American olim delighted with life in Israel
American Jews immigrating to Israel say atmosphere exists in Israel like nowhere else, 'To be frightened of security situation is to let them win'
NEW YORK - Lillian, 87, Yoni, 17, and Michaela, 27, do not know each other. However, they share a 2000-year-old dream: to live in Israel. While many Israelis still fantasize about an American visa or the American dream, hundreds of Jews who recently met in New York at a Nefesh B'Nefesh-hosted aliyah (immigration) meeting intend to begin a new life far away from Central Park, from Fifth Avenue or from Macy’s.
What attracts American Jews to Israel despite the current security climate? Rivka Friedman, 27, who already made the move, says, “Already by age 15 I couldn’t understand why all Jews didn’t live here in Israel. The weather, the people...It is amazing that there are all kinds of different Jews here. I live in Tel Aviv, and I love the fact that I am Jewish and that my neighbors are Jewish. I go to people’s houses for Friday night dinner, and on Yom Kippur you see everyone in the street.”
Friedman, who works for the popular Israeli public transport application company, MOOVIT, said that Israeli culture, food, life and style creats an “energy that doesn’t exist anywhere else.” While acknowledging the high quality of life in New York Friedman insisted that her life in Israel "is ten times better. Here there is unity; in New York there isn’t.”
In Israel I can be who I am
Lillian Steffield, 87, waited many years to fulfill her dream. She hopes move to Israel with her son Richard and reunite with her other son Avigdor, and her three grandchildren who live in Ma'ale Adumim. "Israel has a pleasant environment of Judaism and purity," Steffield says, adding that she simply wants to be with her family and that she is not put off by the security situation.
"Terrorism does not at all frighten me," says Jonah Rothsteinm 20. "This is life in Israel. I feel closer to my Jewish side than my American side, I feel I can be who I am much more in Israel. " As an observant Jew, Rothstein, who moved to Israel from Minesota, also said that he is unable to connect with his Judaism in the US. “I am connected with the language and the people in the land of Israel,” he insists.
To be afraid only lets them win
Ari Bornstein, 24, from New York works for Microsoft and intends to continue here in a new capacity developing startups and expanding them into the global market after completing his immigration process.
So what brings him to leave hism coveted job and move to Israel? "I feel that Israel is my home, and I want to be there and contribute to it. I know that my job is good, but a great career awaits me in Israel."
Ideology motivates Yoni Meiri, 17, to leave Brooklyn to study in a Yeshiva in Gush Etzion. Yoni then plans on enlisting in the military and hopes to join the spcial forces. Fortunately for the young teenager, he has the full support of his mother. "We educated him to care about Israel and love the land," his mother Beth says, "so I have to support him. "
She is not afraid. "Israel is our place. To be afraid is to let them win. I already have plans to visit next year. I am also thinking to move to Israel, but I don't have a special plan. I plan to make aliyah after I retire. I feel a strong connection to Israel, and we have family there."
Beth also expressed that the terror threats cannot deter prospective immigrants. "Israel is our place. To be afraid is to let them win. I plan to make aliyah after I retire. I feel a strong connection to Israel," she said.
The parents don't know yet
Yoni Meiri is just one of thousands who leave the land of opportunity to serve in the IDF each year. Sophie Loziraf,19, will soon be departing her home state of New Jersey as she embarks on a similar track and joins a combat unit. "When I first came to Israel, I felt at home. I want Israel to be my home," Sophie said.
Sophie has the full support of her parents. However, her good friend, Alexa Schwartz, 21, does not yet share her interest in joining her brother who currently lives in Jerusalem.
Despite her wonderful life in New York, and the lack of family support, Schwartz says that she determined to settle in Israel. "There is Jewish life in New York, but I would much prefer to life in Israel. People ask me why I am doing this; they are mostly people who were never there."
Neta Wolf was a guest at the Nefesh B'Nefesh aliyah conference.
