Making Aliyah In 2010: A Different Motivation For Living In Israel

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When Houstonians Dr. Todd and Dikla Lynn and their four children leave Houston to move to Israel next week, they won’t be fleeing from oppression or political instability. In fact, they’ve enjoyed their lives in Houston very much: the parents as part of a close-knit community centered at Young Israel synagogue and the children at the Torat Emet/Sephardi Gan.

Nor is the Lynn family fleeing economic ruin or poverty. Todd enjoys a successful private practice as a neurosurgeon. Dikla works in public relations.

The Lynn family seeks something more elusive in their move to Israel: a spiritual self-fulfillment.

“At the end of the day, what does being a Jew mean?” asked Dikla Lynn. “To become a better person. Living in Israel opens up more possibilities to become a better person.”

On July 6, the Lynn family will fly from New York to Tel Aviv to make aliyah. They are part of an estimated 3,000 American and Canadian Jews moving to Israel this summer according to Nefesh B’Nefesh (NBN) spokesman Charley J. Levine. NBN is a North American based, non-governmental agency dedicated to revitalizing aliyah from the U.S. and Canada. Through seminars, workshops, personal meetings, and interactive website, NBN works to eliminate the obstacles that prevent and hinder those who wish to move to Israel.

One of the central tenants of classic Zionist ideology has always said that Jews who live outside Israel in the Diaspora are doomed to live a life of alienation and assimilation. That’s not an ideology that has resulted in returning many American Jews to Israel.

Historically for American Jews, making aliyah had little to do with the idea that Israel is a safe haven for the Jewish people. The fact is, despite many challenges, Jews have become this nation’s largest, most visible and most successful non-Christian minority. That’s how Jonathan Sarna, Chief Historian of the National Museum of American Jewish History describes us.

Instead, argues Levine, moving to Israel means living life as part of a collective Jewish identity. Levine, a former Texan from San Antonio, made aliyah 31 years ago. He believes to live in Israel is to take part in a unique Jewish political commonality.

“If I had to pick one thing,” said Levine. “Israel is the only place in the world where a Jew can feel a sense of ownership of the culture, the history and the day to day society for better or worse. You may not like everything you own. But you own it.

“I’m a third generation Texan-American. I didn’t feel a sense of estrangement or dissatisfaction with America. Most people who come with us are not alienated from America.”

The “pull” or lure of life in Israel--at least for the Lynn family—was kindled because of a growing religious life over the past decade.

“My husband and I are both balei teshuvah,” said Dikla Lynn. “Neither one of us came from religious homes. We became religious independently of each other before we were married. When we met, we were both religious.”

Add to the mix that Dikla is Israeli-born. Prior to becoming religious, Dikla describes her relationship to Israel as “speaking Hebrew, eating falafel and wearing sandals”. The process of becoming religious began while she was a student at Rutgers University between 1994-98. She went for a semester in Israel and studied in a women’s yeshiva, Neve Yerushalayim, for six months.

“That’s when my perspective started to shift, she said.

Dikla, who obtained a bachelors degree in communications and marketing, described her experience working in an Israeli public relations firm.

“Some of my co-workers were religious, some not,” she said. “When it was time to pray mincha, even the most secular workers knew what the prayer is. It’s a given in Israel, whether you are religious or not. That’s not the case in America where secular Jews know next to nothing about their religion. I could talk to anybody and I didn’t have to hide my bentching.

“Two things I feel that are extraordinary about living in Israel. One, everyone is Jewish and that’s an awesome feeling. Also, if you are religious, there are certain things you don’t have to be constantly conscious of such as being covered out of modesty. Since the majority population in Israel understands the religion, it leaves more room for personal growth. It takes a certain level of confidence and awareness to do these things on a daily basis when you are in the minority. Since I’m looking to grow, I think that in Israel I won’t have to battle to be a better person. I won’t have to explain these things. They are understood.”

The Lynns are not moving to Israel with stars in their eyes. The family lived in Israel for a year, from the summer of 2007 to 2008. Todd took a sabbatical. They family lived in Jerusalem’s Ramat Eshkol neighborhood. Todd went to learn at a yeshiva. Dikla joined a 20-week class on shalom bayit, a class on parenting, a weekly class on the Jewish holidays, a class on Pirke Avot, as well as occasional one-shot lectures.

“Even though I love the community in Houston--people make you feel like they are your family--I felt that one of the greatest things lacking here was learning opportunities, especially for women,” said Dikla. “There were times I felt like I was on autopilot with my religion. We are always supposed to be striving to be higher and do more spiritually, not living on autopilot.”

Interviewed separately, Todd Lynn agreed with his wife that their sabbatical had been a turning point in the process towards making a new life in Israel. For Todd, Israel is not understood as a refuge, but as a place to live your life in.

“Israel is our spiritual and religious inheritance,” he said. “Anybody who has ever been to Israel feels this connection. When it comes to describing our motivating force for moving there, it’s a combination of feeling connected to everyone there, whether it’s a cultural or religious connection.

“I’m not somebody who resents America. I love its freedoms and what it stands for. But at the same time, America doesn’t provide me with the same sense of connectivity that Israel does. In Israel, there’s a sense of belonging to something much greater than you, something that is special in importance.”

The Lynns plan to settle in Ramat Beit Shemesh, between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. The couple is fully aware of the challenges of moving to a new country. One challenge is employment. Even though Todd is a neurologist, he must initially do an observation in a hospital setting before he can apply for his specialty license. There’s also a Hebrew proficiency test he must pass.

Then there’s the issue of schools for the kids. The Lynns plan to move into a neighborhood that is predominantly English-speaking and professional.

“That’s part of the reason why we chose it,” said Dikla. “Todd can work as a professional and also study. Both aspects are accepted and a majority of the community does that. Also, the community will accept my children in their school and it seems like a good fit. But until we are physically there, we won’t know for certain.”

Ramat Beit Shemesh has become part of a network that some in Israel call “little America”. But as NBN’s Charley J. Levine pointed out, any family that uproots itself from the United States will need help along the way.

“We’ve identified the biggest challenges to North American olim: jobs, finding the right community, school and youth activities for the kids, and learning Hebrew.

“If people get those four things right, they will stay successfully in Israel. Our staff of 100 people addresses those issues for people thinking about coming and once they are there.”

Levine claimed that in the early 1980’s, over 50% of the North Americans who came on aliyah went back within three years.

“What we’ve done is change that to a 98% successful absorption rate of the people we bring over,” said Levine. “Some 92% of the family units are gainfully employed within the first six months after they come over. Jobs are our number one priority and the main thing we do. We try to match up these seasoned people who have generally worked in their field and are ambitious with the right employer. If you’re working and making money, you’re generally happy.

“As for housing, we’ve identified certain communities that are nurturing and have opened themselves up to these new comers: places like Beit Shemesh, Mo’adim and Rananna. These are places with an interesting sociology, with leaders who wants to welcome highly educated, highly motivated families to come there.

“If you are thinking about aliyah, come to the website at www.nbn.org. We provide advice, chat groups, practical information on furniture and so on. Then, start talking to us. We are very user friendly.”

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