12 weeks to aliyah – “And now, a word from our sponsor”
Whenever I mention that we are going on aliyah, inevitably
one of the first questions that people ask is “are you going with Nefesh
B’Nefesh?”. I am not sure if people understand the role of Nefesh B’Nefesh in
the aliyah process so I thought that I could
at least talk about our personal experience to help shed light on what they
have done for us at least.
NBN is here to help and encourage people to move to Israel,
mostly by providing information, streamlining the aliyah process and providing
contacts and other resources in so many areas associated with aliyah. In some
cases, they also provide some financial assistance.
You practically cannot make aliyah without going through
NBN. If you try to go directly to the Jewish Agency I would assume that they
would send you back to NBN to help you organize all of the papers that you need
prior to going to the Jewish Agency and to tell you exactly what to bring. When
you are ready to make aliyah, you schedule an appointment with NBN to go over
the entire process and register with them. They then set up a webpage for you
so that you can track the progress and see which documents to provide.
NBN provides webinars and consultations for specific areas
relating to where to live and how to find a job and so much more. Their
representatives are knowledgeable and pleasant to work with. They also conduct
their “Mega Event” each year where they have numerous information sessions and
provide you with an opportunity to meet with vendors such as shippers,
insurance companies and the various medical programs. And of course, they
sponsor events like this wonderful contest that will hopefully directly result
in one or more people landing jobs.
Finally, when all of the paperwork is done and you are ready
to select a date, you arrange your aliyah flight with NBN as well. They are
then with you on the flight (depending on the flight that you choose) and when
you arrive to help you through the red tape in Israel.
NBN has been very helpful for us in our aliyah. It seems
hard to imagine making this move without the abundance of resources that they
have provided us. They have undoubtedly provided the resources that has
resulted in many thousands of people making aliyah who would not have done so
without them.
Thank you so much to our wonderful friends, family, and readers who are showing their support of our Aliyah, and have helped bring Daniel’s voting total over the 800 mark thus far – please keep voting every day! I hope you also find the time to read and comment on his weekly blog in which Daniel shares tidbits of our Aliyah experience in a weekly ‘countdown.’
ReplyDeleteI will take this opportunity to share my own perspective at this 11-week countdown. As we come closer to our moving date, the reality of this new beginning is charged with a gamut of emotions ranging from the highs of incredible excitement, inspiration and gratitude to the lows of anxiety and even a level of sadness, tearing ourselves away from family, friends, and most difficult, children and grandchildren.
In addressing the anxiety, I attribute it more or less to the myriad of tasks that we have to accomplish over the course of these next 11 weeks. This is probably unavoidable, and an expected aspect of moving, particularly moving overseas. The Nefesh B’Nefesh discussion groups are quite helpful in bringing up every conceivable topic from what appliances to consider bringing to what grocery items are available in Israel. Of course, it is time consuming to read these daily posts; nevertheless, it’s informative, and is a valuable source of information. Knowledge is power, which a new Oleh can certainly use. We find it very helpful to work off of a check list, modifying it as needed and checking off items as we complete them one at a time. So we have been researching appliances, furniture items and household items, phones, and more; following it up with trips to Ikea, Bondy’s, Kunst, Macy’s, Sleepy’s, etc. and making arrangements with the shipper. Now that most aspects of the house purchase are done, (mortgage, lawyer, banking arrangements, etc.) there’s also a host of home improvements that we are planning. This too has been a major project, mostly handled by Daniel contacting contractors, getting estimates, and keeping me in the loop as we make final decisions. All the planning easily takes up hours a day. The 7-hour time difference makes the challenge even more fun!
As for the ‘sadness’… well, that’s been a challenge. The world may be getting smaller technologically, but that doesn’t quite satisfy a 6,000 mile gap between a mom and her children, or a Savta (grandmother) and her grandkids. Besides a really good overseas phone plan, skype, and other video apps, I envision the children coming for extended ‘quality time’ visits and our going to see them – we will have to work out a schedule and budget for this once we are settled in Israel. With our soldier son (who made Aliyah this past year) getting married in Israel just a month after we make Aliyah, we have the advantage (albeit an expensive one) of having our family join us for the wedding, and all sharing in seeing us just as we settle in to our home and life. This buys us a little time in dealing with the difficult goodbye’s we will be saying.
Thankfully, one emotion that is NOT an issue, is ‘doubt.’ We are confident, comfortable and resolute in our decision to make Aliyah. As its name suggests, we are truly moving up. This will be a topic for another discussion. We pray that all those making Aliyah inspire the same yearning and action in others, or at the very least, plant the seeds, to be realized very soon.
V'Shavu Banim L'Gvulam!
“The children will return to their own border” Jeremiah (31:15-17)
Wow Pearl! - That was a beautiful essay. You are inspiring me to sign up and join immediately. You and Daniel are actually doing what I only dreamed of. Kol Hakavod! I pray that Hashem gives you tremendous strength in this undertaking and I am certain that your entire family will benefit.
DeleteBoth of you write so beautifully and so honestly about what works easily for you (the hasgacha pratit part, and the resolve about what is right part) we well as what is difficult. The family separation is always difficult. It is surely the hardest thing to cope with in the aliyah process, IMHO. I wish you continued strength, and that you find -- as I have -- that friendships and family relationships change shape in this new situation, but do not diminish. In fact, in some cases, there may even be growth. And those Skype moments and visits back and forth with growing grandchildren will take the edge off the sadness -- until they all come Home, b'mheira v'yameinu.
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