Comments on: Successful Aliyah Starts in Your Head

By: Rachel Steiner

Rachel Steiner — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:37:45 +0000

Whilst there are cultural differences, that doesn't mean that everyone here is lovely and misunderstood. And I'm married to an Israeli. So I've got a helpful local. I've no idea if I have had a successful aliyah or not. Don't think I can cope with "Aliyah" with a capital A and I have been here near on ten years.

By: Rachel Steiner

Rachel Steiner — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 17:37:45 +0000

By: Chaya Tal

Chaya Tal — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:57:48 +0000

Good one! Applies to all Olim.

By: Chaya Tal

Chaya Tal — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 12:57:48 +0000

Good one! Applies to all Olim.

By: Malcolm Ainspan

Malcolm Ainspan — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 18:56:53 +0000

Great post, Leah. I would also add that Israeli "dugri-ness", while initially off-putting, is usually much more effective and healthy. You know where you stand, no one wastes time on circumlocutions, and relationships become deeper more quickly. Part of maintaining emotional well-being upon making aliyah from North America is realizing that your job is to integrate and use your background to build the country, not to tame the savages. A little humility goes a long way.

By: Leah Zakh Aharoni

Leah Zakh Aharoni — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 08:37:38 +0000

Miriam, perception shapes reality glad to hear from you

By: Miriam Erez

Miriam Erez — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:08:24 +0000

Should've read: "no plum job or comfy suburban villa can smooth out the deep-seated dissatisfaction of living in a PERCEIVED society of ill-mannered barbarians…" In the 32 years since I moved here, I find the society to be far more civil on an individual and bureaucratic basis; we still have a long way to go in proper retail management and customer service. Regarding the latter, I recommend adjusting one's expectations: Assume that brick-and-mortar shopping will take twice as long as it does abroad; there is no such thing as a quick transaction or (God forbid) return. That's the trick.

By: Miriam Erez

Miriam Erez — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 12:08:24 +0000

By: Dean Borok

Dean Borok — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 19:14:33 +0000

After reading this, I am not going

By: Neil Gillman

Neil Gillman — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:26:56 +0000

Very much enjoyed this!

By: Neil Gillman

Neil Gillman — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 17:26:56 +0000

Very much enjoyed this!

By: Dana Meijler-Gross

Dana Meijler-Gross — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 13:23:32 +0000

You are right on the money on this one. Successful aliyah doesn't start in your head, it's all in your head. You have to remember why you wanted to come in the first place, embrace what you love about the country and try to minimize what you don't love. It's so easy when we don't speak the language and feel out of place to put rose colored glasses and think everything at home is better, especially when you're having a bad day. But the truth is that every place has it's good things and crappy things and Israel is no different.

By: Rachel Furman Stern

Rachel Furman Stern — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:24:50 +0000

YES, this is true and it is one of the things I counsel would-be olim: to not judge Israeli's by American cultural norms.

By: OritAharon Elgavi

OritAharon Elgavi — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 12:05:19 +0000

Love it! Thank you!

By: Leah Zakh Aharoni

Leah Zakh Aharoni — Tue, 26 Feb 2013 11:35:13 +0000

thank you Laura Ben-David