I have nothing tying me to England anymore, and will most likely try to make Aliyah in a year and a bit's time (after I've graduated, if i do)

Pinchas, when should I talk to NBN? (I'm not 'frum,' but would probably be again once I return to Israel)

Is there anything else I need to know, that they won't tell me, or that I won't realize to ask? (literally, anything)

Well the Jewish Agency says you can open your tik (your Aliyah file) up to a year before you actually make Aliyah.

As with NBN, it's never too early to start talking to them. Even if you tell them you aren't planning to come till 2009, or even 2010. If fact, NBN will want you to make a "pilot trip" which is a good idea, to come visit to prepare for your Aliyah. There are also seminars, webinars, and other events that can help you prepare properly. So you can even contact NBN today and ask them to send you an "Aliyah planner" book which covers mostly everything you need to prepare for with Aliyah. The more time you prepare the smoother your Aliyah will go. Good luck and I can't wait to greet you in the airport.

p.s. You don't have to be 'frum' at all to use NBN.

oh, I know I don't have to be 'frum,' just explaining the reasoning that i'd specifically want them (because I don't know that much about them otherwise, aside from the videos)

I have lived in Israel b4 for about 2 and a half months (though I was planning for staying for longer) and have visited twice otherwise- would they still want a trip (this is almost an irrelevant question, why would I not make a trip when I have an excuse for it?)

NE Who,
Thanks so much Pinchas, will call either today or tomorrow.

I don't know much about you, so I'll tell you what I should have done/did before going:

1 - Pay off your foreign debt. You won't be able to here, and if you have a good credit rating it's a shame to toss it for a lack of planning.

2 - Put aside some money. Even if you're promised a job as soon as you get here, have a cushion. I suggest 6 months worth of (Israeli) living expenses. If you're a young single guy, that isn't as huge a sum as you might need back home, but it makes the stressful times a little less stressful.

3 - Learn Hebrew. Unless you are totally literate (reading, speaking, writing) take a class. You have a year to become better than you are now. The better your Hebrew, the better your lifestyle here.

4 - Be prepared for a difficult shock in every way.

5 - Be prepared to live a much lower lifestyle (materialisticaly) than you are probably used to.

The last comments are more general idea rather than specific points. Israel is not what you likely think she is. Even if you were here before, you were probably more in a tourist mentality than an immigrant. You're coming here as an immigrant, with all of the bad conotations the word carries. You'll be taken for stupid, undervalued, looked down on, and resented. There will (of course) be a disproportionate percent of the population that sympathizes with you (I just read 18% of people in Israel weren't born here) but most people here won't understand or appreciate what you're doing, why you're doing it, etc etc. The last thing anyone wants to hear is what you have to say about pretty much anything. Find your place, get established, and than speak your piece. Remember that you have two ears and one mouth. The ears should be open, the mouth closed. As sad is it sounds, the locals like immigrants that are quite, polite, and know their place. I can say they warm up quicker here than in other countries (a few months versus never) but let them warm to you.

May you have a smooth and easy klita.

Well, thank G-d I'm too young to have any debt! As well, I'm going to head to the army when I get there, as I'll still be the right the age. That will give me plenty of time to settle. My hebrew is quite good, although more in potentiality than actuality. I took 4 years in the high school I went to (doing five levels) then went to yeshiva for over 5 years, and then lived there for a few months. Its not perfect, and it still hurts to read too much (modern hebrew that is) but I've been mistaken for a native.
I understand that life will be not be perfect materially, but I've been a college/yeshiva student for the past 8 years. I can get by with very little, and don't actually need that much in terms of amenities (except shwarma, chips al hazad!) As I said, I have lived there, so although I know I will be in for a shock, I still have a good feel for (a least part!) of Israel. Don't worry, I'm not expecting everything to go perfectly, or even smoothly. I'm just expecting to come home......


(But thanks for the advice!!)

I'm surprised it's such a low number.

That's cause you underestimate just how many children there are here!

More likely I'm overestimating just how many Russians, Ethiopians, and Anglos have made aliyah.

tht's a good point: I thought it was a million russians that came over...?

So what? There are 7 million people in Israel. 1 million out of 7 million is well below 18%.

Not well below -- it's slightly over 14%.

It's just surprising, because apparently in NYC 36% of the population is foreign born.

ETA: You know what I think my misperception comes from? The fact that there are so many Anglo tourists, especially in Yerushalayim.

bc it would mean that there were only some 200,000 non-FSU immigrants...


also: Approximately 68% of Israeli Jews are Israeli-born, 22% are immigrants from Europe and the Americas, and 10% are immigrants from Asia and Africa (including the Arab World).

yeah, I doubt there are that many Anglos immigrants there at all.

And you're forgetting those FSU immigrants made Aliyah 15 years ago or more many kids of there's were born here in Israel.

still, unless a huge amount of them died, they are about 14% of the pop (i.e. just the immigrants)
as well according to the above study the 18% figure seems wrong... by at least 6%