Thank you to everyone who tuned in for the first episode. In response to requests for more posts, I present you with episode two of “The New Olah.” I do not anticipate blogging an episode detailing the events from every week, but since the first month was so eventful (mostly thanks to all the government bureaucracy associated with aliyah), I decided I would give a weekly play by play. Sharon and I played tennis on Friday and realized that our posts may not always put Israel in the best light (in other words, could potentially discourage people from making aliyah). So before episode two begins, I will put out this DISCLAIMER: Overall, aliyah is amazing. I genuinely love it here. But let’s be honest, the bureaucratic and other stories poking fun at Israeli society are way more entertaining (and after all, I would like people to actually ready this). I’m also sure that there is a lot of bureaucracy in the states to become a citizen, but fortunately, I’ve never had to deal with it. I’ll try to also toss in a few more “Israel moments” I have when I’m overcome with such joy and gratitude that I live here.
Driving: A New Year calls for new opportunities, experiences, and…in the case of driving for the first time in Israel, risks. Seeing as how I moved here I thought it was necessary to finally be brave enough to drive here. I consider myself a pretty brave, adventurous person (I have been bungee jumping, sky diving, etc.) and yet, I was petrified to get behind the wheel here. I was more nervous driving for the first time in Israel than I was driving for the first time when I was 15. As soon as I learned to expect the unexpected (including having a motorcyclist cut me off and then drive next to the car in front of me and bang on the hood when he realized he knew the driver…only in Israel), I was fine. Hopefully converting my American license to an Israeli one won’t be a huge nightmare (especially now that I have Sharon’s tips: See blog post about Misrad HaRishui if you also need advice)….but I’ll leave that fun project for next summer. First things first, I had to officially become Israeli and get a teudat zehut.
Misrad Hapnim: The first of many stops on the journey of immigrating to Israel. Thanks to the Jewish agency/NBN, I had a 9am appointment set up for me with Elbaz. After acquiring every visa available to me, I know to bring EVERYTHING with me. So I show up with a massive folder containing every document since birth (including, but not limited to: birth certificate, official Rabbi’s letter declaring that I’m Jewish, copies of every visa and document I’ve filled out the past 3 years I’ve been in Israel, old passports, documentation of every entry/exit date in the past 3 years, 15 passport photos, the original letter declaring Abba renouncing his and my Israeli citizenship, and about 5 copies of each of these documents–did I mention I also had the kitchen sink with me?). As I pass through security, I thought: Elbaz, here I come. The security guards sent me to the third floor where supposedly, I would find Elbaz. But of course, that would be way to easy. Little did I know I had to earn my teudat zehut (ID card). If I had known they were going to make me participate in a stair master class, I would have at least stretched before hand. After waiting 20 minutes in line, I was told to go downstairs to find Elbaz, who (of course) made me wait another 20 minutes because she was meeting with someone (clearly appointment times in this country mean nothing). When she was finally ready for me and I explained that NBN sent me, she gave me the “what the hell do you want from me” look and I immediately knew she had no idea how to help me or why I was sent to her. Just to clarify, all I needed was for someone to change my teudat zehut from a “temporary resident” status to a “citizen”–I got to keep the same number, all my details were already in the computer, just needed that one line changed. Elbaz sent me back upstairs for me to wait in line again to get a new number only to be told by that person that I needed to go to the back room for “special cases.” I was naively excited that there was only one person in front of me as I sat there for 45 minutes (luckily passing the time having a very interesting conversation with a blind Arab who told me his life story). As I explained to the woman who was supposed to be the “expert” on special cases what I needed she too, proceeded to give me the “what do you want from me” look and told me that Ilana knows how to do it. ”Great! Where is she?” She isn’t here today. Shocker. And this is when sweet Becky turned into an aggressive Israeli who went on about how there is no way only one person in this entire building knows how to do it. It’s really not rocket science (in fact, after seeing that they literally glue stick my passport photo to a piece of paper to make the teudat zehut, I was convinced that even the other Ilana–my 6-month-old niece–could do it). She called back down to Elbaz and directed me back downstairs to her, who looked at me like, “What are you still doing here? It’s been 2 hours–why don’t you just give up and go home?” and pointed to the last kiosk where Nina was sitting. Of course she asked me for papers that I was told by someone upstairs that I would not have to fill out. She handed me over the 2 papers (which took me about 2 minutes to fill out) and went outside for her 20 minute cigarette break. Nina and I became good friends once I realized that she seemed like she actually knew what she was doing. Clearly she thought we were best friends seeing as how she looked at my passport photos and said, “Mami, your hair looks so much cuter curly” (my hair happened to be straight that day). Well thank you Nina for your hair styling advice. I could see the light at the end of the tunnel as Nina handed me the final document and sent me back upstairs to finally make my tuedat zehut. I felt like I had won the golden ticket as the woman handed me my ID card with my curly-hair passport photo glue-sticked to the corner like a kindergarten art project. Success, now on to Misrad Haklita!
Misrad Haklita: Major failure. After a few hours at Misrad Hapnim I ventured up the street to Misrad Haklita in hopes of getting my teudat olah (the document needed before you can receive any of your aliyah benefits). I begged NBN/Jewish agency to make an appointment for me before I arrived and attempted to call and make one for myself (of course, unsuccessfully because nobody answered) for fear of receiving the dreaded phrase: “achrei hachagim (after the holidays)” if I waited until I got to Israel. I stepped up to the desk proudly displaying my new teudat zehut only to be told (wait for it….you guessed it!) we only have an appointment in two weeks “achrei hachagim.” After much pleading & arguing, the best I could do was to be put on the wait list for cancelations. On the plus side, it meant more time with Abba setting up the apartment and spending time with family.
Partyyyyy!!! Like I said in my last post, my family and friends here make it all worthwhile. Abba and I spent the rest of the week enjoying time with family who truly make us feel at home. We had a lot of fun with our cousins in Kochav Ya’ir and Tel Aviv (Nevei Tzedek) and relaxed on the beach with ice cream (which was well deserved after all the balagan! I made sure Abba got in beach time during his trip because he always tells me that if he moves back to Israel it won’t be because of Zionism, but rather because you are never that far from the beach…clearly, I have an agenda!). I also got to celebrate at Ariella and Jonathan’s wedding (mazel tov!) and at my own party the following night. My parents are so thoughtful and generous and organized an aliyah party at my cousin’s cafe on the namal in Tel Aviv (yes–I have a cousin who does everything in this country). Unfortunately, mom couldn’t come this trip because she had to help Tammy and Etan with Ilana, but I am really grateful she helped organize the party even from Virginia and excited for when she visits. I am so lucky that I got to celebrate my aliyah with family and friends. Despite being a very outgoing person, I get nervous speaking in front of groups (especially in Hebrew!). But I stood up there and spoke from my heart about how excited I am to be here. When Abba introduced me he said that Sabba always wanted to come back to Israel, but never had the opportunity. I’m so grateful that the opportunity presented itself for me to come back home. One of my cousins got up and spoke on behalf of the family which made me feel so welcomed and supported. It doesn’t matter that my family here are more “distant” cousins (2nd, 3rd, etc cousins) because they truly care about me and are there if I need them. I was so happy that some of my friends were able to come from Jerusalem to celebrate with me and can’t wait for many more celebrations in Israel with everyone in the future. I constantly feel in Israel that everyone is one big extended family so it’s easy to feel right at home.
Yom Kippor: Yom Kippor in Israel has a special energy that is hard to describe. I love the chagim in Israel and really feel the holiday spirit. I was excited to spend Yom Kippor in Jerusalem with Abba (who hadn’t been to Israel for YK since he studied at Hebrew U for the year in 1970!). On Yom Kippor, there are no cars on the street (even secular people do not drive). Instead, the streets are filled with kids on bikes and people walking to synagogue in the middle of the street. There is a calm, peaceful, quiet feeling that really sets the mood for the holiest day of the year. There is beautiful singing coming from all the synagogues and people wishing each other “chatimah tovah.” I really feel part of Am Yisrael here and am happy that I got to celebrate and start off the new year in my new home.
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