. Olmert was under heavy pressure from the Diaspora not to negotiate over the division of Jerusalem. Such an event would bring Palestinian controlled areas to the doorstep of Jerusalem neighborhoods, and possibly a Sderot situation would follow. Mr. Olmert, in a one sided self indulgent manner, basically told the Diaspora that Jerusalem is non of their business. Apparently, in his opinion only Jews who move to Israel can have a say in Jerusalem’s future.

Is the establishment of the high level Diaspora committee an attempt to repair the strained relationship? Or perhaps it’s an attempt to control political opinions in the Diaspora and stifle future complaints.

Another reason could be the incredible budget increase shadily approved for the prime minister’s office. In a time where all other ministries in Israel are tightening their belts, Mr. Olmert, in his usual manipulative way, has succeeded in doubling his ministries budget from 300 million shekels in 2005 to 770 million shekels for 2008 . Perhaps he is looking for expenses to justify this budget increase. The public will surely find out when Mr. Olmert’s next corruption scandal comes out in the press.  

As Kosovo declared independence this week, the 50 Jews who still live there are asking questions about their future. Kosovo is a country that didn’t benefit from the recent economic upturn that has taken place in Eastern Europe. The average monthly salary is about $350 and over half the population is unemployed.

The Jews of Kosovo are finding that making a living is getting harder by the day. With crime and corruption are rampant, many are looking to move to greener pastures, possibly Israel.

The American Joint Jewish Distribution Committee  provides the Kosovo Jews with social services and hosts celebrations for Jewish holidays. The main question is if they are doing what they can to promote Aliyah to Israel. Although, the population of 50 Jews is not going to break any Aliyah records, Every Jew who makes it to the Holy Land counts.   

In what should be called a most generous offer, many US doctors are skeptical of the $60,000 grant given to encourage Aliyah in their profession. As reported on the Arutz 7 website, a cocktail of government and NGO’s will give the monetary grant to any doctor from the US who makes the move to Israel.

Due to the recent exodus of doctors and other highly skilled professionals to countries where making a living is easier (pretty much any country), Israel is trying to increase the percent of MDs making Aliyah. The doctors will receive the $60,000 grant along with all the other benefits Olim usually get when moving to Israel. Although, there are some doubts as to whether the program will work.

Salaries in Israel are much lower than those in other western countries, and pay in the medical profession is no different. Whether knowledgeable, reliable, and experienced doctors be willing to sacrifice their profitable and comfortable lifestyles and make the move, is still to be seen.

It should be noted that the State of Israel would be better off trying to convince customer service and quality assurance consultants to come to Israel, two fields which are practically non-existent in Israel at this time.