A record-breaking 5,000 people from throughout France have thus far visited an aliyah fair taking place in the heart of Paris today, the same day as the French run-off election. The fair, organized and run by the Jewish Agency, is being attended by Jewish Agency Chairman of the Executive Natan Sharansky, as well as by representatives of various Israeli local authorities and government bodies, who are meeting with participants and presenting them with various opportunities for settling in Israel. Jewish Agency Chairman Sharansky noted emotionally that thousands of members of the French Jewish community had visited the fair. “I cannot recall having seen such a massive number of people interested in aliyah since the days when lines of people stretched out of the Israeli embassy in Moscow,” said … Continue Reading
Ethiopian Olim Guided through Model Seder
Mivasseret Zion, Israel (April 2, 2012) - The little girls stood on stage holding up a child’s painting of the Ten Commandments, quietly but confidently singing “Who Knows One,” the traditional Passover song about Jewish icons such as the Five Books of Moses, the Four Matriarchs, the Three Patriarchs, the two Tablets that Moses brought from Mount Sinai, and the Oneness of God. It could have been a scene from any number of school Passover presentations, but these children were new immigrants to Israel from Ethiopia, demonstrating their Jewish knowledge for family members who, with them, are about to celebrate their first Passover in Israel. This Friday night, an estimated 5,500 members of the Falash Mura community will hold seders together in absorption centers throughout Israel, … Continue Reading
Defending the Jewish Agency: A Conundrum
In a little over a week, the Jewish Agency (JAFI) Board of Governors is set to meet. And, as has been the norm for the past few years, high on the agenda will be balancing the budget (which the Agency is required to do). These are not fun times for JAFI. They are continually coping with declining donations from the Diaspora; the Hebrew media - mostly at the behest of disgruntled employees (past and present) and the immigrant associations - are daily questioning the Agency's commitment to aliyah; and personal vendettas are, to JAFI's detriment, always playing out. Such is just some of the background for a biting article on compensation that appeared in today's Haaretz. The salaries listed in the article are correct. The assumptions made range from ill-informed to vindictive. Let's look … Continue Reading
New Olot Capture the Spirit of Chanukah
Just in time to celebrate Chanukah, a group of 76 new American Olim arrived in Israel this morning. … Continue Reading
A Matter of Life or Death
by Rabbi Leor Sinai This past June we made Aliyah. In less than two months we’ve been thrown into the complex reality that is life in Israel. We’ve mastered the rough seas of bureaucratic processes and citizenship requirements; we’ve found a wonderful neighborhood to live in, schools for our children, employment, and inspiration in the Cottage Cheese Revolution’s transformation to a call for Tzedek Hevrati - Social Justice. And then the sirens started followed by missiles. As a new immigrant, an Oleh, I was prepared for the administrative web of absorption - draining one’s every ounce of celebratory eagerness upon arrival to Israel. For this we were prepared, however there is no preparing for the unexpected - having to run for our lives to shelter from missile attack. We live in Be’er … Continue Reading
Young Progressives to Make Group Aliyah
Defying the image of American aliyah as reserved for the politically conservative, a group of 12 liberal young Jews from the Habonim Dror North America movement will move to Israel this September to form an urban kibbutz. “This is one of the most exciting developments in Labor-Zionist aliyah in the past two decades,” says Talia Spear, the national director of Habonim Dror. “While individuals from Habonim Dror have been immigrating to Israel for many years, this is the first time in decades that activists are making aliyah together as a group. Their decision is stirring up a lot of energy across the movement. We’re hoping that this group will be the first in a new wave of young, progressive, North Americans moving to Israel.” The group is made up of recent college graduates who are … Continue Reading
Continuing a Peoplehood Debate
by Dr. Misha Galperin I am delighted that my op-ed has spurred a conversation about an issue that is critical to modern Jewish life. What is the nature of Jewish peoplehood? If it is about connection among Jews, but has no additional substance, then we have failed our history and our values. If peoplehood is only a way to raise money, then we haven’t gone deep enough. If it is to serve “the stranger ” without caring for our own first, then we have missed the mark. Peoplehood is such a new word that it comes up every time you spell check it. The newness of it has collapsed into vague discussions and definitions. I offer mine again: Jewish peoplehood is the bond that exists among Jews that transcends time and geography and involves mutual care and responsibility; it’s about meaningful … Continue Reading
Talking Seriously About Aliya
by Haviv Rettig Gur Let's be honest: English-speaking Jews will not make aliya because you showed them a brochure extolling the financial benefits of immigration. That's not because they are waiting for more money, but because it's not about money. Young Diaspora Jews in the West are not seeking comfort, but challenge. They don't want to blindly follow in the footsteps of their parents, but are nevertheless willing to explore Jewish life and tradition as a source of authentic identity. More than anything else, they want to feel that their lives are a product of their own initiative. (I should know. In 1999, at the age of 18, I left a beloved community in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and a red 9-seater Chevrolet Suburban, bought for me by my parents when I learned to drive at 16, in order to join … Continue Reading
Aliya is a Fig Tree, Not Coca-Cola
by David Breakstone One of my favorite things about living in Israel is the huge fig tree I have growing in my tiny backyard, right next to the wild grapes. Together they create an aura of endless possibilities, evoking an era of prophetic fulfillment when, having hammered our swords into plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks, we will be able to recline absentmindedly on hot summer afternoons under the shade of our vines and our fig trees, enjoying the gifts of prosperity and peace. Throw in the pomegranates thriving nearby and you have the three fruits harvested just last week by those whom Moshe sent to scout out the land, attesting to its bounty. So my fig tree, with its biblical associations, keeps me dreaming. It’s also taught me a thing or two about encouraging others, living … Continue Reading
Shas and Jewish Agency Reach Agreement on Orthodox Conversion Aliyah
In a letter dated yesterday, the Interior Ministry of the State of Israel notified the Knesset of a change of policy as to procedures for granting Oleh status to Orthodox converts. Instead of turning to the Chief Rabbinate for eligibility approval, it will now turn to the Jewish Agency for Israel. According to sources close to the issue, Chief Rabbi Amar supports the move which also had to gain approval of [Shas] Interior Minister Eli Yishai. This agreement represents the first real compromise between the Shas led Interior Ministry and Jewish Agency Chair Natan Sharansky on a question of Jewish identity. Many conversion questions are up in the air and the only forum actually dealing with the issue is the conversion roundtable chaired by Sharansky. This is one of many issues, but it … Continue Reading
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