How Well Are You Integrating Into Life in Israel?

Do you ever stop to wonder if your Aliyah is successful? What kind of indicators do you have or have you thought of as to whether you have integrated into life in Israel?

For some it might be, did they manage to purchase a house. Well that is something pretty major. Yes, that could be a sign that you have made it living in Israel. However, there are some who manage to purchase an apartment or house in Israel and yet hardly ever live here. Hm, what else can we use as a measure as to whether you are integrating successfully into life in Israel?

Last night I had an inkling into what being accepted here is about. For a while now I have wanted to have a group of women in my home learning together, reciting Brachot and Amen together, giving each other some Chizuk. On two occassions, I did manage to invite some kids in the area on a Shabbat day to recite Tehillim and them some Brachot. But it's not quite the same as women your age with whom you can interact. I had tried inviting English speakers and somehow it did not quite happen.

Then a few days ago I was speaking to a neighbour a few buildings away and she offered to bring some of her friends around. Here we had the start of what I wanted, not with English speakers though but with Hebrew speakers.

The time arrived, I had prepared what was necessary and the women slowly arrived. While those who arrived early and I sat waiting, we chatted a bit to get to know each other. Suddenly I pinched myself. Here I was with 6 other women of my age, chatting away and planning the evening together all in Hebrew. They had accepted me enough to chat like a friend and I was understanding what they said and answering sometimes in a manner like an Israel, such as the way I answered "כן, כן" as in "yes, certainly."

If you would like one tip as to how to make your integration into living in Israel successful it would be learn Hebrew and get to know the Israeli's. While it is good to interact with English speakers, get to know your Israeli neighbours. When you can chat with a group of Israeli's in Hebrew just as easily as you would with English speakers, then you have mastered something great.

For some reason they say, "when in Rome do as the Romans do!" Well, I say when in Israel, speak Hebrew with the Israeli's. 

What do you do to help your integration to be successful? Have you taken time to learn Hebrew? Have you met your neighbours? Have you invited them over for tea, coffee or any other time to chat and have some nosh?

Try it, you might be pleasantly surprised as to how friendly and welcoming they can be.

 This post is prepared for you by Shoshanah Shear of Chessed Ve'Emet

Developing a Lending Library.

We are working on developing a Torah lending library L' Ilui Nishmas. It's a lovey way to get to know others in the community and to be a apart of developing one's community while also doing something in the merit of our relatives no longer in this world. A lovely way to integrate into a new society. Being new to an area can be unsettling and uncomfortable for years. For those with some ingenuity, finding a way to give can help to make the difference between your being an outsider and being a needed part of the community.

The books above are books that were donated towards startng our lending library. We spent a bit of time prior to Sukkot happily sorting, checking, dusting, cleaning the books and separating which are for use in the library and which will be for sale towards raising funds for the lending library. 

It took quite a bit of time but has certainly been fascinating and enjoyable. We are happy to say they are all ready. Some have been stamped with our new library stamp. Some are waiting to be stamped.

Some have gone onto the new bookshelf - more about this in another post and some are being put into appropriate categories.

There's quite a bit of work involved in setting up any Gemach or service. Have you starting something since comign to Israel? Have you got involved by volunteering for an organization or cause?

Speaking of volunteers, if you have some time spare and would like to get involved in volunteering for the various projects we have on the go, do be in touch to come for an interview.