The Best Olim

I’ve finally returned from miluim and I couldn’t be happier.

When I left the office about a month ago I was concerned. Not scared, but concerned. After all, Ariel’s new olim have begun arriving and all of a sudden, at a very early stage of their aliyah, I can’t be around to give them any assistance. Sure – there are phone calls here and there – but there’s alot that can’t be done long distance.

And what about the brand-new olim that arrived? Two families arrived a matter of days before I was off to serve, and a single guy came after my departure – what would they do? How would they manage?

True- olim have always handled things on their own in the past. Yes- usually things were rather sloppy and not everything got taken care of, but olim survived before the innovation of Ariel’s Community Aliyah Program… And yet – it didn’t seem fair – leaving our olim hanging without the support net that we strive to provide them with.

So – we held a meeting with some of our volunteers. It was the “how are we going to pull this one off” meeting. It was no surprise – all of the positions were manned and every responsibilty was accounted for. Still – how would things turn out…?

While on miluim I witnessed (from afar) things coming together. From the arrival of a new oleh to the assistance necessary for the “old timer” olim (=those here for maybe a month or so), from opening bank accounts to Shabbat meal invitations, from starting new schools to getting into ulpan- our recent olim were all making it happen.

It didn’t happen by accident. Some very good, caring and capable people stepped up to the plate to get the job done. In general, when thanking our volunteers I avoid “mentioning names” so as not to seemingly overlook someone by not mentioning them. In this case, however, I will request forgiveness for mentioning only three of the outstanding volunteers. I mention them due to the significance of their assistance and the degree of their investment, without which I don’t know how things would have worked out:

Jenny – Kol HaKavod!!! Jenny put her secretarial skills and never-ending energy to work by taking the position of “central comand”. Hours on the phone, tying up loose ends, constant initiative and endless care and concern for the olim are only a small taste of what it took for her to get the job done. And indeed, the job got done - without a flaw.

Yisrael (aka Eric)- I was a bit surprised when Yisrael showed up at our volunteer meeting before my departure. After having made aliyah less than two months earlier, I certainly didn’t expect him to take an active role. By the end of the meeting he had essentially volunteered for almost all that had to be done. He was the one to greet our newest oleh when I was away, take him from place to place, show him the ropes and basically show him what it means to come Home.

Yocheved – Some people only know how to give. Yocheved wasn’t at the volunteer meeting – because she wasn’t invited (she wasn’t invited because she herself was one of the new olim that hadn’t even arrived yet!). Both when I stopped by on my leave from the army and now that I’ve returned from miluim I’ve witnessed only a few of the things that she does to help the olim: doing their wash (by hand!), running all over town to get olim things that they need and shlepping things around for a whole day to help an oleh with their move to her new place. One thing’s for sure- she’s done alot more than I have any idea about.

So – to each of the volunteers – those mentioned and those not mentioned – THANK YOU. Your true reward is an eternal one. 

I think the bottom line is that I’m both pleased and impressed. Pleased – because our olim continue to get into life in Israel – one step at a time. Impressed – because they and the volunteers who assist them are doing such an EXCELLENT job.

Thank you all for being the best.

Personal Aliyah Account

The following was submitted to the Ariel Aliyah blog by a third party (ie- not the author). The author does not identify herself by name, though she shares her personal and ever-developing journey in the Land we call Home: 

Today marks 3 years since I started my life anew in Eretz Israel. I’d like to tell my story for anyone interested enough to read it. I’d like to tell my story for me. Like most significant experiences in life, the true meaning often doesn’t reveal itself until the retroactive introspection long after the fact, when it has had time to sink in.

It has been said that while some people have a moment of clarity, others walk around blind their whole life. If you are among the fortunate ones, you are then faced with a decision. You can use your newfound knowledge to propell yourself into a life worth living. If you don’t, the vision will wane and pale and will soon be covered up with doubt and fog, and you will have missed your opportunity.

I had my moment of clarity several years ago. It hit me like a wave, and I was drowning in the ecstasy. I had been swimming in complete darkness, and only then was I able to see the light. Suddenly I knew exactly what my role was in this world, and I was on a mission to fulfill it. Every day was a new discovery, and as I worked hard to make G-d’s will synonymous with my own, it got easier by the day. I was in tune with myself and my spirituality, and I was making all the right choices. I never felt better. It was during this time that I decided to make Aliyah.
I sensed I was walking hand in hand with my Father, my King at all times. In fact, I felt that G-d had literally pulled me out of my arctic existence to embrace me in His warmth. I had been given a free ride, but as my father always told me, nothing in life is free. So I prayed to G-d to allow me to fall from the heights I had reached. I was determined to return, but this time it would be through hard work and determination. This time I would do it on my own.

Now I hear my mother’s voice with another lesson instilled in me from childhood – be careful what you wish for. G-d listened to my prayers, and like all waves, mine gradually washed out. My prayers became routine and I had lost much of my zeal. My passion was steadily fading. While I was still committed to Shabbat and to keeping kosher, my spiritual growth was not progressing. I have heard that spirituality is like a downward escalator; if one does not continue to climb, then by default one is descending.

I stopped learning torah on a daily basis. It increasingly became almost effortless to ignore the beggar on the street. I made excuses for my shortcomings instead of trying to develop my positive character traits and overcome the negative ones. It came to a point where I couldn’t even bring myself to pray. I was embarrassed by my lack of fervour, and felt undeserving of G-d’s attention. I slowly forgot what it felt like the moment my wave crashed into me. Still, somewhere deep inside, I yearn to return to that elated point in my life.

In last week’s parsha, Re’eh, we read about how G-d showed B’nei Israel their options. They could choose to cleave to G-d’s will and reap the rewards, or to follow their animal instincts (or Freud’s “ego”) and suffer the consequences. This is not a choice that we make once, but rather over and over again. You can choose your spouse, you job, your friends, but it doesn’t end there. If after having made your choices, you simply coast through life, then you are not really living. Even if you are happy with your decisions, you must continue to re-choose them on a daily basis, and only then are you truly living.

I have spent the last few years wanting to go back to that point where I was in control of my life. Instead, my life is controlling me. I make resolutions on a daily basis, vowing to change my ways and find a way to reconnect, but never take action. I have become lazy and defeated. I feel like an addict, but what am I addicted to?

Even though I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, even though I no longer have the clarity I once had, I know that it is not impossible. I have seen it. I have been there. While I may no longer be riding my wave, I still feel the splashes of it from time to time. Occasionally I read a line in a book, get advice from a stranger on the bus, or remember a moment in a dream, and I know in my heart of hearts that it’s a message straight from G-d. I recognize it instantly as a drop of water from my original wave. These droplets are what help me keep my eye on the prize, no matter how cloudy my vision has become.

It’s a funny thing about waves; they never disappear. They wash back into the sea, uniting with the rest of the water, and in time become a whole new wave, sometimes bigger and more powerful than the first.

I cannot return to the time that I refer to as my time of clarity, nor do I want to. I want to create an environment for myself that is conducive to a new time of luminousness. I recently celebrated my birthday. I decided that enough is enough, and that now is as good a time as any to turn things around. Age is just a number, so this year, I decided to turn 22 again. 22 was a great year for me. It was a year of discovery and revelation. This was only a few weeks ago, and I am already finding myself once again making the right decisions.

I have taken some small steps in hopes of making a big difference. I have made an effort to distance myself from the negative energies in my life, undertaking to fill the empty space with positive ones. I have started to re-assess my priorities. I have decided to actively appreciate and take advantage of the kedusha (holiness) of the month of Elul, having registered for online Yeshiva classes. I have committed myself to going to the Kotel daily for the next 40 days as a segula l’zivug (supernatural cure for the single).

Most importantly, I have pledged to G-d and to myself to no longer sit in the passenger seat in life. I am taking the wheel and choosing, daily, the direction in which I am headed.

So you want to know what I’ve been up to the last 3 years, and what I am up to today? I have been working for the last 9 months at Livnot U’Lehibanot (www.livnot.com). I have been busy building my house in Tekoa, literally settling the Land of Israel. I have made incredible friends, become almost fluent in Hebrew, and learned to prepare a Shabbat meal for 25 guests. I have travelled the country, taking advantage of living in such an incredible place. I have become Israeli.

Most of all, I have spent the last 3 years waiting for my next wave, realising now that it will not come unless I create a gust of wind. For the first time in years, I see a new wave in the distance, and I am finally enjoying the swim.

An Informal Chat with Avi Zimmerman – Coordinator of The Community Aliyah Program in Ariel

Two of our Ariel Aliyah volunteers, Jerry and Sylvia Dortz, decided to interview Avi – here are the results:

Avi and Dana Zimmerman have been married for 5 years and have two children. Avi is from West Orange, New Jersey and after graduating high school made aliyah in 1995. Dana came to Israel at the age of 2 from South Africa. After their marriage they lived in Alon Shvot for two years but they knew it was only temporary since they wanted to live in a place where they could contribute to the community. They chose the city of Ariel because it afforded them the opportunity to pursue their dream of contributing to the community in which they lived.

About 1 ½ years ago Ron Nachman, mayor of Ariel, invited English speakers in Ariel to a meeting in his home to discuss the prospect of bringing North American Jews to Ariel. The mayor obtained funding and support from the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Absorption to include Ariel in their Community Aliyah Program. It was suggested to Mayor Nachman that a project coordinator be hired who would be responsible to see that the program was run properly. Avi Zimmerman was approached and he decided to take a break from his profession as an occupational therapist to take on the responsibility of heading this program as its coordinator. This particular program was created by the Jewish Agency and the Ministry of Absorption to function in a number of cities in Israel.

Avi’s duties include marketing the Ariel Aliyah program and following through with an effective absorption program for the olim. Much of the marketing is done by internet and telecommunications, both here in Israel and by Avi’s trips abroad, where Ariel is presented to targeted audiences.

The goal of the Ariel Community Aliyah Program is to have an effective plan for North American Jews who choose to come home to Israel and who choose to settle in Ariel. We want to encourage aliyah by choice and to enhance Jewish life for those olim.

The Ariel Community Aliyah Program has approximately 20 volunteers with a core group of 10 people. The committee is expanding because as new olim arrive, they want to become active and give back to the community. When they arrive they are helped technically with as much as can be done in the way of housing, employment, education for adults and children and community programs so that their aliyah experience is a comfortable and enjoyable event. There are programs within Ariel for adults and children to help familiarize these families with the city and its people. Avi Zimmerman as Coordinator of Ariel Aliyah develops a program according to the needs of each oleh – oleh of different ages, backgrounds and needs. The program also provides pen pals, adoptive families, hospitality with local families. This motivates the community to take an active part in the process. All in all, as one can readily see, the Ariel Aliyah Community Program is a wonderful opportunity for our new olim and the citizens of Ariel to come together

Behind the Scenes: Letter to the Jewish Agency

As I’m sure our readers know by now, our Ariel Aliyah program has a very good relationship with all of the organizations involved in North American aliyah.  Recently the Jewish Agency shared with me an insightful letter that an olah chadashah wrote them.

Guess why I mention this – that’s right! Because I’m about to share that letter with you…

Of course, the name of the olah and the name of the “involved city” have been removed. The purpose of this post is not to single-out a person rather to highlight a phenomenon, not to disparage a city in the Land of Israel - G-d forbid – but to give people practical decision making tools.

Here we go: 

Dear —,

My name is — and my family made aliyah to — through the Communal Aliyah Program in May of 2007. We have truly appreciated all of the additional help that we received through the program, however we will be leaving — shortly, and we felt the Jewish Agency should be aware of the reason why.

When we arrived in —, we were able to find a 4 room apartment that was conveniently located for 2800 NIS per month. When the time came to renew our lease, our landlord demanded 3800 NIS per month, a 30% increase. A brief search of the real estate listings shows that the lowest rent available for even a 3 room apartment in — is 3200 NIS. If the point of the Communal Aliyah program is to build communities, instead of just giving olim an Anglo destination to crash land into for a year before benefits like sal klita and arnona reduction end, perhaps there should be a different approach to choosing the participating cities, such as someplace more affordable.

We visited Ariel and they seem to have the right idea. It’s a very Israeli city with a small Anglo population that really needs assistance, versus —’s large Anglo population that can afford the rising prices with or without the addtional benefits.

Thanks for your time,
—

I can’t say that I personally agree with the terminology used in the letter. It’s not that where there are Anglos there’s less of a need and where there are Israelis there’s more of a need. HOWEVER – the bottom line is perfectly clear: Ariel continues to develop an ideal location for Anglo olim. It’s not about an attractive benefits package, leaving you high and dry when it runs out. It’s about a REAL place you can call home, afford, enjoy and be part of a community.

 Simply put, Ariel works for those who choose to live in Israel, work in Israel and love life in Israel.

Singles Choose Ariel

Nefesh B’Nefesh got wind of the fact that quite a number of singles are hopping on the Ariel Aliyah bandwagon so they asked me to write a post for their new blog (I don’t know if its public yet). So, if I wrote it anyway - why not post it for our own readers here…

Making aliyah as a single isn’t easy. On top of all of the challenges that face any oleh, singles have to start a new life for themselves in the context of an array of basic uncertainties about life and their future. Community life, interpersonal relationships, professional development and “living the dream” are terms that take on new meaning when referring to singles that make aliyah. Through and through, every step of the way, singles have to face the challenges of aliyah on their own.

Finances are often a primary issue. Particularly in cases where a single prefers to live without roommates, the issue of housing affordability becomes paramount. Of course, in order to earn an income that pays the bills, no matter how affordable the neighborhood, people need to be in close proximity to their place of employment. It isn’t easy to find a city that’s both affordable and close to an array of employment centers.

When Nefesh B’Nefesh representatives visited Ariel they were very straight-forward: “Ariel is for singles” they said. Though the city has been attracting couples and families through its Community Aliyah Program, it turns out that many singles share the Nefesh B’Nefesh assessment of the situation. Whether through word of mouth, pilot trips or the internet, singles have begun to pursue Ariel as their aliyah destination. For some it’s the quiet atmosphere, for others it’s the beautiful views of the Shomron. Whatever the initial pull may be, it seems that the open and supportive community along with the presence of the city’s university campus with 10,000 students, provide the necessary human element so significant to the lifestyle of these singles.

In Ariel singles can be anonymous or gregarious, low-key or involved. If they want their space – they have it. If they want a community – it’s there. If they feel like hopping on a bus to meet people in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem – they can. The affordable housing, the proximity to major employment centers, the in-city services and the comfortable lifestyle make Ariel a convenient and comfortable option for singles who are ready to think a bit out of the box.

For more info on Ariel you can visit:
Ariel Aliyah Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5994778609
Ariel Aliyah Yahoo Group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arielaliyah/
Ariel Aliyah Blog: www.arielaliyah.wordpress.com
The City of Ariel’s English Site: www.ariel.muni.il/en

Or contact Avi Zimmerman, Ariel’s Community Aliyah Program coordinator:
arielaliyah@gmail.com

Housing shortage in Israel – personal story

This is a personal story, not expert financial advice. Please do your own due diligence.

 

A few weeks before I got married in ‘99, my wife and I came to Ariel to look for a rental. It was pre-war and hi-tech was ramping up, the college was gaining momentum and the massive building projects next to the college were being completed. The real estate market was heating up. We drove around looking for rental ads or signs on balconies, nada. We were relegated to the agents.

 

We went to three agents and saw some potential places but mostly ‘old’ places or different sizes, nothing that grabbed us. I’ll give credit to the secretary at Eli Arbiv, after we came back to the office, disappointed about not finding something ‘nice’, she gave us advice that is once again relevant today, “what you see today is not going to be on the market tomorrow. You do not have a few days to think about your options. See something decent and suitable, take it. Start negotiating with the owner and maybe you can get some touch-ups.”

 

We went to the next agent, saw three apartments and chose one with a nice (sorry, awesome) view, a 2 metre kitchen counter, no balcony, and overlooking a strip mall with restaurants open really late, a parking lot which was active 24/7 and lived there for about seven years.

 

The market in Ariel, in fact all over central Israel right now, is one of a major housing shortage. During the mini-recession in 2002-2006, many builders went out of business or reduced building starts. The financial papers talked about the supply of apartments running out in a few years and here we are; the amount of new apartments does not match the demand. And rising prices have speculators in the market as well buying ‘investments’. Some areas in Jerusalem, Ashdod, for instance, are suffering from heavy buying by foreigners who in trying to do a mitzvah of owning land in Israel, are a) raising the prices for us Israelis, and b) not living in the apartments year round and not renting out either consequently driving the shortage to epidemic proportions.

 

The time is not one to be picky and certainly not one of looking at some decent homes and sitting on it for a couple of weeks or even a day or two. You never know when a ‘better’ home will get put on the market, but that dilemma can drive anyone crazy, and that’s why it’s good to have faith in God to send you the most suitable options to choose from.

This is advice for many places in Israel now, not only Ariel. The new market valuations in shekels has also wreaked havoc with the market, so try to get immediate advice from others who might have an idea of value comparison.

 

Of course, no one can be assured of anything. One might find a nice place, but have lousy neighbours and vice-versa (preferred, IMO). One might feel like they’re really compromising, but end up with a nice landlord who agrees to make improvements and does not pester.

 

If you know you want to live in a certain place, whether Ariel or not, it’s not a buyers market right now.

 

The preceeding is also more geared towards renting, though relevant towards buying real estate as well. I could not tell you if the continued boom will last, and certainly if, or when Israel’s economy will hit the downturn and prices will drop.

Josh

10 tips on renting through a realtor in Israel

It’s time to lay down the “law”.

I have seen too many missed opportunities. People want to rent something but don’t seem to know how to go about things. They look at a place or two, hope to find something “better”, and then end-up regretting having foregone the first place. In the meantime, people don’t realize that they’re driving the realtors a bit crazy (admittedly – not always a long trip). The problem is not only for the family or individual looking to rent, nor for the realtor, but for other individuals and families that intend to rent/buy in the future.

I’ve developed a healthy relationship with the realtors in Ariel, as well as with quite a number of landlords. It’s very important that I maintain those healthy relationships, so that we can assure all of our future olim the opportunity to rent (and ultimately buy) the sort of homes that they’re looking for here. Unfortunately, up to this point there have been”issues” that have arisen with most of the local realtors over the course of their dealings with families that I’ve sent their way.

There may be a number of factors involved, but it seems clear that the primary factor is a lack of familiarity with the unwritten rules of how to deal with realtors in Israel. So – in order to ensure that everyone lands a solid deal, as well as to ensure the continued success of the Ariel Aliyah program, I’ve drafted a list of 10 tips (5 do’s, 5 don’ts) on how to deal with realtors in Israel:

1. BE CLEAR. Know what you’re looking for. That will help the realtor know that you’re serious. If he has something to offer you then you guys will get along great. If not – switch realtors.

2. If the market is competitive where you’re looking (like in 95% of Israel) be ready to sign a contract on the spot.

3. Use the fact that you’re an oleh to your advantage – dedicated to life in israel, you’ll take good care of the place, if you’re not working yet you’ll still be able to pay the bills from your personal savings.

4. PRIORITIZE!!!! We all want a beautiful place, in a particular location, a particular size, a certain floor (not too high, not too low) , some extras (maybe a garden, a balcony), a certain amount of furniture (either none, lots or some), a place that’s well kept, a great landlord, wonderful neighbors, some (to alot) of storage space, a particular date of availability, enough time to decide if we really want the place or if perhaps we can get  a better deal elsewhere, oh- and of course a great price. WELCOME TO THE REAL WORLD! Decide on 1 to 2 (maybe 3) guiding factors on the basis of which you are ready to sign a contract.

5. Make it clear to the realtor that he/she is a tremendous help in making your aliyah a (continued) reality and that you GENUINELY appreciate their assistance and all of the work they’ve put in – especially when they do things for you after office hours.

6. Never negotiate before making your thanks and appreciation of the realtor’s efforts abundantly clear.

7. Don’t try to negotiate everything – if there are 3 issues that you want to address (problems with the place, concerns of the wording in the contract, the price)  then mention each of the issues independantly.

8. Do not negotiate with the owner – only with the agent.

9. Do not show-up late.

10. Don’t be afraid to ask. If the place you see looks like it’s falling apart ask: “did you notice that the walls are full of mold?” or “how long will it take the landlord to fix up this place before he allows someone to move in?” Even if the answer to your question is in the form of stuttering or a blank look – you didn’t want to move there anyway. Now the realtor will take you somewhere that you want to see.

These tips are not an exhaustive list, but they should help you along their way. Remember – each of these guidelines was written in the wake of often repeated mistakes. I hope they help people keep on track.   

The Ariel Development Fund

The Ariel Aliyah program is blessed to have a couple of volunteers who are also involved in other community work throughout the city as well. Amongst them are Jerry and Sylvia Dortz, who are regular volunteers at the well-known Ariel Development Fund. Here’s the inside scoop about some of what the Ariel Development Fund does for the city:

We (jerry and Sylvia) interviewed Dina Shalit, the Executive Director of The Ariel Development Fund (ADF), who made aliyah from Montreal, Canada in 1983 with her husband and three children.  

The Ariel Development Fund serves multiple purposes for the city of Ariel. It is first and foremost the fund-raising arm of the City of Ariel, which makes the organization aware of community needs and humanitarian projects.  ADF then finds financial support for these projects from abroad.  The organization focuses a great deal on immigrant absorption programs since the population of Ariel is 54%   immigrants.

Ariel is a growing city of 18,000.  Along with its sister organization, American Friends of Ariel located in Florida, ADF has been very successful in its efforts.  That stems from the fact that since its inception the Fund has developed personal relationships with people who care about Israel and focus on the City of Ariel. 

The organization acts as a major force for the city.  ADF staff receive tour groups and private individuals and encourage and receive support from both Christian and Jewish Zionists.   The visitors enjoy performances by the senior citizens choir, youth and Russian dance and singing groups.   The tours include visits to educational institutions from pre-school to Ariel University including some very important projects at the Research and Development Center.   The groups also visit some of the cultural venues that have been so important in the development of the community life of our citizens and they also partake in vine planting in fulfillment of Biblical prophecy.  Visitors also tour the IDF base adjacent to Ariel.  The Holocaust Museum, located in the center of Ariel, is another important stop for our guests.  On occasion they are taken on tours of the area including such important historical and Biblical sites as Shilo, Mt. Moriah, etc.

 The Ariel Development Fund works for the advancement and the well-being of the citizens of our beautiful, vibrant city.

 If you are coming to Israel on a tour, we would love to show you our beautiful city so ask your guide to arrange a visit to Ariel by contacting the office of The Ariel Development Fund at 03-936-4406.

Addendum:

I just wanted to add a little something of my own. Not everyone realizes the steps that have been taken to bring Ariel’s Anglo aliyah program as far as its come. It requires time, effort, coordination, motivation and – you guessed it -money. The ADF has been generous in each of those respects, including preparing and funding recruiting trips to America and Canada, absorption housing for new olim and various other expenses and needs that have arisen over time.

So when you meet Dina Shalit (and if you move here I’m sure you will) don’t forget to thank her for making Ariel, and Israel, a better place.

Cry for Help

Our Ariel Aliyah members and fans really pitched in for this one. Last week I recieved the following letter from a family that’s considering aliyah:

no word… I am on the verge of a crash too much… going on… my wife made a list yesterday.. basically minimal living in this country is 14,500 shekels per month schools… the killer is the car… what insurance and reg. are sick… she is freaking out big time……mix the cost with ulpan … sure disaster… G-d help us…. i will keep you posted……. she is really worried

I asked the family for permission to post their letter on our facebook group , and they gave me the go ahead.

Some people responded with words of encouragement, others with practical advice. Some spoke of teamwork and communication between spouses and others of faith in G-d. [To see the discussion group and the responses click here].

Several things seemed to stand out:

1. People really wanted to help this family in whatever way they could.

2. The letter seemed to hit a vaguely cord in the hearts of olim, drawing on their personal experiences and evoking genuine responses.  

3. The resounding chorus seemed to be that as long as both parents are committed to aliyah they will manage to make it into a reality.

In my mind the letter written was a microcosmic representation of the “pro-aliyah but not quite there yet” aspect of Diaspora Judaism. The responses were, on the other hand, a microcosmic representation of the spirit and dedication of successful Aliyah-Judaism.

“Pro-aliyah-but-not-quite-there-yet Diaspora Judaism” is in a tight spot. It wants to see Israel as a place to live, but finds the practical side of things either daunting or difficult to fathom.

“Successful Aliyah-Judaism” has been there, seen it, done it, lived through it and is ready to tell its story. Noone said it was easy, and yet noone said that it couldn’t be done. Each person, with his own tools, his personal commitments and his belief system managed to make it – and continues to do so.

The pre-aliyah narrative is, at least in some way, about concerns, fears and stress. The post-aliyah narrative is about commitment. Decide to make it happen, and it will.

 
 

The System Works!!!

As many of our readers know, we recently opened a new “yahoogroup” discussion board (conveniently titled Ariel Aliyah http://groups.yahoo.com/group/arielaliyah/). The discussion group is just another way of helping our olim and Anglo “veteran” families receive up-to-date relevant information.

Mostly, I post things on the group and I have no idea what happens afterward. People aren’t so into follow-up. Sure – sometines people will respond to a post. Other times people will send a “thank you” or “I appreciate the posting”, but more often than not it’s hard to know how things work out. Yesterday, only a couple of weeks after we  started the group, I had the opportunity to get a real feel for how the system actually works.

A couple, who had seen one of the posts about an apartment for rent, followed up. We made an apointment for them to see the apartment in the evening. The couple asked me to come along to check out the place and make sure the deal went through smoothly. I showed up a few minutes before the tenant arrived to open the place, so the couple asked if I wouldn’t mind checking out another rental sign that they saw down the road in the meantime. I obliged.   

While I was walking  a few feet down the street 2 women started calling my name. This, you might imagine, is an unusual occurance – at least for me. To be quite honest, I was totally and completely confused, assuming that there was another Avi walking right next to me. When I didn’t notice any such person I reasoned that perhaps they were calling me.

I then recognized the women – one from my shul and the other whom I had met only a few weeks ago. They immediately explained: “we were just talking about you” (not that this was much of an explanation – I barely knew these people, had no idea that they even knew my name, and wasn’t quite sure how they recognized me fom down the street). “How did you know that I was looking for tutoring lessons?”

Okay – all I wanted to do was to check out another rental sign. I’m still trying to figure out if these people have me confused with someone else, but  the probablity that I myself am losing it became increaingly more likely.

After another  2 minutes of “explanations” I finally figured it out. I posted that a woman was looking for an english tutor on the yahoogroup (based on a post that I found on Ariel’s Hebrew site) earlier yesterday morning. As I was walking down the street these two women were emerging from an initial meeting where they agreed on a tutoring schedule between the the two of them – tutor and tutoree.

It was great - one family signing a contract, another woman getting a tutoring job and another keeping her job with the assistance of her new tutor. I actually felt the Divine hand motioning to me – “keep the posts coming. I’ll take it from there”.