a very thourough article, but in the US i remember being innundated with these aliyah/olim stories every couple months, especially in the jew-centric publications, as well as state newspapers. the families and people are always diverse, but the trends are similar: jews flocking to israel to raise families, despite the concerns of safety, the paltry/non-existant non-idf/security budgets of raising a family in israel, and a high level of culture shock.

i can only speak as someone who briefly lived in israel (before the current intefada), but the whole 'once i came to israel, it felt like home, i felt like i belonged here, etc...' is spot on.

because it is very true. you just feel something inherently fitting, and there is very prominant message that speaks to jews from all over: a true sense of belonging. american jews (and i'm sure also european jews) are raised in a country where practicing jews are a minority of their communities...so when you go to israel and see mezzuzahs hanging on the doors of stores, malls, the post office, etc., and other congruent things, you feel like you are finally in a place where you don't have to defend judaism, watchdog antisemites, or tolerate the calendar of a religion that is not yours. for jews that have visited israel, aliyah is a very tangible phenomenon.

despite the annoyance of security checks everywhere, the stress of shahidim, poverty that is very apparent (especially in the middle-south israel), prickly israelis, and pesky hasidim that try to enforce their doctrine in secular places, israel is a beautiful country. it is extremely diverse in religion and ethnicity, full of the strongest people i have ever known, and you have the sense of being in a european country and in the middle east at the same time, a dichotomy that is very odd but wonderful.

however, from the article:>>By streamlining the bureaucracy, helping new olim find jobs, assisting them financially with grants from $5,000 to $20,000[...]

the rules may have changed, but i remember that americans are the only citizens that do not get any monetary assistance from israel. for instance, polish and ukrainians get from the state of israel like free apartments/rent, stipends, and vouchers. but i can't quite remember, and the funding may have changed since i last researched aliyah.

regardless, an inspiring article.

Interesting article, Matteo, and interesting comment, scala. Thanks to you both.