Moving to Israel

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

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

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

Israel was under the international microscope yet again last week as U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visited the area. However, it seems to be the post-visit that is really stirring things up as United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton lashed out verbally at Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on Shabbat, berating him for announcing building plans in Jerusalem during Biden’s visit. It’s been reported that Clinton told Netanyahu that the announcement, which Israel has said was not intentionally coordinated with the diplomatic visit of Biden, was embarrassing for the United States.  She said the incident may imperil a recent joint decision between the Arab League and the United States to reignite talks between Israel and the PA.

Being a U.S. citizen who moved to Israel some time ago it is often, as I have written about many times, difficult to defend my native home land against perceived injustices carried out against my adopted country and this occurrence is no exception. Clinton said the announcement “was embarrassing for the United States” and Biden said that “he condemns the decision by the government of Israel to advance planning for new housing units in East Jerusalem. The substance and timing of the announcement, particularly with the launching of proximity talks, is precisely the kind of step that undermines the trust we need right now and runs counter to the constructive discussions that I’ve had here in Israel.”

Such comments, against America’s truest friend and most trusted ally in the Middle East, smacks of such double standard that it is horrifying. To suggest that Israel is undermining trust, while conveniently forgetting to mention the reign of terror that the PA has unleashed on Israel these last two decades, is both degrading and insulting, not to mention a slap in the face to all the victims of the Arab murder machine.

Let’s hope that Israel has the pride and fortitude to call out the U.S. for this troubling event and help all the good citizens of America remember that, as the old saying goes, “If the Arabs lay down their weapons there will be no war. If Israel lays down their weapons there will be no Israel.” That often sums up the state of affairs in the Middle East very nicely.

Ari

Another milestone in Israel’s amazing history has come and gone as Tel Aviv’s 100th anniversary officially came to a close Saturday night. A major water and fireworks show took place, with tens of thousands on the shore watching and enjoying themselves in the unseasonably warm weather.

When I moved to Israel almost a decade and a half ago it was events like these that always helped to inspire me. Imagine, a tiny country surrounded by mortal enemies whose greatest wish is to drive the little country into the sea, and yet here we are, all these years later, with thousands celebrating such a historic event as the terrorists can only watch and wonder.

Happy birthday Tel Aviv and congratulations to Israel for once again defying all the odds and marching forward.

Ari

This  weeks must-read article comes in from Laura Ben-David and is entitled “Watching the News Unfold.” Laura, who made aliyah and moved to Israel with her family in 2002 from Boca Raton, Florida, lives in N’vei Daniel and describes her day this past Shabbat/Saturday as it is the day where religious Jews are not allowed to use electricity/listen to news/etc. It is a very inspiring story as she tells of how, while she can’t listen to the news on this day, she ended up getting a “live news feed” throughout the day as she was able to use binoculars and get a view of the Gaza Strip where the latest war is taking place.

Laura’s story is very real and chilling as she describes that, while she was physically out of harms way during the Shabbat, the country is small enough that she was literally watching the events unfold. The article is a strong reminder of how this war affects us and how it is not in some far away land. It is right here being watched and experienced by real, true, good people.

May Hashem watch out for our soldiers and bring peace to the Jewish People as soon as possible.

Ari