CPCL #6 • Editor: Batsheva Pomerantz; 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. "In Eastern Europe the Jews were very poor. When they came to America they lived on a low economic level," states klezmer musician Bernard (Bernie) Marinbach author of "Galveston: Ellis Island of the West" (SUNY Press, 1983) based on his doctoral dissertation. The book tells the story of Eastern European Jews who immigrated to the American West through the port of Galveston between the years 1907-1914. According to Dr. Marinbach (in Israel since 1975): "Many of the first generation came without trades and were lucky to find a job. The second generation received an education and succeeded. The next generation had even more material success. One cannot compare the poverty of those days to the situation in Israel today, even with the economic slump. People who worry about making a living or lowering their standard of living should know they're far better off today in Israel than their grandparents or great-grandparents were when starting out in the United States." American Jews can be encouraged by the
success of their determined ancestors, but this time look in the direction
of starting out in Israel. Many olim who have lowered their standard of
living materialistically, adapted successfully to the differences, while
increasing their standard of living in non-materialistic ways. Activities of Y.O.U. have included numerous Shabbatons, movie nights, shiurim, trips, bowling nights, a Tu B'Shvat seder, Yom Ha'atzmaut picnic, and more. Y.O.U. serves the needs of
English-speaking olim with religious singles and couples participating in
its activities. Veteran olim and native Israelis are encouraged to attend
the events. Y.O.U. is looking for volunteers to help out in various ways,
such as coordinating individual events. Lecturers are also welcome. Contact:
055-718-537
youngolimunited@writeme.com
Here to Stay Here To Stay Patty Pomerantz of Bayit v'Gan, Jerusalem recalls the first trial shortly after her aliya - and how she was more determined than ever to make a go of living in Israel: The decision to make aliya happened suddenly. My husband, the late Rabbi Jerome Pomerantz, had always wished to live in Israel for Zionist reasons. But I wasn't ready to make this move, leaving family and friends who were so dear to me. In the summer of 1970, my husband was teaching at Yeshiva University, and building up a congregation of people who knew little about Yiddishkeit in Castle Hill, Bronx, NY. My children's ages at the time were 6 months to eleven years. It was then that I thought about the best environment for raising children as Jews and my own future. I knew where I belonged - in Israel, the Holy Land of the Jews. We had to arrive in Israel by December 30th for my husband's job. After a wonderful farewell party at the shul, we arrived in Israel on a cold, rainy evening. Our lift was sent in November, so it would arrive when we got to Israel. It never arrived. It was lost at sea. All our belongings were lost - furniture, appliances, clothes, irreplaceable photos of the children and my husband's extensive library. Yet, I thank HaShem for putting us through this test. We did not return to America where life would have been easier. America was not the reality of where we wanted to live. It was not an easy road ahead for us, but we were determined to begin again. We did so with help from the congregation, friends and YU. Work for my husband, a congregational rabbi, was a challenge until the right job fell through in education. Thirty-two years later, I feel that I have fulfilled the dream to live in Israel. At present, all my children live in Israel. My married children met spouses from various origins including American Sephardic, Swiss, Persian, and American-Israeli. What a wonderful mixture of cultures in the family! I thank HaShem every day that I have the privilege to see 17 grandchildren grow up in the Land of Israel. They speak Hebrew better than their Savta - what better nachas is there than that! Making aliya is not easy. There are ups
and downs. I want to tell you from my own experience that it is all worth
it. We are here together as one people - helping each other out in times of
joy as well as sorrow. We need all of you here. Our son, Avishai, recently finished his army service. His stories elicited many "Only in Israel" responses. The Jewish army provides its soldiers with khaki-colored tzitzit. The Tanach given at the "swearing-in" ceremony fits perfectly into the oversize pocket on their trousers. They had 3 kinds of shmura matza, a succah big enough for sleeping, a few sets of mehadrin lulavim and etrogim, and time for davening and bentching. Above all, the army provided our boys with great opportunities for kiruv. When last year's yoreh started, the officer in charge told the boys that when it rains, they dance. A bit surprised, they began carrying out his command when he stopped them, told them to be more spirited and to sing "that song, 'Yachad Yachad' and to do it loudly enough so the whole camp can hear". This from what is now called a "not yet religious" Jew. So, not only did they sing and dance their hearts out, but they drew the non-religious soldiers into the circle, and they all danced together. Later on, as Avishai walked back to his
bunk, he saw a guy adorned with various piercings and tattoos with a
cigarette hanging out of his mouth. As he passed, Avishai heard him quietly
singing "Yachad Yachad". Who can tell what small action by a bunch of
soldiers will fan the spark of the pintele Yid, as it becomes a glowing
flame. Being in the Jewish army is truly avodat kodesh and yes - it's only
in Israel. From its outset in 1921, Bayit v'Gan, was a religious neighborhood established by the Mizrahi movement. The name Bayit v'Gan, Hebrew for "house and garden" reflects the fact that when established, it was a suburban neighborhood relatively far from more established Jerusalem neighborhoods. In fact, during Bayit v'Gan's first year, chief rabbi of Jerusalem, HaRav Zvi Pesach Frank, paid a special visit in order to determine if it is permissible to walk from the neighborhood to the Old City on Shabbat. He determined that it is permissible. One of the neighborhood's streets is named in memory of HaRav Frank. According to the rules of the founding society, each home owner in Bayit v'Gan was obligated to contribute one percent of his home's value for "public needs". As a religious neighborhood, Bayit v'Gan
has many yeshivot and schools. These include Sephardic and Ashkenazi
yeshivot, Hassidic and "Litvish", ranging from yeshiva high school through
Haredi yeshivot, the Israel branch of Yeshiva University and women's
colleges. Students learning on one-year programs enjoy the hospitality of
the neighbor- hood's many English-speaking families. Aliyah has been THE talk for the last 35 years - but finding it hard to leave her son and his family in the States. Finally decided 'it was time to come home'. When asked if she were scared to take the 'plunge', she replied, "why should I be scared? Scared of the Arabs? Just because they are making it hard for us to merely exist? My decision was no plunge, it was very easy to do." Esther Dvorah loves to read and is a
regular at the Israel Center library, books all around her on the table. She
primarily loves to read Torah books. How many other new Olim do you know who are 90 years old? — AD ME'A V'ESRIM [The Parshat
Vayeitzei Homepage]
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