Chosen People to the Chosen Land
Aloh Na'aleh in conjunction with the Israel Center

Editor: Batsheva Pomerantz
CPCL #12 • K’doshim - Rosh Chodesh Iyar, contact: aloh-naaleh@aaci.org.il

This “from time to time” feature is geared towards encouraging Aliya... AND encouraging veteran & new Olim to become more involved in encouraging and easing the Aliya of others.

Hungarian Roots, Branches and Zionism, by Ilene Bloch-Levy; Reprinted with permission of the author and the WZO Hagshama Dept. web site at www.wzo.org.il

A family reunion evokes the very first rumblings of Zionism in Europe.
The Natonek family convened on a Shabbat to meet Imre Natonek, their 80-year old cousin from Budapest. Like many family members, the Budapest cousin was a Holocaust survivor. Unlike the others, he opted to remain in Hungary. The bulk of the family that survived the flames made their way to Israel.

Frankly, it was the only logical choice they had, since their great-grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Natonek of Hungary, who lived from 1813-1892, was an ardent Zionist - long before Herzl came upon the scene. In fact, the family is convinced that Herzl first heard about Zionism and the idea of the establishment of an independent Jewish State from their Rabbinic ancestor.
The majority of Hungarian Jewry, from the 1800's on, strived to assimilate into mainstream society. The Rabbi witnessed this emancipation movement within his own community. After much thinking, by mid-century he came to the conclusion that to ensure their future, the Jews had to create an independent state in Palestine. Rabbi Natonek spoke and wrote at length about Israel, was in contact with the Zionist Alliance Organization in Paris, and conducted extensive correspondence with Moses Hess in Germany and Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer of Hungary - both advocates of a political and national renaissance of the Jews in their ancient homeland.
Rabbi Yosef Natonek published the first documented political Zionist article calling for the establishment of a State of Israel as early as 1861. It appeared in a pamphlet he distributed called "The Messiah". He wrote: "We don't have to liberate the individual Jew. We have to liberate the entire nation of Israel so that the world will recognize that the Jewish nation should be emancipated within its own land. We must revive the land of our forefathers in the Land of Israel."

Rabbi Natonek edited a newspaper called "Yisrael Ha'achid" ("The One Israel") using it as a platform to champion the idea of a Jewish State on the land of our forefathers. His efforts did not go unnoticed. One of his avid readers was, in fact, Yaakov Herzl, the father of Theodore Herzl. The Natonek family's claim that Theodore Herzl first began to consider the concept of a State of Israel in his father's home is backed by documentation in the Zionist Archives.

Very few Hungarian Jews chose the Zionist route. Exceptions were the Staempfer and Raab families who founded Petach Tikvah. The vast majority of Hungarian Jews did not reach Israel until after the Holocaust.
Like so many others, the Rabbi's descendants were caught within the net of the Nazi horrors. When it was over, most of those who survived made the treacherous journey to Israel. They began to rebuild their lives, marrying, raising children and are now reaping their harvests in a Land that they helped to create, settle and build.

Imre remained in Hungary, raised two daughters, only one of whom is still connected to Judaism. And, here he was in Israel surrounded by dozens of young relatives of all ages who were exchanging stories about the army and mechinot, joining in zmirot, commenting on a d'var Torah, reading from the Torah and leading all the prayer services for the older generation. Here he was surrounded by four generations of Jews whose roots first took hold in Hungary, but were now completely ensconced in Israel and a Jewish existence in a Jewish land. Liberated Jews at home in their own land.
In Hungarian, Imre expressed his gratitude to the family for the efforts they all made to attend this Shabbat gathering. He was happy to see that the Nanotek family, strong and fertile, had taken root in Israel.

It was my guess that Rabbi Natonek, who traveled extensively, spreading his message, would gather satisfaction that his words and ideas did thrive. They did so, in fact, with his own family in the very land that he dreamed would be the salvation of the Jewish nation.

Eretz Yisrael in Our Sources • Whoever prays in Jerusalem, it is as though he is praying before the Heavenly Throne (Kisei HaKavod), because it is the gateway to Heaven, and the door is open for G-d to hear [his prayers]. - Pirkei d'R Eliezer 35

Recent Aloh Na'aleh Events • Approximately 200 young women learning in Israel for the year attended an event organized by Aloh Na'aleh. After hearing inspiring talks, they sought advice from professionals about employment in various fields. AACI's k’lita director Josie Arbel fielded questions about olim benefits, studies in Israel, employability in specific professions, pre-aliya information, and the implication of change of status.
A similar event attended by about 500 young men took place at Machon Lev. AACI national counselor Howie Kahn noted that most questions dealt with their rights as olim. Most questions dealt with the army and scholarships for their college education.

The following feedback was received after the men's event:
- "It's meeting people who can answer questions and advise us on how to make it here successfully that really seemed to get us to consider aliya more seriously."

- "The speeches were excellent, and the booths at the end were the most helpful thing that Aloh Na'aleh can do for people our age. The practical advice was invaluable."

Assisting the Oleh • Ten years ago a monthly email list called Computer Jobs in Israel (CJI) was launched by Jacob Richman. Initially, about 50 subscribers would get the free monthly mailing. Today over 10,000 people in dozens of countries read about computer positions and the Israeli computer industry. The CJI report is published every 2-3 weeks. Its introduction offers information and resources about life in Israel from an oleh's perspective. The CJI web site includes an archive of the last 6 months of reports, annual salary surveys, computer news and links to useful resources for finding a job.

Jacob, in Israel since 1984, spent 4 months finding his first job. Although various organizations helped olim, there was no one to give serious advice in finding computer related jobs. During his first job in a large hi-tech company, friends would ask Jacob if he knew of open positions there or at other hi-tech firms. Each week he would buy newspapers and cut out the wanted ads for friends and others. This evolved into a photocopied report and in 1993 he started publishing the report electronically to reach out to potential olim overseas.

Due to the weak job market, each day brings new subscribers. At this point, the report is still free for both subscribers and companies placing positions. It takes many hours to maintain the list including answering emails. Jacob believes that if CJI helps one person make aliya or helps one resident stay in the country, then it would all have been worthwhile.

See Computer Jobs in Israel and links to Jacob Richman's sites at: http://www.jr.co.il

Here to Stay • Inspiring stories of olim from different periods of aliya are welcome. The essay should be up to 450 words long and emphasize one of the following: motives for aliya, contributions to Israel, how Israel contributed to the oleh, the main challenge in aliya and overcoming it. Send the essay to: aloh-naaleh@aaci.org.il.

Ilene Bloch-Levy, a copywriter from Sha'arei Tikvah, appreciates the warmth of her community. • When we arrived in Israel in 1986 from Riverdale NY, my husband leaped off the bottom step of the airplane and literally kissed the ground. The four older kids were weary and anxious. The 13-month baby was a mass of gold curls. I was petrified. With minimal language skills and admit- tedly, no great desire to move from our comfortable existence in America, I was an aliya risk.

I thought of that first day in Israel when I reread an email I sent a successful lawyer friend who is coming to Israel with his family this summer. He quipped "I'm scared to death. Is that normal?" Absolutely, I penned back. During our first three years here, I kept thinking, when are we going home? It took me until our fourth year in Israel before realizing that this land was exactly where I wanted to be, where I belonged and where I now know, my children and I were destined to be.

It is here among the mountains of the Shomron that my husband is buried, and it is here where my children and I have made lives that are rich, absorbing and spiritually fulfilling in every way.

"You will not regret your move to Israel. Ever. It will fill your heart and soul for the remainder of your days", my email to my friend continues.

Most of my children are well on their way. One is a professional artist, another is finishing up her degree in psychology, a third just completed an officer's training course, a fourth doing her second year of Sherut Leumi. The mass of blond curls is undergoing tests for the army, and the youngest, the only Sabra of the group, keeps himself busy academically, socially and politically.

We live in a community that has embraced us to such an extent that I cannot ever imagine leaving it. Immediately after the midnight phone call from America informing us of my husband's sudden death from a massive heart attack, our home filled with friends who had come to guide us through this excruciating period. The community came in droves, bringing good advice, love, warmth and many necessities.

Today, the home we built, facing the olive-laden Samarian Mountains, often fills with friends and communal activities, Shabbat guests and celebra- tions and much laughter tinged with a new-found sadness that wraps us all in good times and bad. We are part of this land. And, our hearts and souls are bound here as they could only be with a land that becomes entwined in every part of your fiber and has been so for the Jewish people for three thousand years.

Aliya Pen Pals • Potential olim can contact David Magence at magence@netvision.net.il for names and addresses of aliya pen pals. Aliya pen pals, listed according to profession, are veteran or recent olim interested in helping out.

Sha'arei Tikva by David Magence Licensed Tour Guide • Sha'arei Tikva is not far from Petach Tikva. Located about 5km across the green line, Sha'arei Tikva was established in 1983 for ideological reasons. Just as a goal of early Zionism was redeeming land, so too the founders of this community wished to redeem land in Shomron.

Today Sha'arei Tikva has over 900 families, representing a wide spectrum of political opinions. Families that came to Sha'arei Tikva in its early years, when local services were unavailable and the only access was via the Arab village of Kfar Kassem, were motivated by ideological considerations. As the village developed, newer families chose Sha'arei Tikva for economic reasons. Today the community has educational, health and sports facilities, youth movements including Bnei Akiva, library, commercial center, and two community centers. About 30% of the residents are religious. Sha'arei Tikva prides itself on the neighborly relations between its religious and secular citizens.

The government suggested the name "Toafot", which appears twice in the blessings Balaam gave to the People of Israel (Bamidbar 23:22, 24:8). Translated as "the lofty horns of the wild ox", it's used as a symbol of power. An American Jew who bought plots in the village requested that Sha'arei Tikva replace the suggested name. Perhaps it has to do with its relative proximity to Petach Tikva.

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