The process of Aliyah is complex and challenging. The flight to Israel takes a number of hours.The Journey of Aliyah takes years. Be patient and enjoy the journey.

There are a number of important components to making Aliyah.
Each one is important and requires attention.

Do whatever is necessary to maintain a positive mind-body-emotion-spirit experience throughout your journey.
Maintain your self esteem even when you think that you are not doing well enough.

Aliyah is a huge … you are learning a whole new skill set.

Be proud of yourself for having the courage and values and motivation to do something great.

The Process: main components

• Learning about the considerations, issues, logistics and psychological factors of major relocation
• Preparing yourself logistically, financially, psychologically and emotionally
• Preparing your family, friends, business associates
• Accomplishing the tasks and preparations before leaving
• Packing
• Preparing a comfortable landing
• Setting up home
• Taking care of immediate needs
• Getting acclimated…the first few months
• Transitioning from tourist to Israeli citizen
• Learning how to be Israeli in a satisfactory enjoyable way
• Living life

It is important for an individual, couple, or family to evaluate and make the decision of Aliyah in a healthy and thoughtful way. There are many things to consider. It is important to know what things need to be considered, because many of them are not obvious.

Here are some suggestions, based on years of helping people to have a good and successful Aliyah experience.

• Clarify of the reasons and desires of making Aliyah – for each person involved – especially children and communication of each person’s goals and expectations
• Clarify and communicate each person’s goals and expectations
• Create a list of to-do’s before leaving (logistical, professional, social, psychological, emotional, financial, etc.)
• Facilitate the awareness and acknowledgment of each person’s needs, feelings, concerns, etc.
• Help your children process their experience – they usually cannot do this themselves
• Know that Children need to be part of the process and well prepared. This will avoid trauma and a lot of aggravation.

• Tie up loose ends, complete what is best to be completed before leaving – if possible
• Take care of any necessary financial issues including banking, paying bills from Israel, transferring of money, etc.
• It is essentially important to prepare yourself, your family, friends
• Make necessary preparations and arrangements to ensure a comfortable landing

• Prepare yourself and all involved (especially spouse & children) for the move
• Maintain feelings of self esteem and self worth
• Facilitate  positive changes in personal, professional, and perhaps spiritual identity
• Cope with changes and adjustments in the roles of family members
• Integrate into a new society – with new dynamics, values and norms
• Build support systems – social and professional
• Understand and relate positively with cultural differences
• Understand your children’s experiences, feelings, challenges, concerns and needs
• Provide effective & supportive parenting
• Keep marriage and other significant relationships loving, supportive and strong
• Manage and reduce stress, anxiety (and sometimes trauma)
• Find your place in a new society

It is essentially important to create goals, expectations, timetables and a flexible road map.

Keep the following in mind:

• Goals are helpful when they are clear, definable, reasonable and attainable
• Prioritize and do not overload yourself with too many demands
• Keep in mind each persons values, abilities and personal style
• Individuals and families are happy and function better when goals and expectations are agreed upon by those who are involved (children need to at least understand them)
• Appropriate timetables and milestones are important
• Flexibility and patience are essential (we are not in control of the world)
• Consider the consequences of your plans
• Create a Plan B, or how to deal with the logistics if your vision does not work out as you planned
• Prepare yourself and those around you for dealing with emotions when there is frustration or disappointment
• Get the necessary support and help from others (friends, family, professionals, etc.)
• Work as a team, do not blame others
• Periodic evaluation and adjustments are necessary
• Learn how to enjoy and value the process – even when it is difficult
• Acknowledgment and reward systems will facilitate greater joy and satisfaction

It is important before leaving to complete things that are better completed before making the transition to living and focusing on your new life in Israel.

Here are a few important items to consider:

• Tie up loose ends, complete what is best to be completed before leaving – if possible
• Take care of any necessary financial issues including banking, paying bills from Israel, transferring of money, etc.
• Make sure that your children say goodbye to those who they are close to
• Say goodbye to the experiences, people, and things that are difficult to leave behind
• Make communication arrangements in advance with those who are close to you (Skype,phone, etc.)
• Consider that certain people may feel that you are abandoning them. Speak with them and reassure them.
• Take time to imagine that you are in Israel, thinking about what you wish you would have done before leaving…and then..do them.
• It is essentially important to prepare yourself, your family, friends

Making the proper preparations before you get on the plane will help you to start your Aliyah experience positively and comfortably. It is well worth the effort.

• Know in advance how you will get from the airport to where you are going to stay
• Make sure you have a comfortable place to stay, with food and your basic needs
• Arrange to be able to rest and rejuvenate upon arriving
• Make a schedule of what you need to do the first week or two
• Pamper yourself a bit

• Take care of health, transportation, government, banking, child care, and other considerations
• Assess how you and those with you are doing, and what are the individual and family needs
• Make sure that you and your family are and feel safe
• Create positive experiences, reduce stress, and enjoy being in Israel.
• Take time to breath and be supportive of yourself and your family

The first few months are a time of acclimation, getting your feet on the ground, learning, and making the transition from tourist and guest to Israeli citizen.

The first few months are a time of acclimation, getting your feet on the ground, learning, and making the transition from tourist and guest to Israeli citizen.

Work at being organized and calm. Be patient and enjoy the process.

If you or someone in your family is having considerable adjustment difficulties – get professional help.

Some suggestions:

• Learn where the things and activities that you need are – stores, exercise, entertainment, etc.
• Explore learning in an Ulpan – language is important
• Get settled in regarding work, school, avocation – whatever applies to you
• Make social connections

Many changes take place in one’s identity when one moves to a new society and environment. Existential crises can be avoided if one understands the dynamics of changes in personal identity

With regards to professional identity, often an Oleh comes from a situation in which s/he worked for years to gain a good reputation, respect, appreciation, financial rewards, feelings of competence and confidence, and suddenly experiences feeling incompetent, misunderstood, unappreciated, unable to utilize the tools s/he developed, and unable to make a good living

When it comes to religious identity, the parameters in Israel are very different. Individuals, families, and communities are often asked to make self-defining decisions which can be rigid, constraining, and not reflective of one’s heart, soul, and cognitive understanding of what healthy Jewish identity and practice should be.

I help Olim to understand the issues and dynamics of changing identities, and provides guidance and suggestions as to how to deal with the difficulties and make healthy decisions and successful transitions regarding identity.

If you are a normal human being, you are more than likely to experience some amount of stress and anxiety, even fear – due to the security situation in Israel and in the world.
It is essentially important for one’s physical, psychological, emotional, and spiritual health to know how to deal effectively with these experiences. Stress, other negative mind-body-emotional states, negative beliefs and expectations, automatic defense mechanisms and other negative conscious and unconscious responses can cause maladaptive behavior, lower the body’s natural defense and healing systems, and G-d forbid, cause illness and disease.

Many Israelis currently suffer from a variety P.T.S.D. (post traumatic stress disorder) symptoms, including difficulty with focus, memory, and sleep; as well as headache, I.B.S., nervousness, anger, sexual difficulties, over-eating, etc. (for a more complete list, please refer to the website)

I can help you to gain an understanding of the dynamics and effects of stress, anxiety, fear, and trauma. You will learn how to increase resiliency and to cope in healthy ways with the challenges and difficulties of Aliyah experiences.

You will acquire understanding tools utilized in mind-body medicine to help you to feel good, think clearly, function well and be healthy.

Olim experience many frustrations in their attempt to learn how to successfully interface their styles of thinking, feeling, judging, behaving, etc. with the multiple styles of Israelis, who themselves come from diverse ethnic groups, each with their own styles and cultural differences.

It is important to learn how to understand these cultural differences in order to relate positively and healthfully with people who are different than we are.

It is also important to know hoe not to get stressed out, frustrated, and angry in the face of these challenges.

From a social and spiritual perspective – it is essentially important for all of us to learn who to relate with “Ahavat Yisrael” – love of our fellow Jew. (and to relate positively with people in general)

When you feel your “buttons are being pushed” – perhaps take it as an opportunity of growth and learn to unwire the buttons and feel at peace.

Personally, I find it helpful to remember – when I am being impatient with my fellow Israeli – It is LIKELY that his person has lost a loved one in a war or terror incident. I then ask myself, who would not be a bit difficult after going through the stressors of living in the wonderful place – Israel.

1. Relate to yourself in a caring and healthy way.
2. Be and Stay Healthy – physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.
3. Identify and give to your body, mind, heart, and soul what it needs for Aliyah.
4. Create States of Positive Motivation.
5. Engage In self-acknowledgment on a daily basis.
6. Maintain self Confidence. self worth, and self esteem – for yourself and your family.
7. Be patient and focused.
8. Maintain a healthy state of awareness so that you know how you and your family are doing, thinking, feeling, and coping.
9. Do a lot of reality checking – (see list attached separately)
10. Create and maintain an environment in your home that is loving, protected, and the way you want it to be.
11. Find the appropriate, compatible, and ‘supportive to your needs’ community to live in.
12. Understand & relate positively with the changing roles & expectations of family members.
13. Keep your marriage loving, healthy, and strong and give support to your spouse.
14. Provide effective & supportive parenting – Do Not be embarrassed about getting assistance.
15. Understand your children’s experiences, feelings, challenges, concerns and needs.
16. Make good decisions regarding languages to be spoken at home.
17. Find the appropriate school for your kids.
18. Find a Bet Knesset that is appropriate for you and your family.
19. Find the appropriate friends for yourself and your family in Israel.
20. Utilize service providers and stores that treat you the way you want to be treated.
21. Manage & reduce stress & anxiety, avoiding depression, & creating well-being.
22. Set up good Support Systems – emotional, logistical, personal & professional.
23. Keep contact with sources of friendship and support from “the old country.”
24. Participate in activities that are personally rewarding and strengthen your self-esteem.
25. Participate in activities that are fun, nurturing, recreational, and give you peace of mind.
26. Relate Healthfully to loneliness and other psycho-emotional difficulties.
27. Relate and respond properly to negative Feedback from others regarding Aliyah.
28. Define for yourself why You made Aliyah and what you want your Aliyah to be.
29. Make a flexible plan of your Aliyah, Klitah and acquiring your new Israeli identity.
30. Create appropriate goals and expectations.
31. Create systems of organization.
32. Manage time effectively and in a healthy way.
33. Learn to communicate well – take an Ulpan – engage in Hebrew language activities.
34. Integrate into Israeli society – become and feel a part of the scene, and work at feeling at home as a new Israeli.
35. Understand & Deal Positively with Cultural Differences.
36. Making positive changes in personal & professional, identity.
37. Know how to identify and respond positively to indicators that something is wrong.
38. Explore new experiences.
39. Remember Aliyah is a great zchut and blessing – Enjoy It!