New York: Not like home
Photo: AP
Why Israelis return home
New poll shows increasing number of returning residents do so because of need to feel at home
A new poll for the Absorption Ministry, the first of its kind, has taken an in depth look at Israeli residents who return to Israel, and found that while economic reasons lie mainly behind moves out of the country, returning Israelis come back to feel at home.
The phenomenon of returning residents has been increasing in recent years. According to figures for the poll, conducted by Dr. Leilah Lev Ari from Bar-Ilan University, a rise of 15 percent in the number of residents has been registered.
While in 2003, 4000 residents returned, in 2004, 4,900 residents, and in 2005, 5,700 residents returned. The Absorption Ministry believes that the actual number is double that, and that only half have registered with the Ministry.
The poll showed that a third of emigrants left the country to improve their personal situations in the areas of business, education, and quality of life. The security situation, compared to that, motivated just 10 percent to leave the country. It also emerged that while men emigrated mainly due to work and education considerations, the main motivation for women was family and friends.
Regarding their lives abroad, 62 percent of returnees did not feel an emotional connection to the country where they emigrated to, but 73 percent expressed high satisfaction with life there. It also emerged that 82 percent safeguarded their Jewish identities abroad by holding Passover seders, and 40 percent continued to speak Hebrew with their partners. Israelis who moved to Europe tended to speak in other languages at home.
The poll showed that most of the residents who returned home did so due to family and social connections. Most young men returned to Israel due to work and education, while women did so for family reasons, a trend similar to emigrants from the country.
No place like home
With that, while 81 percent of returnees reported that they were satisfied with their employment abroad, in Israel only 57 percent said the same. The employment percentage among immigrants is not significantly different in Israel compared to their time abroad.
In Israel, 59 percent of them were employed full time, while 19 percent were part time employees, while abroad, 53 percent were employed full time, and 15 percent were part time employees.
Seventy percent said they felt cool treatment by Israeli society towards them, however 61 percent said they had many friends of Israel, but feel that their community involvement is lower (16 percent in Israel, compared to 28 percent abroad).
According to the poll, the feeling of being at home is double in its intensity than that experience abroad (88 percent compared to 44 percent). The usage of Hebrew rises in Israel, but 15 percent continue to talk in a foreign language with their partner and children. With that, satisfaction with life in Israel is lower than abroad (62 percent in Israel compared to 73 percent abroad). On the other hand, 80 percent are satisfied with the absorption of their children in Israel.
Some 59 percent of returnees are sure that they will stay in Israel in the future, 28 percent still do not know what they will do in the future, and 13 percent are again considering leaving Israel. Around 50 percent of returning residents were helped by the Absorption Ministry, and expressed high satisfaction with the service provided to them by the Ministry.
In the last two years, the Absorption Ministry significantly increased its services for returning residents – encouraging employment, absorption in business, and solutions for medical coverage problems.
Mirla Gal, Director-General of the Absorption and Immigration Ministry, said that "the poll's importance is that it allows a focus on the needs of those who return to Israel, and for better directing of activities to encourage a return to Israel."
