I mistook Missouri for Mississippi.

I'm a native American. I feel the same way he does except about the US not Israel.

you've probably mixed up Jewish soul with the Zionist one. In my view, this article is designed to struck the zionist feelings; yet, many Jews who live far from the Holy Land can sympathize to this feeling. In my opinion, it's more 'healthier' for the Jewish soul to dwell in the land of gentiles than in the modern State of Israel. Jews are always remain Jews. Being a Zionist, however, is a one's pure choice which could be easily rebuffed at any point in time, should the need arise.

Good luck, you'll need. I went back two years ago and one year was enough Now I'm in toronto more than 50,000 Israelis in Toronto, a large family fortunately they quickly forget the Israeli huzpa Israel unfortunately has become a very ugly place

Nothing exists west of the Hudson, except LA and it's best not to talk about that.

After 15 yrs of this.. . we're leaving in Aug.

Your parents were right. Wait until you have to pay $400,000 for a ridiculous small apartment, your kids grow up and you are in the lishkat hagiyus, you get stuck in horrendous traffic jams every day, you pay for everything exhorbitant prices and you see all the undemocratic corruption, racism and egocentricity of the politicians on the TV every day. You should have moved within the US again to somewhere which has a larger Jewish population if that's what you want.

etiquettes to individuals. I think we belong where our heart is. If a Jew feels better abroad,so be it.

There is snorkling in Efrat? Awesome? Where? Unless you meant Eilat?

I have lived in 4 countries, and Israel is the most materialistic place I have ever had the misfortune to live! People are OBSESSED with money, labels, and status, always eyeing and envying one another, and creating a sickeningly competitive and materialistic environment. We made aliyah with great enthusiasm and left after several years with great heartache and disillusionment. To the writer of this article: if you couldn't make any close friends after all those years, look to yourself and not to the U.S.

Maybe the writer knew he will return and never really was open to new friendships. I have met some really nice Israeli friends in my 15 yrs here, but that doesn't take the sting doesn't off a pathologically inconsiderate society, that drives, walks, talks and shops with almost purposeful hostility to itself. That can't be run right because no one really gives a shit about anything but their own pocket. No long term planning, no coherent policy, just loud, screaming, America wannabes with a Judaic twist - ie no religous freedom. Where charity is just for scamming. I don't know about America, but I can't wait to leave.

...being homesick for life in a real Hebrew-Israeli culture is true, and valid. But please stop pretending that spending some years in a large city (especially a shithole like St. Louis, always amongst the top 3 of crime statistics) teaches you all there is to know about Americanism. Try spending a few years in Idaho or Wyoming. If an American Oleh spent 3 years in a full-socialist kibbutz (there's a few left) and then said he's "done" the Israel experience, wouldn't you laugh at him?

Unfortunately, not everyone can find work in Israel, only those who are very well-connected to powerful moneyed corporate people...

Google: Yahoo happiest countries , and you will get to a link last week about a list of the 10 happiest countries in the world. Israel is #6. The USA is #11.

I stayed at what used to be the Carmel Hotel in Netanya. It went bust and now each room has been let out as flats at discounted rates. Only trouble is, in that part of Netanya, on Shabbat you are isolated. I learned that Friday night is something that you don't leave to chance. It was just bad planning on my part - nobody elses fault - only my own. There's no hotels near by, up there in that part, just blocks of flats, no hotel restarant in the Carmel itself. You're stuffed. You hear the clattering of plates while you're walking outside to try and find somewhere. Everyone is having their shabbat dinner and you're not. Home is where the heart is - and it wasn't there for me that night. There was one Chinese restaurant that was open, and that was the only place I could find and that was it. I ended up going there which wasn't really my scene at all. Israel can also be a distressingly lonely place too if you're in the wrong part.

The quality of life in St. Louis is quite high. You've obviously never been there. Stay where you are as it's much easier to have a closed mind if you don't go anywhere else.

Yoav is mainly correct about the Diaspora, but in fairness, within the very frum enclaves there is still a strong sense of community and still some embarrassment about being overtly materialistic. But then many of our most talented frum young people eventually find their way home to israel.