I have now posted this blog on The Times of Israel website.
My Go North Aliyah Experience | Howard Glick | Ops & Blogs | The Times of Israel
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Hi Howard,
I loved what you wrote, your humour and realistic, non-victimized view of your experience here in the North. My husband and I moved to Yavne’el 10 months ago. You are so right about being open to any experience that becomes available. My husband, a Berklee School of Music graduate has joined a band, something he swore in Toronto, he would never do. He performed at Jacob’s Ladder this year. He teaches drumming to a few of the local children and we have opened our home as a Bed & Breakfast inviting our guests to old fashioned hospitality. We refused to listen to the negative talk about “no private entrance”. I enrolled and completed a programme as a Holistic Health Coach. I am heard on Arutzheva Radio each week and looking to deliver a series of wellness workshops throughout Israel.
Thank you for your positivity.
May you and your family go from Strength to Strength.
Nili
Glad to see you’re making it 🙂
I have just finished reading our blog and enjoyed you being candid about the “Go North” experience. I as a single older gentleman, I have heard rumors of aged discrimination there. Have you heard of any of this?
Best wishes to you and your family.
Dov
Yes, I agree with Nili – I think that your persistence, savvy, and humor make you a very good role model for how to do Aliyah effectively. I am making Aliyah on July 11 2012 with a NBN charter flight, and have been preparing for months, trying to network, understand the Israeli economy, and trying to get oriented. I am looking forward and your column here was very helpful! I hope that you continue to prosper. 🙂
Hart
Howard,
Challenges (and you have had a number of them) are there to strengthen you and you have to grin and bare them!
Everything you say is so true. It is about building connections, especially up North. I am trying to do so and create more skill sets by doing a Technical Writing course, which I will start soon.
Would I change where we started, perhaps, can I learn from what has happened so far, of course, do I need to keep working on settling, absolutely.
Jonny Greenberg
Thank you for sharing your experience so clearly and straightforwardly. It is very important that people understand the challenge they are facing and the need to open themselves up to lesser lifestyles and different paths. It would be good if you would also comment some more on the stage of your Hebrew learning and how it does or does not impact your employability.
I would like to add for those who might read this that you seem to be a relatively young man, and that those who come later in life (45-50+) will face even greater employment challenges.
Best wishes to you and your family,
Gershom
Haifa ’07
Hi Howard
I read what you say with interest. I think that any English speaking oleh should think very carefully indeed about the North. Israel is no party.
I enjoyed the post, thank you for your realism. We made Aliyah 11 years ago – to the Mercaz klitah in Raanana for 8 months, then Netanya, where we have been since and are about to leave for the North (Kfar Shammai). Being a relatively experienced olah I can tell you that your tenacity and determination are necessary qualities for any successful klitah. Doubtless, depending on your field, suitsble jobs might be harder to find in the North, but the cost of living is lower and the quality of life higher. I also think its important for any prospective Oleh to understand that although organizations might provide logistical and beaurocratic assistance, much more than that you’re on your own. It takes time to understand the system, to figure things out, to acclimatize to the unfamiliar, no matter how motivated and idealistic. My advice to any potential olim is to expect it go be difficult at first, and to lose the Anglo entitlement attitude. This is a great place to live and raise a family, but you have to be prepared to put in as much as you expect to reap.
Continued behatzlacha and all the best for your future here.
I have a brother who lives in the North (Ma’alot) so on our pilot trip we we gave the North some serious consideration. But in the end, we felt that I’d have better job options in the Mercaz. I wish you much continued success.
Shauli
Ariel ’08