Any Jews who have made Aliyah, Could you please help me?!?!?

Question

I really want to know more about what it is like to make Aliyah, the hardships, the time frame, was it hard to get a job in Israel. Where would a reconstructionist/reform Jew want to live? What about the Kibbutz option? Is learning Hebrew a real challenge, or does the Ulpan make it a lot easier? Will you be able to speak enough for business after Ulpan? What about jobs? I work in financial services as an investment advisor but my understanding is that in Israel financial services and banking is unionized and it's incredibly hard to get into is this right? Please give me any more info on Aliyah that you can. Personal experience would be great. Thanks!



PLEASE DON'T JUST GIVE WEBSITES OR SAY TO TALK TO A RABBI OR THE JCC. I ALSO KNOW ABOUT NEFESH B'NEFESH AND AACI AND THE JEWISH AGENCY WEBSITES. I WANT TO HEAR WHAT IT"S REALLY LIKE!!!

Answer 1

I haven't made aliyah and can only answer a few of your questions based on experience.

Where would a reconstructionist/reform Jew want to live?

Tel Aviv.

What about the Kibbutz option?

From what I've heard, kibbutzim are a good option for those newly making aliyah. It's a hands-on way to integrate yourself into Israeli society without being alone--you always have the kibbutz to fall back on.

Is learning Hebrew a real challenge, or does the Ulpan make it a lot easier? Will you be able to speak enough for business after Ulpan?

Hebrew is actually a very easy language (I speak from personal experience, I am taking classes now, though not in an ulpan) as it is completely phonetic. If you memorize the aleph-bet, you can pronounce any word in Hebrew. Then the trick is just remembering what the words mean. I find it fun. An ulpan is total immersion in Hebrew so yes, you would definitely be able to speak enough for business after ulpan. If not, many Israelis also speak English, so you would be able to fill in the spots in English if your Hebrew is poor (though it won't be) when you get out of ulpan.

I'm sorry I don't have more answers :-(