on the other side, fertilize your own grass first !

it's not easy for everybody. "Chaim lo picnic". You are tzabarit - It's your country, Hebrew is your native tongue...I left Israel 10 years ago, didn't renew Israeli passport, I don't know if I come back someday. Probably not. I'm tired to try and loose money in Israel. Apartments are too expensive to us - that's really a problem for south america olim. Good luck.

Great write up, and props for following your heart, you two must have good genes as usually people who live in brooklyn/jersey for 20 years at age 40 they look 65. Times changed, and america is a big place, so I will talk about those who live in the 5 boros, if you can make it there, you can make it in the gaza strip. Cost of living there right now is insane, small shoebox size apt. in nyc (in a area where there isnt a robbery every 15 seconds) got for about 2500 bucks USD, food costs way higher than israel and so is many other things. I like when people talk about hos gas is expensive in israel, not realizing gas in ny now is almost 5 dollars and in israel u will drive less. Israel right now is the best place for a jew, i spent time both places, good luck

There are many of us here in Israel that feel the opposite, and we would return to the USA in a heart beat of we could afford to leave here, but we are trapped either by health or lack of money!

Who in the hell,,, moves to a war zone, who in the hell moves to a place where the racism and human rights violations are so thick you can cut them with a knife. Who moves to a place where Jesus is cursed, churches and mosques set on fire, African nurseries fire bombed, children in Eilat can't have a normal school year nor the Jewish children,, African refugees for what ever reasons getting ready to be put in concentration camps,,,,, can't build them fast enough. ,,, Who in the hell moves to a place where Jews hate Jews and only pretend just to be Jews in G-ds Holy Land, who in the Hell moves to a place where the cost of living leads to dispair, criminality and who you connect too. Who,,,,,, in the Hell,,,,,,,,, in the Hell,,,,,,Who.

The naysayers, whether Israelis, Diaspora Jews, or non-Jewish Israel-haters, all say the same thing--give up on the Jewish dream, on thousands of years of history, identity, values, and purpose, throw the miraculous return as a free people in Eretz Yisrael into a trash can, leave, die, negate. Their ugly message should be screened out like pollution, like angry static. Israel is our home and it is beautiful and wonderful here.

Returning Israelis are a true hidden asset to the country. They bring back professional work values, demand true change for the better and don't get taken advantage of like most Olim.

We left for the US because.....we saw our future there (Sic). Very logical ain`t it ? We, the readers,may wait for a rasonable explanation . But their answer was as hallow as a halloween pumpkin.

with her husband ,i can not understand their separation.

whereever one may go his/ her heart remains in the lands they belong, i advise you to support your country and put it above indiviaul feelings, no matter what hardtimes you are going through its the only country you have got

Glen : I could list all of America's problems, but near the the top of the list are people like you ! Roxy ! I would love to send you some money to get you out of here. Who needs you ? I am sure Glen would love to know you !

It is going to lift you up.

of my former income.Still I do not have a passport since I do not plan to travel outside of Israel in the near future.And I am happy here without bounds.Am Yisrael Hai.

Thank you for sharing your experience and insights. It was very educational to me to read this. Good luck and best wishes.

'No electronics that take away the innocence.' Thank G-d a mainstream Israeli parent who understands how much the internet can endanger children.

You are a victim of anti israel propaganda When is the last time you have been in israel??? I go to israel regularly with my wife and kids and we never got shot or even felt any danger We always have a great time The only danger for israel are people like you that don't know what their are talking about and that are frustrated about life in general and who they realy are in particular ( a failure )

yes, even without combining that with the loutish, aggressive, backstabbing behavior in Israel, it's enough to keep me away. Nevertheless, tribalism runs deep. You can see that these people and almost all Israelis coming to America do not really want to be part of the US or integrate in any real way. It's just an economic maneuver. Sad thing is that such people actually gain citizenship here and can vote in US elections for whoever is "tov l'yisrael." Beyond that, this piece is really written like propaganda.... What else could be expected from Yediot?

...fascinated by this story - it's truly extraordinary how people, against their better judgement, feel this powerful pull back to the Land of Israel. God bless you!

The US is a country of literally continental size. There are Jewish communities scattered thoughout. Moving overseas to start up again in Brooklyn & Queens? Downer....bad positioning from the get-go.

If you haven't experienced what this woman has gone through you just can't understand her. All of us who have lived in Israel especially as children understand the magic of the place. Unfortunately it's all those things things you take for granted and don't realize you have until they are missing. I also came back and did the Army and then unfortunately left again thinking it would only be for a few years, and like my parents before me, 3 years turnes into 6, 6 into 12 .... Now my kids are growing up and they have no idea what they missed out on by growing up outside of Israel. I'm actually ashamed to tell them. My advice is don't listen to all the whining from people who just don't understand what they have. Enjoy every day in Israel, but when the thought of leaving comes just say to yourself what you said to yourself in that basement apartment in Brooklyn "I have to make it here I have no other choice". The doubts will pass.

A moving article, thank you. Anyhow, I would be beyond gratitude if you could differentiate between sole & spirit. My prayers to you & yours.

with rain. Israel is worth some sacrifices.

#12 not every Olim has had a good experience moving here and that is a simple fact! Many are struggling through no fault of their own. How dare you ridicule ! We lost everything due to the 2nd Lebanon war and have been struggling ever since weighted down by bankruptcy that seems to never end, struggling every month between bills and food ! We can't even afford any simple pleasures like going out for a cup of coffee! So yes if we could afford to we would leave,We are tired of living close to poverty!

Thank you, Abudullah, from S. Arabia,for your comments. Soul - I believe - refers to what you were given by G-d when you were born - it is inside of you and this is what continues on after your death. Spirit is how you express yourself to the world - a lively spirit - or an introverted spirit - I believe it's one's personality.

you mean chola chadasha

If every Israeli who cares, would do one or two things to think about what difficulties new olim face, and try to do something about it, imagine how much Israel will benefit...

From someone living in the Bronx, taling about moving to a war zone is an oxymoron-- you already live in one. I live less than 5 km from the Green line, and see fewer bullets, explosions and deaths in a year than a typical Bronx resident does in a month. I guess you're so used to it that you can't hear the gunfire any more.