As we usher in the first few days of 2015, Israel is a buzz over the news that over 26,500 people (including me) made aliyah in 2014 making it one of the biggest years for immigration to Israel in over a decade. Led by a record 7,000 “olim chadashim” (new immigrants) from France it was the first time in Israel’s history that the biggest source of aliyah came from the West. With anti-Semitism driving many Jews to leave, more than 1% of the French Jewish community of over 600,000 made aliyah. Tens of thousands more have begun the immigration process.
Despite the latest corruption scandal involving more politicians, despite the threat of continued war with Hamas, despite the economy and more than 1.8 million Israelis living under the poverty level and despite the yelling and screaming and lack of manners here, life in Israel “ain’t so bad”.
What did he say? Is this Jew crazy? Jew please!
For better or for worse, through the good, the bad and the ugly, Israel is our home. Israel is our fish tank. The “chara” (crap) that we see floating by and trust me there is a lot of it- is ours-it belongs to us!
Israel is growing by leaps and bounds. We are now 8.3 million Israelis and growing. Israel’s population has doubled since the 1980’s. Construction is booming with cranes dotting the landscape everywhere. Maybe Harper-Collins-(the map company) can erase Israel from their maps, but in reality we are here thriving. Israel is a strong modern hi-tech country.
For all the talk of young Israelis running away to Berlin, the truth is quite the opposite. Less Israelis have left the country in the last few years than ever before. Thousands of Israelis abroad have been returning in the last few years, including many of my friends from Los Angeles. Moreover, even the leader of the economic protest movement against the high prices of food in Israeli supermarkets, has himself left Berlin for Israel.
So my message for the New Year is a very direct one. It’s time to come home. That’s right I done said it. It’s time for Jews abroad to stop sending us money and instead send us your butts. The Bible says that when the messiah comes all the Jews will come home to Israel. Now some of you will probably go kicking and screaming saying “please G-d don’t let the messiah come in our lifetime, I have a good life here, I don’t want to go to Israel” but I digress.
Now some of you are saying “what am I gonna do in Israel and how will I make a living there?” “Why should I give up your good life abroad to struggle in Israel”?
Yes many days here are struggles. This is the Middle East. Israelis are brash and lacking manners although they have improved somewhat over the last few years. Yes sometimes Israelis hear your American accented Hebrew and see $$$ signs. There is a price for everyone and then my friend, there is a special price for you. But then these people become your friend and invite you to Shabbat dinner. This is Israel. The point is and there is a point to this, “Israel is ours”. Through all the “chara” that is here, there is a certain pride that one has of living here, because it is ours and we “Am Yisrael” have a beautiful place to call home despite it being “ugly” at times.
And while the Jews of France and Western Europe are leaving Europe in droves, the overwhelming majority of these people are choosing Israel over Canada and the US. And this simple fact says it all. These people are choosing to come home to Israel, to swim in our fish tank. So where are you? Jump in, the water is warm.!
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