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 talked the other day about my disappointment of the United States’ reaction after Israel announced plans to build 1,600 new houses for Jews in east Jerusalem. However,  this disappointment pales in comparison to the latest “words of encouragement” provided by UN chief Ban Ki-moon. On Saturday Ban spoke about how Israeli settlement building anywhere on occupied land is illegal and must be stopped. He also rejected Israel’s distinction between east Jerusalem and the West Bank, noting that both are occupied lands.

While one sided, Israel bashing statements are nothing new from the UN, it still never fails to boil my blood when I hear such garbage. There’s a whole world out there full of murder, slaughter, hunger and other calamities and, yet, the United Nations always seems to find time to condemn, make a resolution against or just generally criticize Israel…this time for building plans!

While we would be naive to believe that the UN will change their opinions about Israel and the Jewish people any time soon, the whole sad situation should really make us remember and be realistic about the world we’re living in and should raise the level of concern even more when the U.S., Israel’s supposed “best friend,” takes the liberty of joining the nonsense.

Ari

Even after making Aliyah and moving to Israel, for an American, the deep roots of the United States never really leaves you. This becomes especially true when the worlds of Israel and America collide as it did this week with the death of former US secretary of state Alexander Haig.

Haig’s spokesman during his 1988 campaign for the Republican nomination for the presidency, Daniel Mariaschin, talked after his death about how he “always had a special feeling for Israel. I always had the impression that he considered himself a friend of Israel and understood its geo-security predicament as we moved through the years,” said Mariaschin, now executive vice president of B’nai B’rith International.

While in 1981, Haig, serving as secretary of state under president Ronald Reagan, proposed temporarily suspending the strategic cooperation agreement between the United Staes and Israel, he later on evolved into a firm believer in Israel as a powerful deterrent to terrorism. In 2001, he told the Jerusalem Post that it might not be a bad thing for Israel to stop Iran from becoming a nuclear power. “If the Israelis do launch a preemptive strike [on Iran], it may be saving the world a lot of trouble,” he said.

Powerful people in such positions are not commonly known for their dedication to both Israel and America, two of  the leaders of the world in the championing of democracy and freedom. We can only hope that more people with such integrity rise to such lofty positions and are able to make such a difference in the fight against evil.

Ari

As I frequently mention, my move to Israel was made from the United States and, as such, I tend to regularly refer to the opinions of Americans when talking about Israel. Today is one of those times as I want to point out a fantastic blog entry posted by leading American attorney and stalwart defender of Israel Alan Dershowitz.

The post talks about Dershowitz’ dire prediction that, G-d Forbid, Islamic terrorists may well succeed this year in blowing up a civilian airliner. He notes that they have already twice proved that suicide bombers can get through security. And those are only the successful security bypasses that we know about. It is a scary, but necessary to hear, analysis that Dershowitz gives and he suggests some solutions that, while expensive, will greatly reduce the danger that thousands of fliers face every day and are relatively simple to implement.

Give this a read and I highly recommend all of Dershowitz’ works.

Ari

Regular readers of this moving to Israel blog know that I regularly bring up the unique relationship between Israel and the United States (not to mention the fact that I am an American Oleh) and that is why I am anxious to feature this fantastic article by Harold Estes, an almost 95 year old U.S. Navy veteran who served proudly before, during and after WW II before retiring as a Master Chief Bos’n Mate.

The article is a scathing letter to President Obama which strongly rebukes the Commander in Chief for his very “un-American” attitude towards the very country which he leads. It is a very revealing and eye opening piece which speaks not just to the President, but to all those who, since 9/11, seem to blame America for all the hardships in the world, including the ones which effect America most negatively. This sounds very familiar to me regarding how many of our own leaders here in Israel often seem to be apologizing for the terror attacks we seem to “bring upon ourselves.”

It is important to read Estes’ letter and to remember that countries like Israel and the U.S. (and perhaps only Israel and the U.S.) have, throughout history, been the ones to defend liberty and protect the weak from the murderous dictators of the world. We need the leaders of these great nations to act like leaders and be proud of the high moral standards they have set for the world and not to apologize and appease the immoral majority that seeks to blame the west for all the heinous crimes perpetrated against it.

Ari

The issue of  the American government refusing to name Jerusalem as the capital of Israel is a long standing controversy in Israel-US foreign relations. Is was therefore noteworthy when, last week, seven United States senators sponsored a bill that would abolish the “security” waiver that American presidents have used to prevent implementing a 1995 law declaring that Jerusalem is, indeed, its capital.

Things like this always make me, an American born Israeli, proud but, unfortunately, we have heard many similar promises over the years from American presidents during their campaigns only to be dissapointed when the moments of truth have arrived. This is an important issue that we Americans need to push for, as Jerusalem Mayor Nir Barkat said, “I believe moving the American embassy to Jerusalem will be the first step towards other embassies moving to the capital, as in every other country in the world.”

Strong words on an important matter.

Ari

As this is a blog about Aliyah and moving to Israel and I myself am an Oleh from the United States, I tend to focus frequently in my posts about immigration from North America. It is important to remember, however, that Aliyah is happening from all over the world and, in that vain, I refer you to an interesting piece over at Haaretz that takes a look at Aliyah from Russia twenty years after they opened its doors to mass emigration.

The author, Tracy Levy, takes a look at some of the reasons that Russian immigration to Israel has stagnated since 1989 and gives some interesting feedback on where the movement may headed in the future. A great read, especially for we Aliyah addicts.

Ari

As a common topic among concerned Jews around the world has always been whether or not the President of the United States is “pro Israel” or not, Danny Gottlieb provided a great piece of insight the other day in an article over at Arutz Sheva entitled “Obama is Not the Problem.”

It is a great read regardless of one’s opinion of President Barack Obama as Gottlieb makes the case that we should be more concerned about our political situation here in Israel and stop spending so much time worrying about the pros and cons of the leaders of other nations (yes, even America) via their affinity - or lack thereof - of our people.

He hits the nail on the head when he says “The Knesset is our national and natural home for decisive political debate, not Washington. When we take our fate back into our hands by taking back the Knesset from those who currently sit within it, only then will we get the kind of government we need. And not by expecting miracles from the tall skinny fellow with the different name who sits in that big white house, so detached from us in every respect.”

Here’s hoping we all heed Gottlieb’s message.

Ari

Although this is a blog that attempts to encourage people to move to Israel, we usually attempt to do it in a positive way. Unfortunately, this is not always the case and today this is one of those situations. Today I would like to bring a disturbing article to your attention that will probably make one think about moving to Israel but through negative events coming out of the United States.

The article, printed in the World Tribune and brought to my attention by Tamar Yonah, talks about the cool reception received by  Israeli Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi upon his visit to Washington. It talks of how the new administration in the United States has viewed Israel of more of a problem in the Middle East than a friend and solution and notes how America has not been very encouraging towards Israel in regards towards Iran.

These are disturbing events and, again, although we prefer to not use fear as a tactic to try and bring Jews home to Israel, sometimes the facts speak for themselves. Please read the article and after viewing it and others like it, it would not surprise me to see many Americans making the move towards Aliyah without much else being said.

Ari