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I plan on moving to Eretz Yisrael very shortly with the help of G-d. I am going to move on my own. Does anyone have any advice on how to manage it all? I am a 22 year old bocher and i just feel like it’s time for me to move to our homeland. I am not planning on learning in Yeshiva full time (done that already) and would like to get at least a part time job. Is all this possible or am i living in a fantasy as my parents tell me? They claim i’ll come running back after a month but i plan on living there forever( hopefully get married there). I will have around 5,000 dollars saved up at the end of January. I do have a sister who’s married and lives there but i will not stay there long as i don’t want to be a burden.
Can it all be done?
1- Bocher living on his own in Israel
2- Not a lot of money to start
3- Get married and live there till Moshiach
Am i
A) Foolish and naive?
B) In for a rough ride?
C) None of the above?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Please spare no effort in blasting me if you feel that i’m not gonna make it and explain why.
Thank you.
With all due respect…You are a man without a plan.That money will disappear in no time.I have 2 bochurim a few years younger than you,and if any of them chose to do that I seriously would not sleep a single night.Here are just a few reasons:
1.Tel Aviv is as bad as -or worse than-Manhattan.And so are many secular communities/neighborhoods in Yerushalayim.
2.For every yeshiva(which you’re not even gonna be protected by)there are seminaries…the streets are filled with bochurim and girls….nisyonos abound.
3.You don’t want to be a burden on your sister,but then your expenses living on your own–WITHOUT A JOB-are going to be ridiculous.
4.Kibud av va’aym is nothing to sneeze at,either.
My suggestion?Try to meet an American girl who shares your dream of living in Eretz Yisroel!!
Contact Nefesh B’Nefesh. Their entire purpose is to help people who want to make aliyah!
i know its easier said than done….i think you should first find a job before you leave. there are many american companies who hire indiviuals that will telecomute.
i know no one wants to hear this, but ur parents are right, going to yeshiva or seminary in israel is like a bubble, its awesome, but living there on your own….not so easy!!
I think you’re being naive. How do you expect to make a parnassah. Where do you plan on living? Do you know the cost of living. Do you have any friends and or acquaintances? Do you have any idea of how you will meet your future Kallah?
It’s certainly possible. It isn’t easy. Living here takes commitment.
There are some things that will make it easier. First of all, remember that Jerusalem is not the only city here. Rents in Haifa are much cheaper. There are other cities with frum communities that are also cheaper than Jerusalem.
Contact the Aliyah Job Center. They can help you find a job as well as give you career counseling and help you write your CV for the Israeli market.
Be prepared to make difficult choices: eat breakfast and walk to work or skip breakfast and take the bus; buy food or medicine; do I really need internet at home; eat or turn on the air conditioner; etc.
There will be things you think of as necessities that you have to learn to think of as luxuries.
But if you are willing to make the commitment, there is no better place on earth for a Jew to live.
A job and a Kallah doesn’t grow on trees in Eretz Yisroel.
A job and a Kallah doesn’t grow on trees in Eretz Yisroel.
I don’t know about kallahs, but there are a lot of jobs. When I was signed up with the Aliyah Job Center I used to get an e-mail with job listings every day.
You won’t be qualified for every job, nor will you want every job. But if you really want to live here, you’ll take whatever job you can get. I have a great job now, but before this I worked as a cleaning lady.
As a friend of mine says, “If you’re not ready to clean toilets, don’t bother coming here.” You won’t necessarily have to, but you should be prepared for the possibility.
I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I’m not sure what you consider “very small.” And it also depends on which “team” you play on.
There are a lot of Gerer chasidim, as well as many, many, many Seret-Vizhnitz chasidim. Other groups are represented quite well: Belz, Sanz, Vizhnitz, Lubavitch, Breslov, are the ones I know about. There are also a lot of us Litvaks here, too. And I’m just talking about Hadar and Ramat Vizhnitz. If you add in Neve Sha’anan, Ahuza and Mercaz HaCarmel, you get MO and I don’t even know what else.
There are quite a few drunk (and non-drunk)Russians. I don’t see a larger percentage of Arabs than I see in J-lem. I feel very safe here. In fact, I work late one day a week and don’t get home until after midnight. I don’t have a problem with that at all. (Of course, the bus stop is nearly at my front door.)
How long ago was your brother here? The community is growing. People who can’t afford to live in J-lem are moving here. Of course, that means property values (and rents) are going up. But it’s still a good deal.
And the weather’s better here, too.
lemony, did you go to college? and if so what was your major, if you are in to computers/ engineering that sector is booming here. also, what are you going to do about the army?
I made aliyah through Nefesh b Nefesh when I was 23. I met my wife within a year after I got here, and I’m currently working for a high-tech company in Beit Shemesh.
When people speak negatively about Eretz Yisroel all they are a little but of the modern day Miraglim. But it is very important to come here with a plan. I’m assuming you were here learning at some point and that’s what hit you with the “Israel Bug.” When you do come as a single bochur, it is vitally important that wherever you do go, you stay connected to a yeshiva.
Definitely do not stay in America hoping to meet a girl how has your dream of Aliyah. This gives you a very narrow margin of girls to choose from. With any girl here that’s not even an issue and you have a much larger number of girls who will fit what you’re looking for hashkaficly.
Parents are not an issue that I had to deal with so I can’t speak about it, my parents were very supportive of Aliyah and they themselves are coming this year.
Definitely contact Nefesh they will give you valuable resources to make your klita easy and help you with a direction you can go with here. Plus if you are looking for education the State pays for your degree or for a training program. Free.
I also got hit with the strong desire to move Israel in my early 20’s, and worked very hard to make that dream a reality. And now looking back I’m completely convinced that there was some spiritual direction that pointed me in my direction. My beshart was here, my profession was here.
You absolutely see the Yad Hashem here, people in American will never understand that. Your daily life is completely governed by HB”H and it’s so much easier to see it here, even if on a Gashmiyus level it’s different here then what one has in America.
I just want to stress though that you need to be smart about coming here. You need to have a basic plan. Talk with Nefesh and make contacts with people living here. I was exactly in your position when I came and with the help of Hashem I made it and am making it.
It is possible to make it here, and it’s the place every Jew should be. Don’t listen to anyone’s negative comments, what happens to another person is their tikkun, not yours.
Hatzlacha
My sister lives in kiryat motzkin, about 5 minutes from haifa, its really hard for her because she comes from a more modern yeshivish background and that area is basically modern mizrahi and secular. I dont know where you fit in, in the religious spectrum, but sometimes we dont realize what we are getting ourselves into, like my sister. I think if religion is important you will find a neighborhood to live in based on that. For example you probably do not want to live in Beit El, Efrat or Moreshet, all being more mizrahi yeshuvim if you say you are from more a yeshivish background.
if i had a choice I would move to ashdod and live next door to rabbi brody!!!
daven to hashem to help you make the right choice and to help you along the way!!!
do get in touch with nefesh bnefesh. see how they can help you. even if its just to answer your questions. they do not just deal with mo. maybe you can come for a couple mnths first and set things up. you can line up a job, apt. maybe you want roomates. check out the neighborhoods. you can check in2 israelemploy.com. they will send you notices of jobs daily. rent in jer. neighborhoods such as kiryat yovel is about 2500 shekel a mnth. thats considered cheap. very frum neighborhoods are double. if you can get a job right away paying at least 4500 shekel-6000 shekel. that would be gr8. it is possible. dont give up!
I did it on my own. I was 19, had almost no money (WAY less than $5000).
For the first months I was in a yeshiva, then I found a part time job in Jerusalem, eventually moved on to full time, and an apartment there. In the early months, I managed with the absorption grant from Misrad HaKlita (Absorption Ministry) together with some money from my family.
And yes, I married an Israeli, we’ve been married for exactly 3 years now.
Speaking the language is a big advantage. As haifagirl said, as long as you’re open-minded about work, you’ll make it. You don’t even have to clean toilets – especially if you already speak proper Ivrit, you could find a job selling falafel or something like that. I think the main part is being willing to work evenings / nights, motzash, and days such as Purim, Tisha b’Av and Chol HaMoed. Most chareidim shiver at the thought of working on those days, but for working people like me, with 10 vacation days per year, that’s just reality. If anything bothers me about working in Israel, it’s that you only get 10 vacation days per year by law (and almost no employer gives you more) – in Europe, 20 is the law and many give 25 or so.
If you want to you’ll make it for sure! When I came, I had one other very big problem which I had to deal with – and did so, succesfully – I cannot even explain what kind of issue it was here in public. If I managed to do it on my own at age 19, with no family in Israel at all, way less money and a very big problem added, then you, at age 22 with family here and quite some money and no problems, will CERTAINLY make it!
i also say you should focus on marriage(maybe you are and got burnt out and need a break). i agree with the ‘cleaning toilets’ saying too. if you were a strong minded person, who knew what he wanted, i would see how you could succeed. but the fact that you are asking us possibly suggests otherwise. anyway ,two points to keep in mind :
if you make aliah at 22 w/o being married, you will face army issues but will be able to work.
if you dont make aliah you are there on a student or tourist visa so you wont be able to work legally.
however i think that if you find a yeshiva that will enroll you for half a day only, and they will provide room/board for a minimal donation, you will solve allot of problems (including spiritual) and be able to focus on finding work (but not legal work) for half a day. maybe you can travel often to the states and return with high end cameras or laptops/ipads to resell and make money that way , and see your parents . imo you can make it. but MY MAIN ADVICE IS: find a rebbe who will back you and guide you and you will succeed.iyh . let us know what you decide and maybe you will convince me to move with my family once you get there!
LemonySnicket:
Correct me if i’m wrong but i think NBN caters specifically to the Modern Orthodox crowd with college degrees.
This is absolutely incorrect. NBN caters to everyone who wants to make aliyah – observant or not, young, old, retired, married, single, or any combination thereof.
Lemony, what are you going to do about the army? If you’re not learning full time, you will be expected to do your time. At 22 and single, you’re a prime candidate.
its me:
Did you just suggest he work illegally and smuggle electronics?
lemony: If you are single and flexible, you have a leg up, in that you can take one of many jobs anywhere. If you have some skills, or can pick them up fast, there are many odd non proffesional jobs that are listed on various employment sites. (israemploy for one). About cleaning houses, the stigma attached to many jobs in the US is absent here, and in reality, many jobs are a very real contribution to the mitzva of yishuv ha’aretz. As a entry level highly skilled worker here, I made just 15 shekel more hourly that a cleaning lady, and while you might think it strange, Jewish women do clean homes, and a common avreich job is sweeping/ washing building stairwells and walkways. The guy I sat next to in shul ( for a while, I move around alot) is a tow truck driver. In the US, this conjures up the lowest of lowlifes, here, the guy is a ben olam haba. Come with the attitude that you will succeed with help from above, that you are mkabel the yissurim, and will be willing to adjust, and you will iy’h thrive.
Note one: This all applies in the religious side of society. In the other, snobiness abounds, and you are judged by how many degrees you have.
Note two: The snobbiness on our side revolves, unfortunately, around labels and name brands. You will need to fit into some “box”. There is also the box of ‘crazy American’, but its not recommended for most.
you can join netzach yehuda (nachal chareidi) as a chayal boeded and have special privleges. for pple from chul I think its only a year and a quarter instead of 3 yrs. you will learn hebrew. many pple that join are older than you so dont worry about the age.
lemony: If you are single and flexible, you have a leg up, in that you can take one of many jobs anywhere. If you have some skills, or can pick them up fast, there are many odd non proffesional jobs that are listed on various employment sites. (israemploy for one). About cleaning houses, the stigma attached to many jobs in the US is absent here, and in reality, many jobs are a very real contribution to the mitzva of yishuv ha’aretz. As a entry level highly skilled worker here, I made just 15 shekel more hourly that a cleaning lady, and while you might think it strange, Jewish women do clean homes, and a common avreich job is sweeping/ washing building stairwells and walkways. The guy I sat next to in shul ( for a while, I move around alot) is a tow truck driver. In the US, this conjures up the lowest of lowlifes, here, the guy is a ben olam haba. Come with the attitude that you will succeed with help from above, that you are mkabel the yissurim, and will be willing to adjust, and you will iy’h thrive.
Note one: This all applies in the religious side of society. In the other, snobiness abounds, and you are judged by how many degrees you have.
Note two: The snobbiness on our side revolves, unfortunately, around labels and name brands. You will need to fit into some “box”. There is also the box of ‘crazy American’, but its not recommended for most.
Many people who make aliyah with NBN are modern orthodox, but they are happy to help any Jew who wants to make a life in Israel.
I made aliyah as a 30 year old single, and met my wife 3 weeks after I got here, kind of by accident.
As for if you can find work in Israel it depends on your skill set. There are jobs here, but of course the better paying ones require you have the skills, same as anywhere.
In sort don’t expect moving to Israel will solve all your problems, it won’t! But do move to Israel because for 2000 years we have been saying “Next year in Jerusalem” and its time to do what all your ancestors would have given their right arm to do… Live in Israel!
you can even start looking now for a job. go to http://www.oujobs.org. hatzlocha.
Nefesh B’nefesh caters to everyone. MOs are the ones who want to make Aliyah for real. NBN helps those who want to become citizens of the State of Israel, hence your confusion.
EDITED
I think that what you want to do is possible and many have successfully done it, but you need to be clear on what is involved, and what the implications are. Assuming you are planning on making official aliyah, If you are learning full time, you won’t need to go to the army. But in that case, how will you support yourself? If you are working, you will need to go the army, unless you get an exemption for a health or another reason. Making aliya is a prerequisite for getting a job. No one will hire you otherwise.
The other possibility is to work for an american business (telecommute). Then you don’t need to make formal aliya, and won’t have to go to the army. Additionally, you won’t start losing your aliya rights before you’re ready to exercise them. Ideally, it would be best to make aliya when you’re actually getting married.
Yes, people do get married in Israel, but you will have to be your own advocate to shadchanim since you are on your own and won’t have your parents to help you out with this. Of course a rebbe/good friend/family member in israel can be your advocate too.
The most important thing when coming to Israel on your own is having a support system. Without this, you won’t last long. This can come in many forms.
Good luck!
shlomozalman, Eretz Yisroel is part of golus as well.
Some chassidishe rebbes held the opposite, that eretz yisroel is to be found in the golus as well. I maintain that eretz yisroel is to be found only in The Land itself, and that by definition, if one is in eretz yisroel one is not in golus. Also by definition, if one is not in eretz yisroel, one is in the golus.
I am aware that golus has figurative meanings,social, spiritual and others, but those interpretations apply to homiletics and do not change the reality.
let us know what you decide and maybe you will convince me to move with my family once you get there!
If HKBH convinced you to eat only kosher food, and keep Shabbat, and wear tzitzit, and daven every day, then why are you not already convinced to make aliyah? It all comes from the exact same Torah!
lemony- you can also go into http://www.janglo.net. then click on job opps. hatzlocha.
I did make aliyah on my own, 7 years ago! I met my wife 3 weeks later when she was trying to found a club.
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