Yosef's Bar Mitzvah Response Form

Please fill out the short form below and let us know if you plan on joining us in celebrating Yosefs Bar Mitzvah. Thanks Shlomo Elkie and Yosef.

If you don't see the form or submit button at the bottom of the form, you can also see it here

Yosefs Hanachat Teffilin

Baruch Shehechiyanu Vikiyemanu Lazman Hazeh.
Although we made two Bet Mitzvahs already, there's nothing like a Bar Mitzvah.
You have to look for teffilin, learn the Parsha, learn what it means to make the Minyan etc...

We went to the Kotel on Bet Adar Bet one month before Yosefs Bar Mitzvah.
Although I did not where a Talit at his age, many of his friends (lots of Sefardim) do where a talit at Bar Mitzvah. Yosef wanted to where one as well. We asked our Rav Harav Bar Haim who whole hardheartedly endorsed it. He said there is not reason once one is Bar Mitzvah not to where a talit.
Even the Yekas do so.
The probable reason they stopped doing so was perhaps they were very expensive at one time.
So we selected a nice tallit, and put on techelet as well.
We picked up Shimmy and Doni from ND on the way, and Yosef and Adina Karash and Shira and Esti Walfish joined us at the Kotel

Eli Cohen Campaign Song

The vote for Mayor or Beit Shemesh is this Tue.
Feel free to share this song with people and play it at home in stores and cars.

Enjoy, may the best man win.
Listen here 

or
Download here


Thanks to Paysi Wozincas for his Keys and Meir Malka for Hebrew lyrics edit.

Mi Shemaamin Eli Cohen - מי שמאמין אלי כהן
By Shlomo Walfish - מאת שלמה וולפיש

Beit Shemesh, a little town

Over the last few years it grew by leaps and bounds

With S'fardim, Ashkinazim

Inviting Anglos Chareidim all Yehudim.

בית שמש, עיירה קטנה

במשך השנים, זרמה וצמחה

אשכנזים ,וספרדים

פותחים את הדלת לכל היהודים

מחלוקת גורמות לנו ליפול

...עם אחדות כולנו יכולים לפעול

מי שמאמין לו מפחד

אלי כהן אדם, שמאחד

ולנו יש את מלך העולם

.אלי מייצג את כולם

Mi Shemaamin Lo Mifached

Eli Cohen for the city's head

Vilanu Yesh Et Melech Haolam

Eli Cohen will work for everyone...

---

So if you are, a normal Jew

And you like Cholant Kugel & some sushi too...

Clean streets & parks, some sports & fun

The kind of things you like, that unite everyone.

So use your brains and decide what to do.

Eli Cohen is the Best choice for you...

Mi Shemaamin Lo Mifached

Eli Cohen for the city's head

Vilanu Yesh Et Melech Haolam

Eli Cohen will work for everyone...

מי שמאמין לו מפחד

אלי כהן אדם שמאחד

ולנו יש את מלך העולם

אלי מייצג את כול---ם.

Viahavta, ...

Mi Shemaamin Lo Mifached

Eli Cohen for the city's head

Vilanu Yesh Et Melech Haolam

Eli Cohen will unite everyone

מי שמאמין לו מפחד

אלי כהן אדם שמאחד

ולנו יש את מלך העולם

.אלי מייצג את כולם

AMAZING investment and housing opportunities in Israel

I'm coming from Israel to NY this week from Oct 3-10 to Showcase some investment and housing opportunities in Israel in the AMAZING community of Ramat Beit Shemesh. 

For the same price as a 4 bedroom apt. in Rechavia you can get a 350 meter fully detached 10 bedroom villa FULLY loaded. This is in a fully developed and very warm and diverse suburban community with a great view of the Jerusalem hills. Plus you are only 30 min from Jerusalem, 20 min from the Gush and Modiin and 50min from Tel Aviv.

I Will be in NY and NJ from Oct 3-10.
Click on photo of flyer and spread the word to those who may benefit from it, they will be grateful:)

They can call 718.261.2474 or email bestisraelhomes@gmail.com for more info.

More details at http://www.emerald-gardens.com/

Plus there are very nice lower priced apartment options as well.

Butterfly Kisses for Shlomo Zakheim A"H

Whenever I saw Shlomo Zakheim A"H he always impressed me. He was always cool, calm and in control. He was calculated, listened closely to people and seemed to know how to get around obstacles. Like the original Shlomo Hamelech he skillfully was able to communicate with people of many from different backgrounds and with all ages. When I playing the music at his sons Bar Mitzvah, I noticed when we were almost done, he calmly picked up the mic spoke to the Bar Mitzvah boys friends on their level and explained to them the rest of the scheduled and when the bus will be coming. It was done with clarity, sincerity and love, like they were all his children.

Another nice memory was when I was discussing the music that my band Aish Orchestra was going to play at his daughters wedding, he gave me a song called Buttery Kisses by Bob Carlisle. He said he likes the song, there was only one issue he had with it. On the seventh bar of the song the lyrics are "She Prays to Jesus", so can I please cut that out somehow. At first I was a bit surprised. But, being the open minded person I claim to be, I listened to the song and realized it's an Amazing song. Since I was just getting into digital audio editing on computer, I imported the song and cut out that bar keeping everything else in perfect time.
When Shlomo heard it he was amazed. He couldn't even tell where the cut was if he didn't know the original.
What impressed me so much was Shlomo's true open mindedness. While many people may have heard those lyrics and immediately say that songs not kosher for them, Shlomo realized  that it's a beautiful song it just needs to be modified a bit and it will be perfect. He didn't let a minor issue get in the way of a nice idea. he worked around it. I'm happy to be the one who modified it for him, so he can dance to it with his daughter at her wedding. I've used it many times since then for other father and brides dancing at their weddings, and renamed it . Butterfly Kisses (Kosher Version). This ones for Shlomo A"H.

Download:
Butterfly Kisses (Kosher Version)

Eli Cohen live Beit Shemesh Mayor Update

Last night Eli Cohen spoke at Rabbi Davids Shul in Beit Shemesh for an open town meeting.
He was very polite and understanding of people's frustration with how things happened.
He accepted many questions from Bloch supporters.

You can hear the entire meeting here.

Bikitzur:
He did NOT stop the seker and wanted it to continue.
The Seker polled 500 people which is the normal about for a seker and showed the Eli won.
In light of that plus other other sekers showing Eli against Abubtul is a much stronger chance than Aliza agint Abubtbul, Bayit Yeudi officially decided to back Eli and asked Aliza to be Sgan Rosh Haair. The pollsters decided to  stop the poll since it was no longer necessary and the next 500 pols would be invalid since Bayit Yehudi decided to now back Eli.
 Bayit Yehudi approached Eli endorsed him and said lets work together in Unity.
Eli as the uniter accepted, and insisted the Aliza be a part of the team.
Had he been thinking of Himself only he could have said I don't want Aliza with me.
He did not do that, he wants to unite the opposition and take back Beit Shemesh for everyone.
He reached out and called and texted Aliza many times.

I agree that Bennet could have gone about this in a better way, but Aliza ran as Bayit Yehudis candidate, so she can not complain if they back another person they feel will had a better chance to beat Abubtbul. Had she ran as an independent like Eli did, Bayit Yehudi would not have been an issue for her they would not be able to replace her. She can not have any Taana on Eli he did nothing wrong. Perhaps she can complain to Bennett the way he handled it which it legit. I personally think Bennet should have listened to his people in Beit shemesh who all backed Eli.

While people want to feel that THEY chose  the opposition leader, Eli won the 500 call poll which is normally standard, and all the pollsters say Eli can beat Abubtbul and Aliza may lose to him.

Even if you LOVE Aliza do you want to risk losing to Abutbul???

Just yesterday Extremist set fire and tried to prevent building in RBS claiming they are building over graves. This is pure bogus the Eida Chareidus is overlooking it and gave a 100% ok to the building.
The thugs are non rational they're extortionist who simply want money and control.
They endangered people lives by lighting fires and should be locked up for a very long time.
These Thugs don't care about Rabbis including Rav Kanievsky or you or me.
They beat Aryeh Golovnititz the developer of the project a 70 year old man in Jerusalem and fractured his skull in front of his wife and daughter.

Do you want this to be the future of Beit Shemesh???
These thugs and their leaders need to be expelled from Beit Shemesh not to bother people ever again.
If you love Beit Shemesh and do not want Extremist taking over this place, make SURE you support and get out the vote for Eli Cohen. If you like Aliza Bloch tell her that her name is on the agreement signed, and she can be the Sgan Rosh Haair. And you as a resident who loves this city would like her to get over whatever hard feelings she has to work together to defeat the real problem and take back our city before it's too late!

A balanced analysis of the upcoming primary for Mayor of Beit Shemesh

As someone who made Aliya from the USA to Beit Shemesh 5 years ago, I would like to share my perspective on the upcoming Mayoral candidates. I consider myself a Jew who loves almost all Jews (except for the few evil ones) and really love Beit Shemesh.

It can become the best place to live and a great example to other cities in Israel as a place for ALL types of Jews.

Sefardi, Mesoraty, Dati Leumi, Chareidy, Russian, American, British, South African, French, Ethiopian and more.

If you like the Incumbent Mayor from Shas and how this city has been run the past 5 years this may not be for you. However although he may have done some good things, many people think that there has been mismanagement. The streets are not always clean, many things are neglected, and many people did not like the way the Mayor handled the Orot fiasco. It was a bit reminiscent of the way Mayor David Dinkins handled the crown heights riots. I have also heard that there are some fine shomer shabbat families who have left Beit Shemesh as a result. This is very unfortunate. I would like to live in a place that is open and inviting to all good Jews.

There are 2 candidates running against the incumbent Mayor.

Eli Cohen and Aliza Bloch. There will be a poll this week and the winner will face of the incumbent.

I would like to analize 3 main points.

1. Qualification.

2. Loyalty/Allegiance

3. Electability

1. Qualification.

Eli Cohen comes from a strong organizational management background (senior positions in the Sochnut and Mekorot Water Company) He is also a former senior administrator at the Jewish Agency for many years, and has been active in the Likud party. Aliza Bloch is an accomplished school principal who is credited with turning around Bronko-Weiss School. Although Aliza Bloch has done some great work in the school system, one has to ask if this qualifies her to run a city. Yael Van Dyke is an Amazing principal in Ulpanat Gila, but I wouldn't suggest putting her up to be Rosh Haiir. There are many wonderful and great people in this city, but to run it properly you need experience. Eli Cohen is a Vatic Beit shemesh resident living here for over 30 years, more than double the amount of time Aliza Bloch has lived here. He has been active in Likud and knows his way around politicians. On this point I would say Eli has more of a background and experience in dealing with governmental institutions, million dollar budgets and managing hundreds of employers. Therefore Eli is more qualified. Eli thinks Aliza is very competent educator and would be open to appoint her as head of education or something along those lines so we can have the best of both of them

2. Loyalty/Allegiance

This is a very important issue. Moshe Feiglin from Manhigut Yehudit points out that a Major problem with Israeli politics is that in national elections we do not have local representation. We vote for a party and the party selects the MK's. The MK's can then do whatever they want with impunity. In the USA and most western democracies, people vote for a LOCAL representative. That person who they grew up with, know and trust, they send to washington to represent them nationally. If he does good for the people he is re-elected if not, not. 

If local people elected Bogie Ya'alon as an MK, and were appalled by him voting to release 104 terrorists endangering everyones lives, they would make it clear to him that they will never support him again. This may make him reconsider who his loyalty is with. The people, or the leader of his party.

Eli Cohen has been active in the Likud for many years and has lots of connections, yet for this campaign to be Mayor of Beit Shemesh he made a bold decision to run as an independent. He did not ask for the endorsement of Likud or any other National group or party. He openly says I want to work for ALL residents of beit shemesh and be beholden to you. Aliza Bloch joined the race later on and was immediately endorsed and even appointed by the National head of the Bayit Yehudi party Naftali Bennett, Yair Lapid from Yesh Atid as well as Likud.

When comparing these 2 approaches it is blatantly obvious where the loyalty of each candidate lays. 

Eli Cohen specifically and intentionally rejected running as a Likud candidate since he wants to represent ALL residents of Beit Shemesh. Including Sefardim, Chareidim, Dati Leumiim and everyone. Balancing the interests of the many different groups in Beit Shemesh is a hard enough job to do. The last thing a Mayor needs is to have a conflict of interest and have to answer to and show loyalty to a national leader or party. He should be working exclusively for YOU the resident of Beit Shemesh and NO ONE ELSE.

On the other hand. Aliza Blochs Campaign was endorsed and funded by Bayit Yehudi and Yesh Atid. This is a conflict of interest and means that she must show loyalty to people and parties that do not live in Beit Shemesh, and quite frankly have no vested interest in it's future and growth. While I may agree with many things the Naftoli Bennett does in a National arena, and may even vote for Bayit Yehudi, he is NOT a resident of Beit Shemesh and has no business telling us who to vote for, who is more qualified, and who will be better for the future of Beit Shemesh.

Would Naftali or Yair Lapid like if we Beit Shemesh residents told them who to vote for in Ranana for their local elections? I understand why he wants to have people loyal to him become the Mayors of cities in different parts of Israel. This may be good for him on a National scale. But WE residents for Beit Shemesh need to think about what good for us LOCALLY even if we agree with those 3 parties on National issues. Unless their leaders live here, they have no business telling us who to vote for.

Dov Lipman is the only local MK and at least has the right to have an opinion on the issue. But my feeling is that his endorsement of Aliza was a result of him towing his party line and supporting his party leader. I would not be surprised if he thought Eli Cohen was more qualified. Feel free to ask him. This is a great example of how the current political system can put MK's in a conflict of interest. Having to choose between the local people and their parties leaders interests. Suffice to say whoever affect their future career more will likely get more allegiance.

Amazingly 4 members of the local Bayit Yehudi faction have crossed lines, and defied the candidate choice of their party leader.  Shalom Lerner, Jacky Edri, Dr. Sammy Ben-Adi and Mishael Nechami ALL from Local Bayit Yehudi have endorsed Eli Cohen! They have ALL jeopardize their future with that party in order to be loyal to the residents of Beit Shemesh. This is democracy at it's best and should set the tone for political reform in Israel that will enable people to vote for local representatives who will go on to represent them nationally as well. They all deserve to be commended for standing up for YOU the people.

Any national party or leader who is not local resident that tells local branches who should be the candidates and leaders without letting the locals vote for themselves, is acting like a dictator and showing contempt for the local residents. This applies to ALL parties that do this, weather it's Bayit Yehudi, Yesh Atit, Likud or Shas. This is the opposite of how a democracy should work.

3. Electability

Finally the issue of electability. 

A neighbor of mine said how can you support for Eli Choen? he doesn't wear a Kippah and is not frum.

The first thing I said was Frum is a 4 lettered word that starts with an F. Then I said, My Rabbi, Rabbi Berel Wein says  "It's not the kind of Yarlmuka that matters it's what's under your Yarlmuka that matters"

He said "well he doesn't even wear a Yarlmuka" I said to him you're missing the point. It's what's in the persons head, his intentions. As far as I know Eli Cohen is a Masoraty Traditional Sefardy Jew. He is not Mechalel Shabbat and the 2 times I saw him he was giving a Dvar Tora from the parsha and wearing a Kippah. He is very humble, does not have an inflated ego, is sincere and genuinely cares about ALL residents of Beit Shemesh. He respects Tora, Rabanim and Tora institutions. To disqualify him because he does not wear a kippah is very small minded. Besides perhaps after becoming Mayor of a mostly Shomer Shabbat city he will begin to wear a kippah regularly.

I then asked him, if there was an election for the Mayor of London and a Liberal frum Jew was running against a conservative christian and he thought the christian was better, would he vote for the the Jew? He said "well that's different it's not in Israel" I then asked, so when the Gerer Rebbe endorsed Mayor Nir Barkat in Jerusalem against a Frum Chareidy incumbent Mayor, was the Gerer Rebbe wrong??? Did he pick the wrong guy? He said "ummm you got a good point" As far as I know Mayor Nir Barkat is a great Mayor for Jerusalem he is a qualified pro and truly represents all the residents. He is loyal to the people, land and torah of Jerusalem and Israel. 

Eli Cohen can be the Nir Barkat of Beit Shemesh uniting the people and making Beit Shemesh a better place for ALL the residents.

Although I have NO problem whatsoever with a woman in office as an MK or Mayor, I also think it is permissible according to Halacha. Unfortunately not everyone shares that view, especially in the Sefardi circles. I would even say it's against their religion to put a woman in a dominant leadership position. We can both agree that this is unfortunate, but it is what it is. Beit Shemesh is not Netanya. There are lots of Sefardim and even Chareidim that realize they can actually have a better quality of life if Beit Shemesh were cleaned up and managed professionally, bringing business and opportunities here creating more parks, public infrastructure and facilities, more school buildings for EVERYONE etc. These people very well may vote for Eli Cohen for a change and step up, but may not be able to bring themselves to vote for a woman. I believe all honest polls show that Eli Cohen against the incumbent has a much better chance than Eliza Bloch against the incumbent, for this and the other 2 reasons.

In Summary:

In my opinion, Eli Cohen is more qualified, he has proven his loyalty to YOU the resident of Beit Shemesh and no one else, and stands the best chance of winning against the incumbent Mayor.

Since rama Gimmel, Daled has been zoned to specifications of a more Hareidy crowd, the influx of many thousands of Hareidi families in RBS over the coming five years, will mean that the 2018 election will likely go to a Hareidi candidate. Hopefully, Eli will be able to credibly oppose incumbent mayor, in what will probably be the last opportunity for the city of Beit Shemesh to remain open and inviting to ALL jews, also keeping our real estate value strong.

Since I am not sure which lists will let this post go though, 

If you appreciate this analysis please forward it to everyone you know in Beit Shemesh now BEFORE the poll this week.

Thanks

Shimmy, Rachael, Elisheva, Doni, Zevy, Deena, Aviva Walfish are HOME!!!

The most awesome thing happened this month.
Shimmy, Rachael, Elisheva, Doni, Zevy, Deena, Aviva Walfish made ALIYA!!!
YAY!!! The Walfish's are coming home to Israel our home land one at a time.
They are living in Neve Daniel and are real settlers. Frimmi Levi and Yehuda joined us.
We look forward to greeting them and the next familys. Perhaps the Neve Daniel Walfish can post some entries when things calm down a bit. Their lift is arriving tomorrow B"H

Check out their arrival.

and more Photos at:

https://www.facebook.com/swalfish/media_set?set=a.10153101281800145.1073741826.540440144&type=3

Next Year In… Milwaukee?

I just want to mention, that when I saw adds for this fair I emailed Rabbi Fass from Nefesh Bnefesh to see if they were invited. He replied no. I then emailed the heads of the OU.

Shalom,

Why isn't Israel one of the Options for Jewish Relocation? 

Why wasn't Nefesh Bnefesh invited to this event??

Wouldn't it make sense for the OU to promote relocation to Israel as ONE of the options for American Jews who pray to return to their homeland every day???

http://nbn.org.il/aliyahpedia/community-a-housing/community-guide-beta-listings.html

The 2 replies I got were

Weinreb, Tzvi H.

You are absolutely correct. However, none of the three individuals to whom you addressed your e-mail are responsible for this program. I will forward your e-mail to those who are. THW

and

Genack, Menachem

You are right.

I sent your note to Steve Savitsky who heads that program and is the chairman of the board of the OU

Next Year In… Milwaukee?

Why wasn't Israel included in the Jewish Communities Fair?

By: Yishai Fleisher

Published: May 3rd, 2013

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Why wasn't Israel included in the Jewish Communities Fair?
Photo Credit: Yishai Fleisher

I finally went to the Orthodox Union’s annual Jewish Communities Fair. As a long-time pro-Aliyah activist, I had been curious about this event, and so while on tour in America, I joined the hungry Modern-Orthodox masses at Manhattan’s Metropolitan Pavilion as they searched for new communities and a new life in far flung locales like Jacksonville, Florida, Louisville, Kentucky, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin – but not Israel.

I expected to see a moderately attended event. But to my surprise, the venue was packed with over 1,300 people, exploring the forty-one different communities represented. There was so much noise, I had to stand close in order to hear community leaders make their pitches.

You may wonder, as I did, why would Modern-Orthodox Jews want to leave the kosher conveniences of the NY area and move to remote places like Southfield, Michigan. It turns out, that first and foremost, the answer is affordability: cheaper housing, cheaper education, and getting more for your money. A high quality of life at an affordable price. And incentives. Some communities promise incentives like a $20,000 gift for a down-payment on your home, and free tuition from kindergarten through grade 12.

Josh Elbert, who flew in to represent Southfield, shared with me how he had come to this fair a few years ago and was skeptical when the Michigan people approached him. They said to him, “Don’t judge until you see it,” and indeed, when he saw it, he was smitten. “I am a success story of this event. Because of the connections we made here, we were able to provide a terrific opportunity for our family,” he told me. Because of the drop in real estate, he mentioned, one can buy a very large home for $115,000 in Southfield. Someone who makes forty-five thousand dollars a year can live next to a millionaire.

But there are other reasons to move to the American periphery – such as the opportunity to join a tight-knit community and make an impact on a growing shul, or aging congregation seeking new blood.

I spoke with Rabbi Aaron Winter who came to Chesterfield, Missouri twenty two years ago to serve as their rabbi. He explained to me that Chesterfield is part of greater St. Louis, that they have a congregation of 80 Orthodox families, and their own mikvah and Chafetz Chaim Mesivta. He told me that his shul had succeeded in bringing many non-affiliated Jews closer to Torah. As he put it, “we are on the front lines of Orthodox Jewry in St. Louis.” Now, Chesterfield is looking to grow and they are offering up to five families a grant of twenty thousand dollars each towards the purchase of a home. “When you are an out-of-town community, even one family is gold. People appreciate you being here,” Rabbi Winter told me.

So cheaper housing, affordable education, a sense of community, and the promise of a better quality of life, are luring Jews to middle-America.

Understandable, reasonable, and respectable!

But what about the Israel option? Were any of the Modern Orthodox attendees at the OU’s Community Fair considering moving east of New York, to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv? There was no way to really know because there were no tables representing emerging communities in the emerging Jewish state. Had there been a table for, let’s say, Efrat, Modiin, or Maale Adumim, then one could gauge how much action that table saw as compared with Portland. But alas, that option did not exist. The message of the fair was clear enough: If the Orthodox Union is going to help you find a new future – it is going to be in America.

That should come as no surprise. If you go to the OU’s website, you will see lots of pro-Israel links. But if you hover your mouse over the flag of Israel at the top of the site, a text pops up which reads: “Our ‘home away from home’ in Jerusalem, the OU Israel Center, annually welcomes over 100,000 visitors and residents.” The obvious implication is that Israel is a home away from home, but home is America. Another proof of this thinking was laid bare in the ‘Communities Guide’ which was given out at the fair. In it were page after page of US destinations for “Home & Job Relocation” with pictures, contact numbers, and websites. Yet on the back cover the full page glossy called on all to: “Join Us in Celebrating Israel’s 65th Birthday – March with the OU at the Celebrate Israel Parade.” Again, the message is clear: you can celebrate Israel and love Israel with the OU, but if you’re looking to move, consider Cleveland.

And that would be fine if the name of this Jewish real estate agency that is promoting moving to anywhere but Israel, wasn’t the Orthodox Union. Orthodox in this case does not mean Greek Orthodox Christians, but rather Orthodox Jews, those who see themselves as following the Torah, an internationally and historically renowned religious document which enthusiastically promotes the spiritual superiority of the land of Israel. So why doesn’t the OU, an organization which prolifically teaches and publishes Torah, at least put a few emerging Israeli communities at the fair? Why not give Jews a chance to plug into God’s dream and not just the American dream?

The OU went all out for the Communities Fair, renting a beautiful space, printing t-shirts, booklets, creating webpages, and even a series of videos to promote the event. One of the videos humorously derides the spiritual quality of Shabbat in New York City. But the fair which the video seeks to advance, does not offer the holistic experience of Shabbat in Israel as an alternative. Attendees seeking a more serene Jewish Day of Rest are directed toward Scranton, Manalapan, and Southeast Michigan.

The OU’s under-marketing of the Israel option is sad on two levels: it is sad for American Modern Orthodox Jews, whose leadership is not encouraging them to learn about the possibility of life in Israel. Judging by the fair, Modern Orthos have a greater chance of raising their children in Bethlehem, PA than in the original Bethlehem region, Beit Lechem – Gush Etzion. As those children grow up, they will not experience the weekly majesty of Shabbat in Israel, they will not learn to speak Hebrew fluently, and most will not have the privilege of being soldiers in the IDF. Instead, they will attend Liberal Arts colleges just as their Israeli peers enter the army and they will only connect to Israel on sporadic and expensive trips, and hopefully a gap-year study program. They will be taught to love Israel, but most will end up being detached from the real life of a six-million strong Jewish State. Sad for those kids.

And it’s also sad for Israel. Our sweet homeland is yearning to become a first-rate country and it needs precisely those Jews who are being routed to Richmond, VA by the OU. American Jews who choose Israel bring with them a culture of democracy, customer service, transparency, environmentalism, big thinking and much more. American Jews are good for the development of the young Jewish State!

Indeed, Israel is the most exciting project of the Jewish people in two-thousand years, and we need all hands on deck to nurture and direct its way forward. The idea of taking part in the building of our country is exciting and attractive, and more people would embrace that attitude if leading organizations like the OU would publicly preach and teach those values.

I sincerely hope that at next year’s OU Community Fair, Neve Daniel and Ramat Beit Shemesh will be given a chance to compete on a level playing with Southfield and Milwaukee. If Orthodox Jews are already moving out of New York, shouldn’t Eretz Yisrael, which has waited for us for so long, have a chance to win their affection?

Shimmy and Rachael are here! :)

Shimmy and Rachael are here,
So far having a great time, checking out lots of things will report more when we know.

In the meantime if you want to make Aliya and are concerned about weather you can make a living here.

This is for you!

DEPT. OF LIFE CHANGING

The Secret of Making a Living after Making Aliya

In practical terms, when you first make aliyah, you indeed may not be able to make a living in your current profession.

By: Tzvi Fishman

Published: November 5th, 2012
Latest update: November 7th, 2012

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A lot of people say they can’t come on aliyah because they don’t know how they will make a living. The issue of aliyah and livelihood is a legitimate concern. For instance, here’s an email I received from a potential oleh seeking advice:

“I am a professional film producer based in NY who is looking to make aliyah.  My only reservation in moving to Israel is the lack of a job.  How can someone like myself, who was very successful in the business, and never compromised his Yiddishkeit, make a living in Israel?  I am not looking to make millions, just a living wage to support a family of six.  Do you have any suggestions?”

This is what I answered:

I’m not up to date on the film business in Israel, so I can only share some general thoughts. The Zohar teaches that our forefather, Avraham, searched for the place in the world where he could get as close to God as possible. This burning desire of Avraham was the catalyst that brought God to command him, “Get thee forth to the Land that I will show you.” To truly get close to God, the Jewish People have to be in Israel, serving God as a Nation, and not as mere scattered individuals and communities in foreign gentile lands.

Rashi explains that the double language of the verse, “Lech lecha,” literally meaning, “Go, go for yourself,” was to reassure Avraham that the move was for his ultimate good, and that it would bring him and his descendants great spiritual and material blessing. After all, it is no small challenge and test of faith to give up your country of birth, social standing, and livelihood to move to another land. And indeed, at first, things did not go easily for Avraham. When he arrived in Israel, there was a famine in the land! But, eventually, Avraham became a very rich and famous man.

This uncertainty, challenge, and difficulty, is common to all olim. The word “Canaan,” as in the land of Canaan, also has the meaning of humbleness and poverty. The lowering of one’s status is part of the immigration process, helping to break impure traits of pride and ego which prevent a person from forming a deep connection to God. Aliyah means to go up, and therefore, the first and foremost goal of each new immigrant to Israel should be spiritual – to get closer to God. When a person holds fast to this goal, clinging to it at all times, even through periods of difficulty and change, God’s bountiful blessings flow in its wake.

In practical terms, when you first make aliyah, you indeed may not be able to make a living as a film producer. You may have to get to know the right people first, learn the language, etc. You may have to make videos of bar mitzvahs and weddings to have some income coming in before you make the bigger, professional films that you are accustomed to producing in NY. Personally, I’ve made some money making videos in Israel for organizations and the Department of Education, and I’ve taught screenwriting at a film school in Jerusalem. I have several friends from the U.S. who work in the film business here on a regular basis, and they seem to be supporting their families. Even so, it may turn out that you won’t be able to find a niche in the film industry in Israel, and you may have to change your profession.

But always remember, “Is God’s hand too short that He cannot provide for you and your family?” Just like He provided for us in the Wilderness, He provides for us still today, each person according to what is best for his needs. Keep saying to yourself, “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.” These reassuring words of King David should be your mantra during your planning stages and time of transition in Israel.

The main thing about your coming to Israel is not to make finding a job your Number One concern. Let me give two examples. A short time after I had made aliyah, I met an acquaintance from New York who had also recently moved to Israel, but who told me that he was going back to the States. When I asked him why, he explained that before he had moved to Israel, the Israel Aircraft Industries had promised him a more advanced job than his position in America. But when he arrived in the country, they could only give him the same level job he had in the past because of budget cuts. “Why should I stay here when I can get paid almost double in the States for doing the same job?” he told me.

The very next day, I met another friend from New York, who also informed me that he was returning to live in America. It turned out that his boss had been caught in an embezzlement scam and all the people he had hired were fired, including my friend. Even though my friend had been offered a very good job at another firm, he decided to pack his belongings and call it quits.

At the time, before I started studying in yeshiva, I was lodging in Jerusalem at the home of a saintly, 85 year old woman who was one of the secret Tzaddikim of the Holy City. I hadn’t come on aliyah with any savings, having blown my screenplay money on the vices of Hollywood, and this kind woman was happy to take me in as a non-paying boarder. When I asked her why God hadn’t worked things out for my two friends in a more successful fashion, especially since they had made the very idealistic move of immigrating to Israel, she answered: “They placed their careers over their love of the Land. A Jew has to set Jerusalem above his greatest joy. The Jewish People have been shedding their blood for the Land of Israel since the beginning of our history. The Land tests us when we come here. She makes things difficult at first to see if we really love her. Your two friends think that they are rejecting Israel, but Israel is really rejecting them.”

Rabbi Tzvi Yehuda HaKohen Kook, of blessed memory, explained this with a parable. He said it was like a girl who was set up on a shidduch with a guy whom she knew wasn’t for her. But she didn’t want to embarrass him. So she dressed up in dirty, smelly garments so that he would feel turned off. While he thought that he was rejecting her, in truth, she was rejecting him. So too, God, in His kindness, lets Jews who decide to leave Israel believe that they are rejected the Land, but it is really the Land that is rejecting them.

Surely, aliyah is the most difficult and challenging mitzvah – the true test of a Jew’s faith in God. But hundreds of thousands of new olim have made it, and so can you.

Hopefully, other readers will have even better words of advice.

May you remain strong in your holy decision, and may Hashem bless you and your family with success in the great adventure ahead.

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About the Author: Tzvi Fishman was awarded the Israel Ministry of Education Prize for Creativity and Jewish Culture for his novel "Tevye in the Promised Land." For the past several years, he has written a popular and controversial blog at Arutz 7. A wide selection of his books are available at Amazon. The views expressed in this blog are solely those of the author and do not represent the views of The Jewish Press

http://www.jewishpress.com/blogs/felafel-on-rye/the-secret-of-making-a-living-after-making-aliya/2012/11/05/