Guest Post

Since 1999 Aliya B’Simcha (ABS) has brought many families on Direct Aliya to communities all over the Yehuda & Shomron area of Israel.

This year we aim to bring English-speaking Families specifically to Communities in Binyamin Area.

The Unique Aliya B’Simcha Aliya Method:

1. Direct e-mail contact 24/6 (but not on Shabbat) between a Potential Oleh with a Member of a Community in Binyamin Area in English!
2. Personal Pilot Trips give a Real Chance to experience life in our Communities in Binyamin Area
3.  Airport pick-up and return when possible
4. Meetings with English Speakers
5. Scenic trip around the area & other Trips
6. Lectures on Aliya-related Topics
7. Activities for children
8. Accommodations arranged
9. Adoptive family
10. Pilot trip tailor made for your particular needs

The pilot trip is aimed for two types of families:

1.   Families who wish to make Direct Aliya in 2013.
2.   English speaking families already living in Israel who wish to move to a family orientated Religious Community in the heartlandof Israel.

Sincerely

Eric Wiseberg ABS Coordinator
Maale Levona, DN Ephraim, 44825 ISRAEL
e-mail: aliya2bin@gmail.com
Cellphone: +972-58-429-5210

Exciting news!  The Israel Antiquity Authority announced today the discovery of a mikvah in Jerusalem neighborhood of Kiryat Menachem that they identify as being from the period of the Second Temple.

This ritual pool was discovered by accident while excavations were taking place for the paving of a highway. They believe that it was part of a sophisticated system built using special techniques to preserve the water in the arid conditions of the area. Amazing!

Just imagine the things you might discover when you make Aliyah!

These six Holocaust survivors who defiantly refused to die, and triumphantly claimed their place in the Holy Land, lit the 6 torches at Yad Vashem on Sunday night in memory of the 6 million whose murders were carefully planned and executed by the nazis in their countries of exile where they, as Jews, did not have the right to life or self-defense as a nation.

For years we’ve seen and heard the slogan “Never Again”. I hope and pray that will be the case, but I know that it will require action on the part of all Jews.  Please return home to Israel before history repeats itself because the signs of evil exist all around you, if you will just open your eyes and mind to the reality of what is happening and the possible outcomes in the near future.  We are not living in malaria infested swamps in a barren land – Israel is thriving – and making Aliyah is easier today than it has been in more than 2000 years. I urge you to contact Nefesh b’Nefesh and come home while you still can.

* Photo credit: Photograph: Isaac Harari / Yad Vashem

This is for those of you who haven’t yet made Aliyah and didn’t make aliyah l’regel this year either.

Moadim l’Simcha from the Holy Land of Israel!

I just received this message from NBN with an incredible offer that should be shared with every American-Israeli Jew whose parents are still living in the US.

Give your parents the gift of reuniting with your family in Israel, by helping them make Aliyah this year. In order to help make Aliyah easier for retiree Olim (65+)*, Nefesh B’Nefesh is offering you a free round-trip flight from Israel to America, so you can help your parents pack up, then join them on a special Aliyah ‘Generations’ flight at the end of December 2012.

Apply now – contact Liz Bernstein, MSW, Director, Aliyah Guidance & Process-North America lizb@nbn.org.il , and help bring your parents home to Israel this year, so you can spend this Winter together in Israel!

Jamie Geller (in the photo above with her mom) and everyone else – BRING YOUR PARENTS HOME!

*Conditions apply:

1. Applicant child must be an NBN oleh who is over 18 years of age and a resident in Israel. Applicant child will receive a round trip Israel/NY (tickets must be processed through NBN)
2. One applicant child will be entitled to travel per Oleh application/couple
3. Applicant child must return on the specified charter/group flight with the Oleh
4. One retiree applicant per Oleh couple must be 65+
5. This offer is limited in time and number of participants. Full applications by each applicant child and retiree Oleh wishing to participate must be submitted no later than November 1, 2012.
6. The retiree Oleh must be an approved applicant, according to NBN and government criteria, making Aliyah from North America in 2012
7. This offer shall be subject to additional conditions, at the sole discretion of NBN. Without derogating from the above, NBN may change, terminate or cancel the offer, at any time it deems appropriate. In such an event, NBN shall not be responsible for any loss or damage whatsoever suffered by any applicant.

I’m running a week behind checking out the videos that YouTube is certain I should be watching! So this morning I caught the video posted last Wednesday of Jamie Geller’s family departing the US and arriving in Israel. As I was breaking open a new package of Molett tissues (nope, I don’t feel I need to spend extra for Kleenex anymore), it occurred to me that all those painful tears at JFK could be completely done away with if everyone would come home together. Imagine… only joyful tears and cheers upon landing at Ben Gurion.

Enjoy the video…

For English Speaking Boys aged 10 to 13 in Ma’ale Adumim

Create a Digital Game  *  Learn Torah  *  Swim  *  Play Sports & Games  *  Eat  *  Blog & More!

Full Details & Registration information at http://almosteden.co.il/camp

REGISTRATION Deadline is May 22^nd

Earlier this week I watched a brief AISH video by Lori Palatnik about the song we sing at the end of the seder – Le Shana Haba b’Yerushalayim (Next Year in Jerusalem). In this message, Lori asks how many people really mean those words. I found this surprising since she doesn’t live in Israel and this is a question most often used when challenging Jews to come home.

Many of the comments on the AISH page under the video are sad and surprising. I wonder how some people can be so blind to the dangers and negativity in their own surroundings; they look at their galut through rose colored glasses while viewing Israel (the unknown!) through the lens of the worst media propaganda available to them. Some have even visited Israel and had negative experiences during a vacation that has solidified their resolve to never live here! Imagine making a life-changing decision based on a few unpleasant experiences because you weren’t open to exploring and appreciating a different culture (or traveling to the communities in Israel that are densely populated by Americans) while on vacation! I wonder how many of their ancestors ran away from the US because their early experiences left a bad taste in their mouths (very few, I’m sure).

And then at the other extreme, there’s the convert who said “I am a convert. A year after I said these words the first time, I was in Jerusalem (without all the helps and money a jew can get for his aliya). It’s true: Whoever really means it can make it.” Why is it that a convert “gets it”, but someone who has spent their entire life immersed in Torah life and culture doesn’t?

I was saddened by the story of the Israeli who moved to Lori’s North American community to escape the problems of Israel! And again I wonder, is there one Jewish community anywhere in the world devoid of problems? In my view, many galut Jews perceive problems in Israel in order to conveniently excuse themselves from making Aliyah (a positive Torah mitzvah). Why are they willing to fix problems in foreign countries but not participate in rebuilding their God-given home? Pointing fingers at a secular Israeli government while refusing to come home and vote it out isn’t the answer. If you refuse, God will send others (e.g., the many converts who enter these gates every year).

My friend Rivkah posted a link on Facebook today to a video that helped me better understand this upsetting phenomenon – Secret of the Matzah, Liberate Yourself. The bottom line is that change is hard and requires courage, the ability to turn from something known to something unknown. People fear that they might fail on the new path they are contemplating and because of that some people will remain stuck in the same location, job, relationships, habits, etc. for the rest of their lives without having realized their potential – or their mission in this world.

So as we sing Le Shana Haba b’Yerushalayim tonight, let’s keep our fearful brothers and sisters in mind and pray that they be liberated with an extra dose of courage this year! And let’s try to alleviate some of their fear by educating them about the real Israel. If any of you are interested in participating in a “buddy system” to hand-hold galut Jews through Aliyah, please let me know and I’ll start building a resource database.

Chag Kasher v’Sameach!

Tehillah

Tzfat is one of the most popular destinations for olim who are considering settlement in Northern Israel. In addition to a growing economy and large English-speaking population, Tzfat offers a wide range of housing options, opportunities to affiliate with a compatible religious population, cultural and environmental activities, good schools and a wide range of helpful English-speaking support systems.

Housing in Tzfat ranges from the old stone buildings in Tzfat’s Old City and Artist Quarter to the newest neighborhoods of Biriya, Ramat Razim and Menachem Begin. In addition, there are many lower-cost apartments available for rent or purchase in the older neighborhoods of Canaan and the Darom.

English-speaking residents in Tzfat are affiliated with all of the town’s religious communities including the Sephardic community, Hassidic communities, the Carlebach shuls and even a small loosely-organized Jewish Renewal group. Many of these groups operate their own schools and parents can generally find a school that meets their religious philosophies. Tzfat also has a range of educational facilities for children with special needs. Most olim to Tzfat identify religiously in some form or other, but there is a large non-religious community in Tzfat and some new olim prefer to integrate into this community.

The Ministry of Absorption operates an ulpan in Tzfat for Kita Aleph and, when there is a demand, for Kita Bet. After olim learn the rudiments of Hebrew they can begin to look for jobs. Jobs as English teachers are often available and medical personnel can find work in the Rivka Ziv hospital which offers a wide range of services. The tourism industry is growing in Tzfat and many olim work in the tourist industry’s infrastructure as well as in local art galleries.

There is an English library and an English listserve (subscribe at tzfatline@aol.com) which serves the community for free.

I recently received the following e-mail solicitation from an American organization that will remain nameless:

Looking for a thriving, centrally located, modern orthodox community?

Spend a Shabbos at the xxxxx and experience our warmth and hospitality for yourself.
• Over 180 orthodox families and growing
• New Family Initiative – $25,000 interest-free loan
• Free membership first year and $10,000 savings in shul dues
• Hebrew Elementary School – $7,500 per student discount over 3 years (Grades K-6)
• Convenient Eruv and beautiful Mikveh
• Kosher Butcher/Takeout/Bakery/Pizza and more
• Easy Access to major highways and train

Having lived in Israel for close to 4 years now, I was a bit shocked at the escalation in the cost of Jewish American life! In the interest of educating those who may not yet have considered the benefits of life in Israel, here’s Israel’s counter-offer for you:

• A thriving Jewish community of over 6 million with a growing percentage of Modern Orthodox, Chardal, Chassidic & Chareidi – some living in seclusion, others living in mixed religious neighborhoods, and many people involved in kiruv living in mixed religious/secular neighborhoods.
• Free airline ticket to Israel for each family member.
• Nefesh B’Nefesh assistance with all required paperwork and processing.
• Sal Klita absorption basket financial benefits based on family size and ages.
• Modern and inexpensive health care
  (e.g., we paid over $12,000 in co-pays and premiums during our last year in the US for our family of three – and have averaged less than $2,000 per year for the same services with superior care in Israel).
• Free shul membership (in most Anglo communities) during your first year of Aliyah – which translates into approximately NIS 250/$65 to NIS 1800/$475 per year depending on shul (compared to $10,000 per year from the advertisement above!)
• Tuition-Free Public Hebrew Elementary Schools or discounted Private Elementary School costing 2500 shekels (under $700) to 10,000 shekels (approx. $2700) per year depending on your choice of school.
  In addition to free tuition, we have spent an average of 2000 shekels (approx. $525) per year for books, school shirts and class trips to Holy places.
• Eruvim in all communities with religious citizens and a beautiful selection of Mikvehs.
• Kosher Food everywhere! Choose your neighborhood and you’ll be sure to find butchers, grocery stores, restaurants, take-out shops, bakeries, pizzerias and more meeting your particular hechsher preference.
• Great public transportation and easy access to major highways.
• Top Notch Security
• Strong Economy – including Housing that’s increasing in value every day.
• Jewish history around every corner and under every stone
• Jewish culture
• Jewish holidays
• The home of the future Beit HaMikdash
• A community waiting to welcome you home! The only home for the future-thinking Jewish family.

If you’ve already made Aliyah, please feel free to add more comparisons below.

Nefesh B’Nefesh announced today the launch of a series of mega Aliyah events in the following major cities throughout North America:

• Toronto – Sunday, March 18, 1:00pm – 5:00pm
• Montreal – Monday, 19, 6:30pm-10:00pm
• Baltimore – Wednesday, March 21, 6:30pm-10:00pm
• South Florida—Thursday, March 22, 6:30pm-10:00pm
• New York City – Sunday, March 25, 12:30pm-5:30pm

The Aliyah-related seminars and workshops will include information on:

• The Aliyah Process
• Financial Planning & Taxes
• Employment in Israel
• Retiring to Israel
• Real Estate & Mortgages
• Communities & Education
• Israeli Healthcare
• Go North Program

Attendees can request personal consultations with staff from Nefesh B’Nefesh, Israel’s Ministry of Immigrant Absorption and the Jewish Agency. Representatives from various other Israeli ministries, health funds and shippers will also be present.

For more information and to register, please visit http://www.nbn.org.il/megaevent.

Music provides one of the most comprehensive available forms to study history and culture. Nowhere is this more evident than in the history of the modern Jewish aliyah to Israel.

Aliyah experiences in today’s world differ depending on the oleh’s age, financial resources, family status and ability to find work. However today’s aliyah cannot compare to the aliyah experiences of Jews who moved to Israel in the years preceding independence and in the early years of the State’s existence.

The Israel Suite, a unique project of the Milken Archives, documents the lives of these olim by exploring the music of the first Aliyot 1880 – 1936. The project, “Israel Suite” explores the optimism, Zionist idealism and determination of Israel’s pioneers as it was expressed in their music.

The Israel Suite project explores the development of Jewish music in pre-State and post-independence Israel. The project spans the Hebrew songs which incorporated the values of the “new” secular identities of First and Second Aliyot (1880s through WWI) olim. In addition, it documents songs that expressed a love and commitment to build the Land of Israel expressed by the Third and Fourth Aliyot. These songs demonstrate how the Jews incorporated their traditional Hassidic, Eastern European, Mediterranean and North African melodies into the new philosophy of the “New Jew.” In addition, the project includes new compositions which were composed by poets and professional musicians in the pre-State “Yishuv.”

Max Helfman compiled the music of this period which became part of the repertoire of campers at Brandeis Camp. Some examples of the music include “Laila had’mama”, a romantic view of kibbutz life and “B’yom kayitz”, a song set to a poem by the well-known poet Haim Nachman Bialik. Today, thanks to  Lowell Milken and his Archive, we are able to use this collection to learn about the history of aliyah and the first Jews of the new Yishuv. Lowell Milken is a strong supporter of Israel, the IDF and a founders of the Ariel settlement.

Last week while reading through some business news on LinkedIn, I came across Stick Around– language stickers for the home that can help us become more fluent in Hebrew. Being a 3-time Hebrew ulpan drop-out, I was thrilled to see a product that better addresses my learning style and at a very reasonable price. I’m anxiously awaiting my order’s arrival and will try to remember to report back to you soon on my impressions.

In the meantime, I spoke with the creator of Stick Around and after enjoying hearing the story of how this product came about, I asked him to share it with you too. So, here is a guest post by Amit Turkenitz, owner of Gingerhood.com

I spent my childhood being sent to private English teachers by my parents to perfect my English and give me an obvious edge in a world that is clearly turning more and more global. Little did I know of the downsides that perfect English can cause.

I met my wife, Jo, while I was traveling in Vietnam. We clicked and a year later she found herself packing up her life in Australia and moving to Israel. Israel was a great deal of fun for her at first, and we were definitely having a good time, but as time slowly passed, her “100 days of grace” started fading away and she started facing the hard fact of life: She is not a tourist – she needs to blend in.

Many people in Israel speak great English, so tourists get by easily. This was perfect for my wife, seeing as she didn’t have to struggle when going to a café, taking a taxi or asking for directions on the street. Whenever we met with friends, the conversations were mainly held in English. And of course there was me: I spoke English to my wife, because we met in English and we knew each other in English. All of the above left no incentive for my wife to learn Hebrew.

It all seemed peachy at first, but once you scratched the surface – you could see that her lack of Hebrew skills was problematic. Finding a job for my wife was difficult and limited her options only to the English-speaking job market. Any peripheral service she needed turned out to be handled only in Hebrew – health services, banking, authorities, etc… and finally – even the closest friends started getting tired of “working hard” to have English conversations and drifted to speaking Hebrew amongst themselves in big social situations. My wife couldn’t avoid it any more: she needed to acquire Hebrew skills.

Ulpan was a good start, and definitely pumped her up with the energy to learn. But as grammar kicked in and learning became more complicated, Hebrew became hard work. And with hard work comes excuses… “the teacher is boring!”, “why do I need to learn these ridiculous texts?” and so on. I tried thinking of ways to engage my wife into the Hebrew language. I didn’t mind the grammar mistakes as that can come later, I just wanted her to be able to follow conversations. I realized that more than anything else she needed vocabulary. That’s when I started filling our apartment with translation labels.

I made a long document of useful words for the things around us. Each word I wrote in English for her to understand the meaning and in Hebrew for her to recognize when she would see it. Then I added the link between them – a transliteration, a phonetic spelling in Latin characters to demonstrate the Hebrew pronunciation. Something like this:

I printed these labels and sticky-taped them to the actual objects that they describe. Every day I noticed more words that were missing (having fallen off), so I printed them, cut them, and taped them as well. It was a long process, but proved to be a rather helpful one. The labels were small enough not to overtake the space we live in, yet noticeable by those who needed them for learning.

Two years later, I introduced our product Stick Around – language stickers for home.

Stick Around contains 529 stickers to cover objects in five different living spaces: living room, bedroom, kitchen, bathroom and office. The stickers are made of high quality vinyl, so they do not leave any sticky residue behind. They arrive in a nicely designed recycled cardboard package, ready to peel and label and – most important – they are a frustration-free product for people struggling with Hebrew.

The product is designed and manufactured in Israel and can be purchased online (with free shipping) at www.gingerhood.com (which is our website, both my wife and I are gingers…) and also in a growing list of retail stores that appear in detail on our website. This is all to help you… stick around!

If you’ve used Stick Around, please tell us (in the comments below) if and how the product helped you.

by Josh Ben-David

Israel’s mortgage industry can be very difficult to navigate. With over 30 loan products available, ranging from low rates and high risk to higher rates and no risk, securing a mortgage tailor-fitted to the borrower’s needs can translate into a savings of tens – if not hundreds – of thousands of shekels over the life of the loan.

The following are 3 reasons why you should consider seeking help from a mortgage consultant:

1. Objective and independent advice
In Israel, no single bank carries every mortgage product and some banks are more competitive than others on specific products. Interest rates on mortgage products also vary between banks, and even between different branches of the same bank! Each bank has unique terms and conditions, and there are several banks with hidden fees that can increase your effective interest rate without you ever knowing.

Your bank representative will avoid mentioning to you these details at all cost because he or she represents the interests of the bank. Only an independent mortgage professional can give you objective advice based on your personal needs.

2. Full service
For many people, getting approved for a mortgage in Israel is achievable. It all boils down to convincing the bank that you will make your monthly payments on time. Therefore, providing the right documentation and negotiating with the banks plays a key role in securing home financing.

The general rule is that banks offer better rates to lower risk borrowers, so presenting a good “case” or file to the bank means your payments will be lower. In addition to negotiating with the banks, the borrower must get an official appraisal of the property, run a title check, and collect the necessary documentation from the Israel Lands Authority (for refinancing, the process is a little easier but most issues listed here are still applicable). A good mortgage broker will take care of all this for you in a timely manner, allowing you to focus on preparing to move into your new home.

3. Financial savings
Since the law stipulates that banks cannot pay mortgage consultants directly for their services (which ensures transparency for the borrower), the banks offer mortgage consultants preferred rates which they then pass on to their clients. A good mortgage consultant can also get less-qualified borrowers approved and secure higher than normal loan-to-value financing which makes home ownership more attainable.

But lower rates and better terms are only part of the bigger picture. The most important aspect of mortgage consulting is knowing how to structure the loan in order to reduce risk and increase financial savings for the borrower. A correctly structured mortgage will allow you to pay less money to the bank and keep more money in your pocket.

Josh Ben-David is Mortgage Consultant and Business Development Manager at First Israel Mortgages
Blog: http://www.israelmortgages101.com/
Email: jbendavid@firstisrael.com

by Moshe Egel-Tal, CSPP & CEO Israpay

Havra’a is a mandatory payment by law. It is paid annually to all employees who have at least one year’s tenure with their current employer. There are several rates (for private and public sector) and they are updated each year in June.

The current rate (June 2011) in the private sector is 365 shekels per day. Employees are allotted days according to their tenure as follows:

1 year = 5 days

2 – 3 years = 6 days

4 – 10 years = 7 days

11 – 15 years = 8 days

16 – 19 years = 9 days

20 and onwards = 10 days

The amounts are gross and subject to income tax, social security and health tax.

They are usually paid in July’s salary, however some employer’s break it up into 2 or 3 payments during the course of the year and in Hi-tech they usually divide it by 12 paying 1/12th each month.

by Moshe Egel-Tal, CSPP & CEO Israpay

Just in time for the summer vacation! Make sure your teenage kids who found a summer-time job are paid according to the law. Effective July 2011, the new minimum wages for youth are as follows:

apprentices = 14.22 shekels per hour
up to age 16 = 16.59 shekels per hour
up to age 17 = 17.77 shekels per hour
up to age 18 = 19.67 shekels per hour
from age 18 and up = 22.04 shekels per hour

There are special regulations in effect for employing youth:

1. They can not be under 14 years old.
2. They need to have an employment booklet, available for free from the government employment service (Sherut Hata’asuka). In order to get the booklet a youth needs to bring 2 passport pictures and a doctor’s note that he/she is healthy and fit to work.
3. The maximum amount of hours that youth can be employed is 8 hours per day and not more than 40 hours per week. Overtime is not allowed ! Youth can not be employed on the weekly rest day (for Jews – Shabbat)
4. After 6 hours of work, youth must be granted 45 minutes break, of which at least 30 minutes must be consecutively.
5. Between 8 p.m. and 8 a.m. the following day it is forbidden to employ youth under 16.
   Between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. the following day it is forbidden to employ youth between age 16 and age 18, unless approved by special permission and even then not later than 11 p.m.
   Requests for permits should be applied for by phone 03-734-7440 (Ministry of Industry, Trade and Employment)
6. The employer is required to keep a log of all hours worked by youth. If it is not done by a computer, electronic or manual time-clock, it needs to be signed daily by both the youth employee and the employer. Youth should be encouraged to keep a separate log of their hours as well.
7. Travel expenses are mandatory for youth – up to 23.70 shekels per day.
8. Training hours and preparatory meetings, as well as trial periods are all mandatory paid hours.
9. It is totally forbidden to deduct money from youth’s salary for damages or fines.
10. Employers are required (the same as with adult employees) to issue a notification of employment within 7 days from the start of employment to each youth employee.

Where in the world does one find an army that concerns itself with the happiness of its soldiers to the point that it connects them with families to make them feel at home when they’re away from their own families?

Imagine an army…

• where the commanding officer phones and interviews families to ensure a good match is made and her soldiers’ specific needs will be met (e.g., cat allergies, loves chicken soup, aversion to fish, interested in shidduchim, etc.)
• that understands the importance of educating immigrant soldiers in the history of, and their heritage in, the land they’re defending.
• that sends young men and women home on a regular basis to spend time with their families for emotional reinforcement (of both the family and the soldier), and arranges for them to attend family life cycle events whenever possible.
• that sends lone soldiers into communities to meet and make a connection with the people they’re protecting.
• that invests the time and money necessary to match each soldier with a customized program to provide him/her with the skills needed to be successful in society and career beyond the military.

Imagine Israel – it’s real, and it’s happening right now. I love this country!

We had the triple pleasure of hosting 3 fine young men this Shabbat and I must tell you that for all the soldiers get out of the program, their host families gain even more. The manners and behavior of every IDF soldier we have met have been impeccable – wonderful young people who enrich our lives and give us hope for the future of this Holy Land.

So what’s it like to host soldiers? This was a typical Shabbat for us, here’s how it unfolded:

Jonathan, Joshua and Baruch arrived in our parking lot Friday afternoon ready to experience Shabbat with our family and Michael went out to meet them. They quickly settled in to playing Wii with Yisrael, and checking e-mail and Facebook while I finished in the kitchen. I put out cookies, melon and drinks to hold them over until our late dinner, and we took turns showering and getting dressed for Shabbat . As I lit candles, the men (including Yisrael ) went to Beit Knesset Musar Avicha for Kabbalat Shabbat.

They arrived home with our other guests – Yosef, Marcia & Kayla – and we enjoyed a wonderful Shabbat meal together, the food was secondary to the enlightening and entertaining conversation. Many hours later, everyone settled into bed for a few hours sleep before Michael knocked on their door and yelled “okay ladies, it’s time to get up and go to shul!”

Yisrael slept until 8:30 and Josh came down a few hours later because he hadn’t been feeling so great. A few minutes later they all returned for lunch (around 10:30 AM – something I’m still not accustomed to) and we enjoyed another couple of hours of great conversation and fun. As soon as the table was cleared, Michael, Yisrael, Jonathan & Baruch gathered around to play Risk while Josh curled up with a good book. A little while later 4 of Yisrael’s school friends joined in the fun. Followed by the arrival of our friends Shoshana & Ezra and their children Mandy, Jordana & Boaz. We had a houseful!

A little before 5 pm, armed with water and a map, our soldiers left for a communal seudat shlishit where they were treated to a nice meal and a shiur. They returned a few hours later with their mefakedet (the sweet young woman who had carefully made the arrangements for them to stay with us – I have a feeling she’s going to be a great ‘mommy’ some day) and a game of Set was taught and played through lots of laughter. Being polite and courteous young men, when it was time for Galia to depart they walked her back to the central meeting place. In the meantime, Yisrael returned from Ariel (religious scout troop) and Michael said Havdala.

Our soldiers returned to collect their packs, exchange information and pose for some photos with Yisrael. And then a cell phone rang and it was time for them to leave – it all went by so quickly!

And as they grabbed the kitchen trash (which they insisted on taking out – after they made their beds!) and headed down the stairs, I whispered a prayer for our dear IDF soldiers: May Hashem bless and keep you all safe, healthy and spiritually uplifted as you fulfill the mitzva of guarding and protecting Eretz Yisrael.

I’d like to send the IDF a BIG THANK YOU! for including us in this program. We, who left our entire family behind to make Aliyah, are enriched with new family every time we open our door to another soldier.

Photo courtesy of Aliyah Lift Shipping

It’s that time of year again when all the new olim are in high stress mode of packing, shipping, landing and acclimating into Israeli society! It’s an exciting time for them and for those of us who’ve already experienced the roller coaster ride and want to help ease the transition as much as possible. So with that in mind, today I’d like to share with you some wonderful resources that are now available – and were not when I needed them.

Yitzchak & Tikva Sasson of Aliyah Lift Shipping (a company owned and operated by new olim) have published an informative and very nice Your Shipment e-Guide designed to answer questions, and help pave the way for a smooth and intelligent shipment. In the guide they stress the importance that you completely understand the many facets involved in shipping to ensure smooth sailing

Neil Kummer of KEF International Shipping recently sent me this very comprehensive guide detailing which 220 Volt Appliances are worth importing vs. buying in Israel, along with their Tax-Free Privileges and Shipping Guide.

Ed Singer from Sonigo Worldwide Moving recently shared with me (and the readers of the Voleh blog) their Shipping Rights Guide for people making Aliya from Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States, and other (but not all) Western countries, as well as their Aliya Shipping Guide which provides basic information about preparing your shipment.

Once all of your worldly goods have left your possession and are in the care of a professional shipping company, I highly recommend that you take a few days to vacation and say goodbye to the old world and prepare for your new life in the Holy Land! I wish you an uneventful and peaceful transition.

Congratulations! Mazal Tov! You’ve come to the conclusion that you have a strong desire to make Aliyah and now you need to take care of the logistics. I’ve been hearing from a lot of you lately and although I’d like to be able to respond to each of your needs individually I just don’t have the capacity to do so.

I want to help you, so I suggest you begin with an excellent article NBN has published about choosing a community, follow their instructions and then contact me with specific questions and I will do my best to research and respond as quickly and thoroughly as possible.

Wishing you all the best! Shavua Tov!

NBN just launched a really cute new video called Aliyah Down the Line

And it made me think of all my friends back in the U.S. who dream of Aliyah “sometime” in the future, but first they need to ____________(fill in the blank).

Many of us are here waiting to welcome you with open arms. Please share in the comments below what is preventing you from making Aliyah now. We’d all like to help you overcome those hurdles and speed up the process because we need you here!

Shabbat Shalom!

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Thank You

I’ve received a lot of great feedback from yesterday’s post (Are you Too Old to Make Aliyah?), thanks to all of you who wrote to me offline.

Since you’re already in that change state of mind (if you’re considering Aliyah, that is), another useful exercise to consider is that of carefully assessing your skills, hobbies and passions to determine if there is something else you’d rather be doing to make a living – something that could work here.

Go ahead and give it a try for maybe ten minutes, or a few hours – or a few days!

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Got it? Okay, now:

1) Research the Israeli business directories (e.g., Israel Science & Technology, NBN, etc.) email lists (there are many at Yahoo) and online discussions (e.g., LinkedIn and industry-specific sites) – and don’t forget Google – to determine if anyone else is already doing it. Are they? If so, could there be room for another similar business (consider different angles and niches).

2) Will this be a “one-wo/man show or would it be beneficial to partner with others? Consider teaming up with other new olim by surveying olim-related email lists and online discussion forums (are you registered at the Anglo Aliyah Exchange yet?)

3) Survey some lists and websites for Israeli pricing of whatever supplies (if applicable) you’ll need vs. what it would cost for you to pack and ship them in your lift.

4) Explore MATI, NBN and Voleh for resources for funding, business plans, legal and accounting services, etc.

5) Will you need to maintain a bank account and/or mailing address in the country you’re emigrating from? If so, establish the services before your Aliyah flight.

6) Will you require the services of someone remaining in the “old country” to handle that end of the business? If so, consider meeting with and contracting with that person before leaving.

And remember to keep thinking outside the box!

Shabbat Shalom!

There has been a very popular discussion thread taking place on the Nefesh B’Nefesh LinkedIn group for more than 2 weeks regarding older olim, employment and living in the northern part of Israel.

There were more than 100 comments when I logged in tonight and I became concerned about an air of negativity that was rising.

Let’s put things in perspective shall we? How is the IT job market in the US for the over-50 crowd right now? Yeah, I thought so… we made Aliyah when I was 50 and my husband 52. During the 10 years prior to that in NY, WV, TN and OH he (a senior level DBA and Chemical Process Engineer) was unemployed for a sum total of approximately 3.5 years. My very secure Internet Content Editor position with Deloitte and Touche was moved to a different state at a time I wasn’t in a position to relocate and my Senior Technical Writer position with a mortgage bank went away when they fell on hard times.

Lesson learned: there is no such thing as job security. Senior level people can make a good living as Consultants. We learned that my husband could do trouble-shooting contracting to a variety of companies (thru outsourcing firms) and earn $50 to $75 per hour – this made up for the down-time.

We came to Israel not knowing exactly how we would earn a living and we exhausted our savings during the first 13 months that he was still unemployed. Then he landed an “employee” position with a big company here – decent money and great benefits. Guess what – the same thing happened to him here that happened when he was an employee in the US… he fixed everything that was broken, automated tasks and worked himself out of a job!

Consulting in Israel can be a challenge if you aren’t fluent in Hebrew, however, there is a niche market of mainly English-speaking companies and non-profits – AND they’ll pay 200 to 300+ NIS per hour to consultants to solve their problems. If consulting isn’t for you, don’t fret – there are many possibilities here.

I worked as an employee for an Israeli hi tech start-up for 6 months and learned all about their thought processes (fyi – many Israelis think “planning” is a 4-letter word) – they (and many others like them from what I’m hearing from other olim) are short-sighted and foolish in their goals. This presents a tremendous opportunity for Americans (or people from anywhere, really) who have good solid work ethic and rich experience. If you want to know more write to me.

There is grant money available for new olim to start businesses and if a group were to pool resources, a solid business or two (or twenty…) could be formed and many older olim who feel the need to be employees could realize that dream. There are lawyers and accountants in Israel who provide pro-bono or highly discounted assistance to olim to help get them on their feet. The first one who comes to mind is Attorney Tzvi Szajnbrum – read his blog at http://voleh.org.

The government also subsidizes vocational training for those who decide they’d like to retrain to improve their skillset or do something different.

I found myself needing to do a skills assessment and put on my marketing hat to find clients who need a variety of hi tech and marketing services and in doing so I’ve gained valuable skills in the latest marketing medium – social media marketing – as a result.

Are we living up to the economic standards we enjoyed in the US? No, not yet – we don’t have 3 vehicles in the garage or a huge house, BUT WE’RE LIVING IN ISRAEL!!! Baruch Hashem! And with one child still in school we’re saving more than $10k / year in US private school tuition. But best of all I can see Jerusalem from my home office!

There are tradeoffs in every situation – and trade ups. Sure, it can be unsettling and even frightening at times, however, where else in the world can we live as Jews according to our own calendar and our traditions without having to apologize for who we are? We are making history! We are pioneers fulfilling prophecy and a most important mitzvah and there is a ton of work to be done here to make this the place it should be.

Create a profile at Job Shuk and start marketing yourself there. I landed a great client – and friend – from Finland via JobShuk. I think my San Francisco client also found me there.

If possible, learn a little bit of Hebrew every week – even if it’s just one word. There are many online resources available, and some that are even free like those offered by Jacob Richman.

YOU MUST THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX to survive anywhere these days!

One final piece of advice: always indicate “English: native tongue” on any application or profile – you’d be amazed at how many English editing jobs I receive after American companies pay someone in India to do work for them!

B’Hatzlacha!

Having trouble finding work in your field? If so, I have good news for you!

Misrad HaKlita currently has funding available for a retraining program – you can get up to an 80% grant (maximum 7000 NIS) for vocational retraining. You might consider advancing your current knowledge in your previous profession or choosing a different field of work if you have a hobby or other interests that could be turned into a parnassah.

You must to apply via your Misrad HaKlita employment counselor (ask to speak with a “Yoetzet Taasuka”) prior to enrollment in a course of study.

1. Decide what you want to study.
2. Locate a training program and ask the administrator to provide you with documentation of:
   • Ishur HaTamat
   • Course Program ( Tochnit Limudim)
   • Dates of course
   • Cost of course
   • Total number of hours
3. With that in hand make an appointment with your advisor at Misrad HaKlita and submit the documentation to her/him.

Throughout your training and travels, be sure to follow THE most important rule in pursuit of your career in Israel: NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK!

Maale Adumim-Yeshiva Tichonit

The City of Maale Adumim has just announced that it is taking steps to ensure that olim teens are provided with the tools they need for a successful Aliyah.

Following the excellent example set by Ulpana Tzvia for Girls, the Education and Absorption Departments of the Maale Adumim Municipality have worked together to develop a new and exciting first year in Israel, integrative program at the Yeshiva Junior High School in Maale Adumim.

The program offers:

• Three month intensive ulpan beginning in August ( approx. 300 hours of professional Hebrew instruction)
• Gradual integration into the regular Hebrew courses
• Continuation of daily Hebrew instruction as well as subject tutoring throughout the year
• Participation in all social/cultural programs
• Special volunteering program in community to practice Hebrew skills

The integrative program is designed for students in seventh, eighth and ninth grades. Tenth grade candidates may be accepted although completion of full matriculation exams is not guaranteed.

Program requires 5 student minimum.

Registration is open until Pesach 2011.

For more information and registration, please contact:

Shelley Brinn, Project Manager-English Speaking Olim
Cell: 050-8296470
Office: 02-5418827
E-mail: Klita_ma@mam.org.il