or, how to make a long way when it could be a short one...

lets face it Israel is becoming more like Tehran with Eli Yishai as interior minister no wonder young people are leaving. Good luck to them.

I knew Israelis including myself who when we lived in Israel were not really interested in being Jewish apart from high holidays but when we go back to the diasporo some of us really appreciate our Jewish heritage and celebrate it more. Its similiar to Irish Americans in America, Italians etc. Abroad we realise why we love being Jews, why we love (and miss) Israel. I love Berlin, one of the coolest cities on the planet. A lot of these talkbacks seem to come from people who probably never even left America let alone visit Europe

Millions of non-Jews want to live in Israel but millions of Jews do not. Tragic.

I pity you. But as you're an ex Israeli, I can't judge you, as I can not fathom what it is to be one. I hate every minute of my visits there apart from meeting up with british members of the family. I feel like ET when I'm there and breathe a thankful sigh of relief when I'm on the plane homeward bound. We spent a 2day Yomtovthere, just once (as when I was a child) and it was just awful. Chaq'un a son gout or however the french say it.

"Disgusting" is the only way I can express myself. This is a country and I don't care how much repentance the nation has done or if its history is swept under the rug so to speak, its a cursed nation for the Jewish people and if the Shoah would teach us anything, its that Jews should never live in in this country beside its countrymen ever again. We don't belong there. We are Jews. Period.

Because that is what Israel has become. With a state religion that preaches racial supremacy and hatred for the non Jewish world. With a government that has institutionalized apartheid and non-judicial murder. If I were a Jew I'd be looking for a more sane country in which to reside also.

My wife spent the better part of her life in Israel and was furious when her parents made the decision for her to go to America. She cried and hated it here and begged them all to go back. That didn't happen. Instead they pushed her into college here where she met me. I spent my entire life in the US and hated every day of it. I never felt I fit in especially as a Jew. I could never seem to empathize with the dominant American culture and mindset. After five months in Israel I knew I had found my true home and was destined to live there. I just clicked with everyone and everything. Italy and Mexico were even worse than the US and I will not be returning there. Right now I am trying to explain to my family that after I make aliyah I would prefer that they visit me so I don't have to come back to the US to see them. But America is by no means a bad place. It's just not right for some Jews. And of course there will always be things I miss about it.

Even though I was born after the Holocaust, just hearing the German language makes me uneasy. Also, I feel like some of the talkbackers here. My life in the US was fine but I always felt a little strange when I was the only Jew in many situations and places. I've felt at home in Israel from the moment I stepped off the plane here - over 40 years ago. Despite all the problems, I love this country and never intend to leave.

where everyone is bumping into the other because there is a general discomfort brought in equal parts by 1.the religious - from their narrow minded view of Torah, and 2.the hilonim by their obsession of socialist laws that must rule over every aspect of life. And (3) also by the general vanity that everyone has the supreme truth. Europe and America have a high level culture that we are here light years far off, especially for kids possibilities of learning and being entertained in a cultural way, whatever israelis would say about it, but this depends also more on parents abroad because there are many more way of losing one's child in insane occupations Israelis MUST come to get away from the edges mentalities and the obssessive fights over stupid extremists left/haredi positions and open to one another without anger nor shame.

who can live with NIS.3800 a month if he is not a computer, businessman or whatever when coming from abroad with a family to care for ???????????????????????????????????

I did the aliyah thing but due to the lack of decent jobs a person cannot survive on a basic salary in Tel Aviv, rampant protexia and the fact that I did not have a fortune of money to support myself for 3 or more years while I learnt Hebrew to mother tongue level. I sadly also found that the ordinary Israeli loves to kick the little bit of dignity you have out of you. All a person wants is a decent job , where one can afford a small property of ones own and money for a pension fund , all of these would have been deprived from me. You want Olim change the Israeli mindset and you will be amazed how many Jews will come back home.

some of them have stopped thinking. Witness the fact that some of their youth are emigrating to Germany. I dont get it and as far as I'm concerned those to go live in a Germany can choke for all I care.

you got same old mantra, "Eli Yishay religious bad", if you have froblem with it, change it, running away like cowards isn't the solution.

You are 100% correct !!!! Say no more.

They brought you into the world. Why do you even visit them?!

perfectly said. I am also from the states and have been here 2 decades and I love it. I love Israel. I would like to understand Israelis moving to Germany but I just feel disgust. I cannot imagine sitting on a train there and hearing German chatter. It chills me ti the bone. To have a child born there??? Ugghh. SOrry.

like their grandparents, at the prong of a pitchfork. then they where they will suddenly discover an audience for their trombones.

Where are you talking about " I hate every minute of my visits there." Are you talking about London ,Berlin or Israel ??? please make yourself clear.

It is easier to walk on water than to change the crappy israeli mindset. Makes me very uncomfortable to read about israelis choosing to live in Berlin but there is very little opportunity in Israel ,unless you are related to the late Moshe Dayan etc..

There is little opportunity in Israel ,a country with first world technology and ,sadly ,a third world mentality .Live on 3000 shekels a month for the rest of their lives ?

is the only good thing, as was stated. Fortunately the nucleus family is here. When they come here, it's even better...for us all. Good idea to read first, carefully.

It's best not to talk about something that we know nothing about because we simply put our ignorance on display. Michael

I can imagine Berlin is a magnet for Israelis. If it could offer me 6 months of sunshine and liberal social welfare system I would be there. Their well known discipline, politeness, and productivity provides a chance of a better quality of life and a standard of living that is missing from this country.

Olim come here full of zionist sentiment .But the reality of daily life here ids harsh and opportunities thin on the ground ,unless you are the cousin of Moshe Dayan or Barak .

Closest family members are all here, as you're so worried. We go to their simchas in UK and they come to ours. I dont enjoy being there in that country, even though I was born there. G'night sleep well.