Israel to Canada: a Transition Over 23,000 Israelis Made

Transitioning from the United States to Israel taught me a lot about how difficult immigrating can be. There’s a lot to learn when you migrate to a new country, and a lot of friends I have made in Israel are thinking of immigrating to Canada.

Friends or family, or maybe a change to a different life, is their primary reason for wanting to get up and go.

It’s a decision that 22,845 Israelis had previously made in 2011, and this figure has swelled since. Between 2006 and 2015, 22,722 new Israeli permanent residents arrived in Canada. There were 2,132 new arrivals in 2015, and The Greater Toronto Area seems like the go-to choice for Israelis.

More than 50% of Israelis live in the area, and that may make it an easier location to make Aliyah, according to immigration experts.

According to immigration lawyers, Canada is welcoming of immigrants, and for this reason, many Israelis feel that there is no more stigma.

Studies, including interviews from locals, show what many people face when migrating to Israel. It’s a new world moving to Canada, and it’s easier to integrate into the job market than it is to integrate into society even after years of living in Canada.

A major issue is that the local Jewish community and the Israeli community have a difficult time forming social ties. Both associate within their own community, making it difficult for Israelis to find a sense of normalcy outside of their own Israeli community.

Cultural and behavioral differences are at play, and Israelis often have difficulty expressing themselves to locals due to language barriers.

The social gap is likely to exist, and it’s important to know why if you’re truly wanting to transition.

Israelis are confident and happy of their migration to Israel. The issue is that there’s still an Israeli identity that separates Israelis from local Jewish communities. Israelis are seen visiting Israeli websites, reading in Hebrew and maintaining their roots.

And studies show that a lot of immigrants view the move as a temporary one, with many families having plans to move back to Israel.

The issue is that these moves last longer than expected, and creating that Canadian identity isn’t easy to do or even understand.

Immigrating to Canada is difficult, you’ll be alone. Winters are long and harsh, and it may be difficult to move into the same experience level in your career as you may have enjoyed in Israel.

Canadians, on the other hand, are very polite and cordial, which is both good and bad. Corruption and passive aggressive behaviors will exist, but as a whole, Canadians are friendly.

You’ll miss people, food and the comforts of home. Israel’s booming economy is another bonus, yet Canada offers a sort of quiet solace to raise a family. Dealing with the identity crisis will be a difficult task, and the best you can do is try to assimilate into the local community.

It’s a change, but if it’s one you decide for your family, you’ll make it work. Israel is always waiting and willing to open you back if you do decide to leave.