Yes, Joseph, I do feel that as hard as it is, and even though there are factors in Israeli society an American may take issue with, it is good to integrate. While not integrating can work for the older olim, it leaves their kids confused and not having an identity- they are not fully Israeli but no longer American either. The most successful and healthy families in terms of acclimation are those who accept the system for what it is, don’t fight against the things they find different from the alter heim, and don’t keep looking back over their shoulder at how good life was in America. This has been a problem in American neighborhoods in general, which are known to have many OTD kids who just never found their place. Perhaps things are a bit different nowadays, especially in a place like RBS, where maybe the oleh population has reached a critical mass so that the non-integrator can just continue living in that bubble throughout school/yeshiva and even marry within the community.
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