Dan is a regular contributor to Israel Seen sharing his personal experiences coming home to Israel as an American Jew with all the Joys and frustrations of making the Jewish Nation his new home. His life experience both in the business world and as a ceramic artist gives him a unique perspective that is both fascinating and educational. Dan resides in Yafo-Tel Aviv area.
Due to the frantic administrative activities and confusion of my first few weeks in Israel what occurred is a blur in my mind but the situation may allow me to concentrate on those items that really left a enduring impression on me. After being cleared by my initial contact in Israel with the absorption center at Ben Gurion Airport I arrived at the apartment that I was sharing with a friend that I had met while here visiting earlier this year and got settled in. I had been given upon my arrival, tons of useful pamphlets, and instructions. In fact enough to take several weeks to digest. However, there was an important list to expedite in the first few weeks in Israel and this is what I attempted to accomplish. The first administrative need is to open an Israeli bank account or in my case to confirm with the bank that I had started with on my earlier visit before I had made Aliyah. The initial need for this action is paramount since most transactions of any kind are handled thru your chosen bank, and in particular all assistance as a new immigrant from the Israeli government. However, the banks of Israel and their administrative procedures should not be confused with your U.S. bank. Each branch of a bank may have different owners and therefore you are not only choosing a bank, but also a specific branch that your transactions will be handled by. When you open an account you will be requested to sign your name at least fifty times on papers that are completely in Hebrew without much explanation of what they represent. Statements in English are only available on line and then complicated to access. The bank hours can vary greatly from bank to bank and even between branches so be sure you determine hours upon initially opening an account. For those fortunate to be able to read and understand Hebrew there is a window next to most ATM’s where one can access their bank statements since no statements are mailed even in Hebrew.
The next administrative priority for the new immigrant which I needed to accomplish was a visit to the Ministry of Interior where one establishes their identity papers called a te’udat zehut. Not being familiar that each agency has different hours I arrived one minute after noon and was told that they were closed but after some pleading they were nice enough to accommodate me. The building that the Israeli offices are in is a high rise modern building directly across from a magnificent new high rise office complex and shopping mall called the Azerilli Towers. At a later time I went all the way to the top and one has a magnificent view of the entire Tel Aviv, Yafo greater metropolitan area.
The next item on the agenda is with your ID papers in hand is to join one of the four medical health programs that serve Israel. The basic programs are very similar and reasonable but for a few shekel’s more one can enroll in a plus program that provides more access to specialists and lower pharmaceutical costs, that I would highly recommend.
Next as a new immigrant I needed to make an appointment with the Office of Absorption where one is interviewed to establish financial assistance that is provided for each new immigrant depending on family size, and given a voucher to cover their choice of Ulpan’s so that they can learn Hebrew. I must have tried three or four times to set up an interview and kept getting their erratic hours mixed up but finally succeeded.
The final step in the early administration is to contact an Ulpan of your choice and be tested for proper placement. Even though I had some conversational Hebrew instruction in the U.S. and had been taught enough Biblical Hebrew to read from the Torah, the test is in cursive and I failed miserably being placed in a retirees class which is a five month program taught more slowly which I am still finding very difficult.
The final but optional task is that I joined the Association of Americans and Canadians in Israel (AACI) that holds many events that keep their fellow countrymen in close contact.
After visiting several Synagogues I found my ritual preference in a small congregation called Beit Tefilah Israel which holds their services at 4 Betazel Yaffe just off of Rotchild and has a very inspirational musical program. It is reported that only 20% of Israel society is associated with organized religion but, it is my initial impression that this is a misnomer because the people I have visited with seem to be living Judaism by practicing Judaism in their homes by celebrating all the holidays, especially daily rituals and observing Shabbat. Congregations like Beit Tefilah do provide an organized alternative.
After spending my first couple of weeks hectically with administrative activities as just reviewed I was looking forward to a little relaxation and exploring my new country but, little did I realize that it was becoming very evident that my arrangement with my friend was not working out. So I found myself looking immediately to move and becoming an expert on small hotels on the beach, while looking for permanent living accommodations, by searching the Tel Aviv Yafo rental real estate market.
I moved to the Maxim hotel, a very well appointed small hotel almost directly across from the King David which is one of the larger more expensive hotels on the Tel Aviv Beach but, because of being October which is the high season in Tel Aviv they only could accommodate me for four nights. It is a very comfortable hotel serving a very adequate breakfast, and with most congenial help. My first evening there one of my Sar-El buddies grabbed me from behind and really surprised me. I joined him and a group he was with for dinner which made my first night less lonely As you talk to even Sar El volunteers from the states and even Israeli’s and people from other countries it became obvious that I was an enigma moving to Israel alone at 76. While at the Maxim due to beginning to look for an apartment and since I had more time on my hands to explore I began to run on the beach, explore the streets of Tel Aviv, and start to settle into my new life. Some initial impressions, I made are the following.
Even though we in the U.S. We feel we are a real melting pot of people there is no comparison between Israel and us. Even though most Israeli’s you meet are Sabra’s (born in Israel) these are mostly first generations and very unlike the situation I found in 1990 where the majority were foreign born. There are people with backgrounds all over the world and shops and restaurants here that cater to their specific tastes. Not only the Western Europe descendants who I found in 1990 but Indians, Japanese, Chinese, Philippine, Eastern Europe, and of course Russians (which is a strong third language after Hebrew, and English). Most of them have two things in common, being born Jewish, and speaking Hebrew. It reminded me of the Tower of Babel where G-d split the people so that they learned different languages and dispersed them through out the world. Now G-d in his infinite wisdom is ingathering the people and allowing them all to learn Hebrew which hopefully will lead to a messianic age.
Other impressions that I gained very quickly are that not only is Tel Aviv an interesting place to explore on foot but it has to be one of the safest I have ever been in. Even women here tell me that they are not afraid to walk alone no matter what time of day or night. For a new immigrant like me there is excitement and something new to see at every turn. The culinary variety even makes New York seem parochial, from the smallest side walk cafe to the established restaurants. A few of my favorites, are the Humitz (made from chick pea), Scharma a shaved leg of lamb), and Rubisch(a meatless compound of numerous vegetables) that has, a delicious taste, and all served on pita.. Add to this the many small bakeries, and the finest yogurt, and ice cream with every flavor and topping imaginable available and you have just a bare beginning of the culinary street scene. People on the street want to be very helpful when it comes to directions but I would advise one to know their directions in Hebrew because the average Israeli doesn’t know left from right in English and until I learned them well I found myself going in the wrong direction a few times. Most Israeli’s do speak at least some English since it is a required subject in school. An important benefit in exploring Tel Aviv and the beach by foot is the most unusual people one meets. I will relate just a few of the most interesting. My first few days at the Maxim I got friendly with a musical group from all over Europe that travels giving concerts at organizations and retirement homes but their drummer had turned ill before leaving Europe. Out in front of the hotel one night I visited with a disillusioned Yeshiva student who had just left the Yeshivah due to being informed that he would marry a five foot 500 pound lady that next morning. In a local cafe one day I visited with a lady from New York that had come on her first trip to Israel and had decided to stay in Tel Aviv rather than tour because she liked her room. I met one evening a very distinguished looking older gentlemen with his demented wife who related to me what it was like to be here during the War for Independence and several wars thereafter and had achieved a high officers rank. A couple of Evangelical Christians touring that had just returned from Jerusalem and was very impressed with Israel. Every place I went there were the youth from all corners of the world and many not Jewish but touring this wonderful county that has become a hot spot for young tourists from all over.
One interesting side light of my first few weeks in Israel concerns a hat that was one of my first purchase after I arrived. It was still hot and sunny in October so I bought a large brimmed flat top khaki hat made for the outback in Australia. Everybody I met thought I was from Texas, and wanted to know if I was a cowboy.
Before I knew it, my four days were up and I had to scramble to find another room since they were fully booked at the Maxim. I was fortunate enough to find a room next door at the Lusky for the reasonable rate that I was expecting. The large tourist hotels across the street with beach frontage charge four to five times what I was paying. The Lusky is an interesting hotel in that it is hidden by businesses in front and sets off of the street but has very nice rooms. I had learned my lesson well and had already made a reservation to return to the Maxim after my days were up at Lusky. I ended up staying at four different hotels in the area over a period of two weeks. I found that one could live rather well with not staying at the large tourist hotels. However, the rates still prohibit for most people any consideration of long term stay so I was constantly seeking an apartment and trying to decide where I wanted to live.
Finding an apartment in the Tel Aviv area is a very complicated task particularly for a new immigrant who does not know the area and does not read Hebrew. Tel Aviv is growing so quickly that the demand for apartments far exceeds the supply. Most realtors prefer to spend their time on either short term rental which is much more lucrative, or sales. There is information on the internet but it appears that property is rented almost faster than it can be advertised. There is no central listing or MLS system like in the U.S. I finally located an apartment where I am currently living owned by a wonderful couple and close to my studio space but struggled so hard that I decided to establish a custom rental service for people seeking long term rental. If interested please contact me 052-509-6116 in Israel.
The frustration of my first few weeks in Israel could have discouraged my enthusiasm and obviously reality has set in that no one promised me a easy ride when I chose to make Aliyah but the positives are so pronounced here that there is no question in my mind that I have made the right decision. The spirit and purpose of these people is remarkable and fortunately I am becoming part of this great movement.
