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Aliyah FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions)

This section of Israelitus.com is designed to give those of you zionists pondering about whether or not to make aliyah ALL the answers.

This section has been composed with input from a variety of sources, mostly close to those of us at Israelitus.com. Thank you kindly, wherever you 'in putters' might now be...

"The word Zionism was coined by an Austrian journalist, Nathan Birnbaum, in 1886 and is derived from the word 'Zion,' the original name of the Jebusite stronghold in Jerusalem. Zion became a symbol for Jerusalem during the reign of King David. The goal of Zionism is the political and spiritual renewal of the Jewish people in its ancestral homeland and a Zionist is someone who supports this objective."
From "The Idiot's Guide to Middle East Conflict" by Mitchell Bard

We recommend you take a look at 'Liza's World' for a series of articles by someone who's gone through the whole experience.

Just click on any of the questions below...

What is Aliyah?
Why make Aliyah?
What should I do before considering Aliyah?
At what age is it best to make Aliyah?
I am finishing high-school. What would you recommend?
Where can I find out about employment opportunities in Israel?
Will I want to stay? 
What about housing?
Is Israel safe?
Other Useful Links

  • What is 'Aliyah'?
     Aliyah is the word that describes the return of the Jewish People from the exile in the Diaspora back to the Land of Israel. The word Aliyah is derived from the verb "laalot" which means "to go up", or "to ascend" in a positive spiritual sense. A person who makes Aliyah is called an Oleh, meaning "one who goes up".

  • Why make Aliyah? 
    There may be as many stories as the millions of Jewish People who made Aliyah to Israel. But, probably the most overwhelming is the desire the maintain the national identity in the face of strong assimilation in foreign lands. The Jewish population is constantly on the decline in the Diaspora, while the population of Israel increasing steadily.

  • What should I do before considering Aliyah? 
     If you are considering Aliyah, come to Israel for a brief trip. If you are a college student, there are excellent opportunities that allow you to visit Israel with minimal cost (see Birthright Israel programs). In your first trip to Israel, dedicate time to absorb the history of our nation in archeological sites and museums. Travel the whole length of Israel from the Golan Heights in the North to Eilat in the South seeing the natural beauty, and richness of the Land of Israel. Rest your eyes before the vast bare scenes of the Judean Desert and imagine yourself at the time of the early Hebrew patriarchs. It is here in Yehuda and Shomron hills that your great-great ... grandparents changed the course of human history with their monotheistic belief. Go to markets and modern shopping centers and feel the diversity and richness of Israel. If you leave Israel with a touch of feeling that an ancient primordial chord has been struck deep inside you, if you feel a sense of belonging to this special people and the scenes of the land of Israel, you can continue the journey to your ancient past.

  • At what age is it best to make Aliyah? 
     Any age, but the younger, the better! Changing a country, and a language and a culture is not an easy experience! The younger you are the easier the acclimation to change. If you make Aliyah when you are 22, you'll learn Hebrew faster than when you are 55! The same goes for almost everything. If you are aged between 18-26, we recommend taking a look at www.birthrightisrael.com.

  • I am finishing high-school. What would you recommend? 
    Come to Israel to study in one of the outstanding universities or in a Yeshiva program. If you come as an Oleh, then the Jewish Agency provides a subsidy to finance your studies. The first year is spent in intensive Hebrew studies course called Ulpan, then you can pursue regular academic studies in the discipline of your choice. Our own Liza (see Liza's World) highly recommends the following sites from personal experience:
    www.youngjudaea.org/html/israel.html
    www.usy.org/nativ/
    www.habonimdror.org
    www.projectotzma.org

  • Where can I find about employment opportunities in Israel?
    The Israeli job market varies widely by sector. Hi-tech job skills (computers, software, Internet, electronics) are in high demand and pay top shekel. Service jobs (car repair, restaurant, sales, construction) are not easily found and pay poorly. Professional jobs (nurse, doctor, dentist, lawyer, teacher, accountant) may have difficult local hurdles to overcome before being able to work. There are a number of good sites out there, including the following (some Hebrew might be useful):

    www.jobnet.co.il
    www.marksman.co.il
    www.hitechjob.co.il
    www.jobinfo.co.il
    www.dan-hr.co.il

  • Will I want to stay?
    What all the goodie goodie government agencies forget to tell you is that ...over 30% of people making aliyah return to their land of origin within 5 years.

    • Living in Israel is very different from the U.S./Europe/South Africa etc. It's hard to adjust.
    • Bad information. Some of the available information, including official information from The Jewish Agency and from the Israeli government, is inaccurate.
    • Lack of information. Most immigrants say "If I'd only known about x-x, it would have saved me significant hassle or significant money." There are many surprises for the unwary.

  • What about housing?
    Israel, by U.S. standards, is small. It is approximately the size of the state of New Jersey. The preferred living area is along the coast (the Coastal Plain) and in Jerusalem.  There is a population concentration and perceived limited housing availability.
    The result: the vast majority of Israelis live in urbanized areas (by U.S. standards) and hi-rise buildings (3-10 stories is the norm) and a limited quantity of suburbs and individual homes. Housing (to buy) is expensive, however renting is cheaper than the U.S. Certain areas (settlements & development towns) may have much cheaper housing, more space and significant incentives to buy (offset by being "out-of-the-way").

  • Is Israel safe? 
    At the moment there is renewed violence and tension in the West Bank, and Gaza Strip. Unfortunately, the threat of terrorism and civil unrest is something that the Israelis have to deal with on a daily basis. It is highly unlikely you will experience any dangerous situations as long as you follow local advice about where and where not to travel. Israel lives in a type of siege mentality. You'll see armed soldiers everywhere. You may be alarmed by this at first but you'll soon get used to it. Security is very important all over Israel. Before you arrive in Israel you'll get the pleasure of being quizzed by Israeli security staff at the airport or port of departure. Don't consider making  flippant remarks along the lines of "oh yeah, the bombs in my other bag." If you do, you'll find they won't share your sense of humour. Basically because of the prevalence of soldiers and vigilant civilians Israel is safe to travel in and visit. A word of warning though, don't change money on the streets no matter how good the vendors rate of exchange may be, you're sure to get ripped off. You're also advised to only use registered taxis. However, crime is relatively low.

  • Other Useful Links 
    www.moia.gov.il - Ministry of Immigrant Absorption 
    www.mfa.gov.il - Official government site about status
    www.jafi.org.il - Jewish Agency site
    www.adl.org - Anti Defamation League
    www.aaci.org.il - Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel.

 

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"We are in a fight in which we ultimately have to attack those who are involved in the struggle against us. There is no other way."

 Science Minister 
Matan Vilna'i 

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