Aliya: Learning Hebrew

Learning Hebrew is one of the most difficult and also important parts of a successful Klita (absorption) into Israeli society.

While many Olim have succeeded without spoken Hebrew, this is the exception and not the rule.

Plan on needing at least spoken Hebrew within your first two to three years.
Reading will be a major benefit.
Writing in Hebrew (for those of us that don’t learn this as children) is not nearly as important, and many Olim succeed without ever reaching this level.

All new Olim are entitled (and expected) to take a course in Ulpan. These are special classes designed specifically for new Olim to learn Hebrew, and the best are full-time (5-6 hours a day, during the morning and early afternoon) courses which run 5-6 months.

Don’t think that you can come to Israel knowing little or no Hebrew, and walk out of Ulpan 6 months later being fluent! The basic courses (Aleph and Bet) will teach you the basics (The Aleph-Bet, the structure of words, the tenses and genders) however learning vocabulary is mostly up to you.

In short, it’s a good idea to learn some Hebrew before you come, and expect to continue learning Hebrew past your Ulpan experience.

Aliya: Online email lists or websites

Many communities in Israel have email lists for English Speakers living in their community, and there are several email lists for English Speakers in Israel in general.

Listed here is a partial list of the more useful/active lists.

There are also similar lists (not listed here) which are either dedicated to a very specific group/purpose, or where the list is designed to benefit a specific business (even if it isn’t apparent).

Some lists are standard Yahoo! Groups, and some have been set up on an independent website or email server.

All of the lists here are free to join:

• Tachlis
  A general email list for new and old Olim in Israel.
  http://www.jafi.org.il/JewishAgency/English/Aliyah/Aliyah+Info/Aliyah+Information/General+Information/Tachlis/Tachlis.htm

• Janglo and Tanglo
  One of the oldest email lists for English Speakers in Jerusalem and Tel Aviv.
  www.janglo.net

• InHaSharon
  For English Speakers in Ra’Anana, Herzilia, Netanya, Kfar Saba, Hod HaSharon, and the Sharon region.
  www.inhasharon.co.il/

• RBS List Serve
  For English Speakers in the Ramat Bet Shemesh area.
  http://shemesh.co.il/mailman/listinfo/list

• Modi’in
  For English Speakers in the Modi’in area.
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Modiin/

• Taanglo
  A Yahoo! Group for English Speakers in Jerusalem.
  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/taanglo/

• IsraEmploy
  This list is free to join, however there is a subscription fee to receive full contact information for available jobs.
  This is specifically for job postings in Israel:
  http://www.israemploy.net/

Aliya: Israeli Groups for New Olim

Groups and Organizations

There are many groups, both abroad and here in Israel, which can help with pre- or post-Aliya needs. This is a partial list, with an outline of what they do:

• AACI (Americans and Canadians in Israel)
  AACI is a great resource, offering help with Job Placement, assistance on arrival, social activities, Financial planning, discounts at many Israeli Businesses for members, and all sorts of advice related to making Aliya and living in Israel.
  www.aaci.org.il

• ESRA
  (English Speaking Residents Association)
  ESRA offers assistance with absorption, Job Placement, and many other need for (English Speaking) people who have just make Aliya.
  www.esra.org.il

• TELFED
  TELFED is the South African Zionist Federation assistance organization. Offering the same types of help as AACI, and other issues specific to people who are, or have, made Aliya from South Africa.
  www.telfed.org.il

• VOLEH
  A group offering legal advice for new Olim.
  www.voleh.org

• MATI
  The Jerusalem Business Development Center is designed to help Israelis (both Native and Olim) set up small businesses and expand existing ones.
  www.mati.org.il/eng/

• Cyrus Foundation
  A non-profit organization which offers grants for new immigrants from the US to ship their goods to Israel (when making Aliya).
  www.restorationisrael.org

• Israel Business Connection
  A business offering free advice for Olim setting up small business and understanding the more intricate aspects of specific business models in Israel.
  www.infoisrael.co.il

• Jacob Richmond’s Aliya Pages
  Jacob is an amazing person, and a computer pro. His pages are filled with all sorts of information from Job Search (specific to people in computers and high tech), learning Hebrew, and all types of current events in Israel.
  www.jr.co.il

Aliya- First step

Here is a simple checklist (in no specific order) for the first things to do:

• Contact Nefesh B’Nefesh or the Jewish Agency (more information below) about starting the application.

• Place your home on the market, or at least calculate how long your home will take to sell (contact a real estate agent).

• Review your Hebrew skills, and determine your skill level.
  If it is low, consider taking a class in Hebrew.

• Budget your finances – both for the time before you will make Aliya, as well as the fist six months to one year after you arrive.
  (It’s a good idea to assume you will need at least six months to find employment).

• Review your (and your families) medical history and get a check up.

• Make contact with some Israeli based Aliya groups (AACI, for example).

• Pay off or pay down any debts.

• Review your decision to make Aliya with all family members, especially children who will be coming with you.

• If you have pets, find out the needed procedures for bringing them to Israel (this can take a few months).

• Try to cut back on your day to day expenses – reduce what you spend on things like entertainment, dining out, and other luxuries.
  The money will come in handy later, and you’ll start to get used to a more Israeli lifestyle (where recreation is usually done in a less expensive manner).

• Start to review your possessions – what you might ship or might not.
  Shipping is expensive, so there is no reason to ship goods that should go to Tzedaka or the trash.

• Consider any special needs you or your family might have, and see what resources are available in Israel.

This is not a complete list, as each individual or family will likely have something important to them.
However, the idea is that you will be changing everything in your life, so review everything you can, as early as possible.

Early Aliya Planning

When is the time to start planning your Aliya?
As soon as possible! As soon as you think you might want to make Aliya, it makes sense to review what is involved, and what you can do now, rather than later.

At a minimum, it’s a good idea to start six months before.
However it is very normal for people to start over a year in advance.

Starting could be as simple as reading this (or other) guides, taking a course in Hebrew, squaring away your finances (and putting some money aside), or visiting Israel on a pilot trip (not a touring trip – see below).

Here are some basic things you should review during your early Aliya planning.

Aliya to Israel (1)

Making Aliya is an exciting and challenging move.
Not only do you need to consider all of the normal changes involved with a move (finding a home, schools, learning your way around the new city); or the normal considerations in moving to a new country (new languages, laws, governmental procedures); you will also be returning to the home of your ancestors, as well as a modern country in all respects.

The Israel you will be moving to most likely won’t be the Israel in your imagination, however every year thousands of Jews make Aliya and settle in happily.

This brief guide will hopefully help make your Aliya to Israel a little easier.
Of course, no guide is comprehensive – instead, it is designed to help you both plan properly, and to point you to references which will also help.

May your Aliya and Klita (absorption) be smooth and easy!