January 14, 2010

My desire for the aaliyah

Over at the Muquata, they have an article up about the aaliyah and his summary (JoeSettler) basically sums up how I feel about the topic.  Despite the health issues I am currently experiencing the aaliyah has never left my desire!!!!  I am copying and pasting this post because I feel it is a very interesting read!
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http://muqata.blogspot.com/2009/12/aliyah-is-like-marriage.html

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Aliyah is like Marriage

There have been a number of articles lately about Aliyah from America – or rather the lack of Aliyah from America. While Nefesh B’Nefesh has made the pre and post Aliyah process easier, statistically (and numerically) there simply hasn’t been a significant increase in Olim from the US.

Michael Hirsch’s interesting article in the Jerusalem Post highlights this failure and attempts to explain why this is so.

But what he doesn’t touch on is how to increase Aliyah. (Or why it’s important – but that requires an entirely separate post).

I look at my own reasons for making Aliyah and wonder if (a) they are relevant to anyone else, and (b) if it is something that can be transferred to others.

Like most other Jewish families, Israel was discussed somewhere in the background in the home, and mentioned casually in school, but the country simply never interested me. And Aliyah certainly wasn’t something on my radar or of the schools. Interestingly enough, I usually found the Israeli kids in my schools far more interesting than the Americans to talk with.

That disinterest in Israel changed during my first trip to Israel - and not even then. It was only towards to the end of my vacation that something about Israel just clicked with me. I can define in part what it was, when it was, and where it was, but I don’t believe it could be the same thing for anyone else.

I returned to America distracted. I realized that I wasn’t going to stay in America much longer. A few months later I was made a self-organized pilot trip, and a few months after that I was in Israel – allegedly for the year, but I was already sure it was for good.

I realized that I wanted to stay, and luckily I eventually found myself in a Yeshiva program that supported my idea. And while difficult over the years (and even at points extremely difficult) in the end I stayed and I would define my Aliyah as a success.


I think Aliyah is like marriage.

When you’re young, naïve, without baggage, less critical and judgemental, and everything else, marriage is an easier decision to make, but as the years go buy, the older you get, the more difficult it is to decide and commit. Just like one can end up single forever, one can end up in America forever – always rationalizing it away.

So what would make Aliyah an actual option on the table for more people?

Outside of the US it’s easier. There’s anti-Semitism, there’s no financial future, there’s no viable Jewish community. Israel looks better on every level.

But in the US, anti-Semitism is low (though rising), the financial condition right now is poor, but that is likely to be temporary over the long term, the Jewish community is strong (at least the religious one is), and it’s simply easy to be a Jew (though perhaps sometimes a little embarrassing).

For the average American Jew, moving to Israel means a foreign language, coarse people, unwanted bureaucracy, a poor implementation of democracy, high taxes, and low salaries (to name a few issues).

And unfortunately these perceived negatives will almost always outweigh the positives facts that often actually trump them – but you can’t find that out until you actually jump in the water.

While Hebrew can be learned, you soon find out that everyone wants to talk English to you; the people can be rough, but you can say what you want to them in return; the bureaucracy is annoying, but it certainly is not what it was 10 years ago, and in fact most services are now online – you can log in and accomplish almost anything, the understanding and poor implementation of democracy sucks, but you can literally approach your mayors, and Knesset representatives in the street and they will talk to you (I do this all the time), taxes are high and salaries can be lower, but schooling is inexpensive, and medical insurance is not high, while treatment (medical and personal) is excellent (we’ve discussed this in the past) – the system is not the socialized medicine that everyone remembers from years ago.

I am not saying there aren’t difficulties. You need to find jobs, a home, etc. – but these are challenges you might face anywhere. And now there are plenty of Aliyah organizations and support groups that provide mentors and assistance to closely help you with that transition – something that wasn’t really around a decade ago.


But everything I listed above is a “rational decision”. These are things that the older, more established person worries about.

In fact, these are the same types of questions that older single people use to rationalize why he or she shouldn’t marry the person they are dating – unlike a younger adult who only knows that he or she is in love, and marriage is clearly the next step.

Selling Aliyah to someone established in their job or community is like convincing a single person to get married. It sounds like a good idea to them, but it always gets stuck in the implementation.

I think that first of all you have to get them young. Birthright is a good first step – it creates that connection, but it isn’t enough, nor perhaps even young enough. It certainly needs some follow-up programs.

But more than that, every Jewish school (Elementary and High School) should have charismatic Israeli teachers teach teaching there (on rotating limited one year Shlichuts) teaching about Israel – not Hebrew – Israel. Israel’s history, its goals, how it’s relevant to the Jewish people, and most importantly, why Israel is such a wonderful place and of course Aliyah.

Create a sense of mystery for these young students. Create a sense of interest. Create a sense of possibility and challenge. Create a connection.

I certainly did not have that in my very Jewish education growing up.

(I admit, while I am sure the Israeli government or the Sochnut would be happy to sponsor such a project, how many principals (or parents) would be happy to have such a curriculum in their school – a curriculum which would eventually drain their student base?)

If you can create that interest, that sense of mission and possibility when they are young, then when they do reach that age of decision, it is actually something they will seriously consider.

Certainly generating interest in Aliyah is a generational mission, not something that should be planned on a yearly basis – how many people can we convince this year with an extra grant or loan.

Going after the families, after the adults is important, but it requires a tremendous amount of resources to both convince and support the process.

If you go after the youth, you are going after the ones that will be able to fall in love and make that emotional decision –without the baggage that accompanies someone who has already made a life in his community.

In fact, often when the kids go, you know what happens? The parents follow.

Hasn’t anyone realized that yet?


If Israel is really interested in significantly increasing Aliyah it needs to start going after the Jewish youth. Create that interest; describe the challenge and the mission. Bring them to Israel in their mid-teens and connect them to Israelis. Get them while they’re in the schools. Get them in the after-school programs.

Spend resources on the low-hanging fruit. Yes, it will take them a few more years to make the move - but after asking any Jew in the US about their 5 (then 10, then 15) year Aliyah plan, getting a High School kid to consider studying in an Israeli University and then making Aliyah is not a long time-line at all – and is far more likely to happen.

Aliyah is like marriage, if you fall in love young, you can jump right in. But if you’re older, you’ll find every rationalization in the world not to do what you really want – and need.


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Wherever I am, my blog turns towards Eretz Yisrael טובה הארץ מאד מאד

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January 13, 2010

Srugim Season II

IS UP!!!! Man I really really hope Lital is able to find Season I for me!!!! I really want to see it.  hehe

Link is here.

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Countdown to surgery

Yesteday I had an appointment with Dr. Salim.  The goal was to get my pulmonary clearance for the surgery.  It was a smashing success.  The appointment took FOREVER.  My initial appt was at 3:40.  I did not get in until nearly 4:30 and after about 2 hours later - he signed my clearance.  YAY me.

Next is the cardiac clearance!

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January 12, 2010

So the craziness just keeps on rolling....

So, this is what the crazy train feels like? LOL

Alex is here.  He got here on Friday.  It has been awesome!!  And an adjustment.  Right now he is recovering from his journey so he is sleeping in the living room until he gets to fix his room the way he wants it. 

His doggie is at current time - not getting along with the kitties.  The bums, for the most part, stay upstairs - away from Nikita (the dog).  Occasionally the cats (Curio and Avalon) come downstairs and are very light on their paws sensing a possible attack in which they will run light speed up the stairs to safety.  It has been hilarious to see the cats just bolt like a speeding bullet up the stairs.  Hopefully in time the cats will grow more comfortable with the dog LOL.  I hope.

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January 08, 2010

Aliyah Update

As you all know- the aliyah is on hold.  Probably for the next two years or so at the earliest.  Until the surgery is completed and my hernia is fixed and recovered there is simply no way I can consider moving to Israel.  In the meantime - I am trying to figure out what to do.  Get a third job?  Go to law school?  Find a hobby?  Start attending Shul?  Purchase the house next door to me as an investment income?  All things things run around in my head.  Right now no clear answers - but I am deep in thought in some of these topics since now it is clear my life will be focused on Arizona for the foreseeable future. 

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HELLO PEEPS!!!!!

How is everyone doing this new year? Hope your hangover was not that bad!

Lets see, originally we (Jen and I) was supposed to hang with my sister - but plans changed since my nephew flew out back to his job soldiering in South Carolina.  My niece ended up going to Texas!  I wish them both the best of luck - consequently my sister was not in a celebratory mood.

On the home front - soon I will have a new roommate - Alexander will be moving in with us!  My office will become his new bedroom.  What I am really concerned about is that he has a dog.  Curio, my baby kitty, has never seen a dog before!  Beyond that it will be outstanding to have Alex here.  He is an excellent guy and a good friend.  And, when Tink (Jen) gets bored of me talking about history or philosophy or Israel...Alex loves to talk about this stuff as much as I do!   And, when I do end up going in for surgery - he will be able to help Jen get to work while I will be recovering.  Basically it is a win win for all of us on just about every level!

The last update I had from him was that he was in Gallup, New Mexico so he should be in Laveen roughly around noon today!  YAY!!!!


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January 01, 2010

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!

THANK G-d 2009 is DONE!

I hope and pray that 2010 will be a far better year!!!! That everyone has a prosperous, fun and excellent new year!  WHOOOOO!!!!

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