Five Years in Israel: What Does Aliyah Look Like?

August 10, 2011 Categories: Benji's Getting Serious, Comedy, Culture, I Love This Place, Israelis Make Me Laugh, Jew Stuff, Life on the Home Front, Now I'm Just Being Silly, Once in a While I Just Have to Vent, That Thing That Pays the Bills, This Aliyah Moment is Brought to You by the Letter Aleph, Video by 49 Comments

On August 9th/10th, 2006, I did the craziest, boldest, scariest, and most exciting thing I have ever done: move to Israel. Where have the last five years gone?

I have been anticipating this day for some time now and I knew I’d have to mark it on my blog (if not also in real life), which also turned five years old this week.  To me, the “aliyahversary” is bigger than a birthday.  I didn’t really do much personally when I was born (aside from, you know, cry like a baby.)  But to uproot myself and leave the country I spent thirty or so years in….now that’s a big deal.

Last year, I put a lot of myself into this entry recounting each of my first four years and the rocky path I had traveled.  I’m happy, actually relieved to say that this year was far less stressful for me, and even felt, dare I say…normal?  Maybe that’s how you know you’ve finally started to fit into this place.

This came up on page 1 of Google Images for “normal”.
Either that or I accidentally typed in “Mt. Hermon.”

Year 5 was definitely unique and special in its own ways.  What did I write last year that I was hoping to accomplish?  A podcast….t-shirt sales…a children’s chug.  I didn’t do any of those things.  I didn’t even get them off the ground.  But you know what I did do?  I got some steady, paid writing jobs.  (People pay me to blog.  Can you believe that?  WHOO-HOO!)  I got paid to do stand-up comedy for Birthright groups, finally.  I took part in the ROI Summit, joining an unbelievable network of people.  After years of thinking about it, I finally hired someone to redesign my website and blog on WordPress.  (I hope I did more than that but it’s 3:49 AM and I’m not willing to drink another cup of nes.)

So my Hebrew hasn’t gotten better in a couple of years.  So I’m approaching my late 30s yet was caught eating my first mana chama (“hot meal”, or Ramen noodles) a few days ago.  So there’s a better chance of me French-kissing the male security guard at the bituach leumi office than getting myself to do creative writing on a daily basis. Guess what?  I know….you’re waiting for me to pull out the “yiyeh b’seder” line.  Not this time.  I think what I’ve learned from aliyah is that even if you only achieve 50% of your dreams in life, it’s a hell of a lot better than nothing.  I hope to get around to working on my Hebrew more, and I definitely hope to continue developing my career and doing all kinds of other stuff on my bucket list (ech omrim “bucket list”?)  But if I work hard and realize in twenty years that I didn’t “go all the way”, I think I’ll be able to live with it.  And why?  Because I’ve already done the craziest, boldest, scariest, and most exciting thing I’ll probably ever do. Everything else is gravy.

I’m cutting it “short” and thanking everyone who helped me along the way.  This isn’t the first time I’ve said this but possibly my favorite thing about living here is being part of the mammoth fraternity of olim from America and around the world.  I take a lot of pride in that.  I love you guys.  Without each other, seriously, wouldn’t we have all gone back by now?  And a special thanks to my friends Ziv and Jason for spending 45,000 hours helping me host this slideshow here once it was clear that Youtube might take it down.  Congregation Beth Schnitzel does a lipdub to “Bad Romance” and they bust my falafel balls?

If you’re an oleh, I hope this makes you smile.

If you’re an Israeli, welcome to our world.

If you’re thinking about aliyah….waht ahr you, crazeeeee??? No, seriously-prepare to laugh.  It’s better than crying.

To everyone else….come visit already.  And bring me deodorant.

Happy five years to me.  This is what aliyah looks like.  (If the video below doesn’t behave, here’s the Youtube version.)

 

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49 Comments

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  1. Emily Segal August 10, 2011 at 5:27 am #

    Made me laugh, made me cry. Seriously though, I’m coming up on aliyahversary #4 myself and must say, YOU have made it all a bit easier and A LOT funnier!

    Mazal Tov!

  2. Lila August 10, 2011 at 5:32 am #

    The funny veggie is colorabi (thus says the wife of the raw foods chef).

  3. Rafi August 10, 2011 at 5:52 am #

    mazeltov. great video

  4. Tracey August 10, 2011 at 6:01 am #

    Mazal tov Benji! Loved the video!!

  5. Hannah @A Mother in Israel August 10, 2011 at 6:17 am #

    Actually, it’s fennel. Mazal tov, Benji, you’ve contributed much more than you’ve received.
    http://www.cookingmanager.com/8-great-ways-cook-fennel/

  6. Shariel Aron August 10, 2011 at 6:39 am #

    The funny vegetable is Shumar, AKA Fennel.

  7. Mark August 10, 2011 at 6:42 am #

    Benji, awesome video!!! Congratulations (that would be “Mazal Tov” in Hebrew) on 5 years.

  8. Danny August 10, 2011 at 7:58 am #

    Mazeltov Benji,
    Great vid.
    I hope to make Aliyah in the near future.

    Danny

  9. Benji August 10, 2011 at 9:51 am #

    Thanks, guys. I really appreciate it.

  10. Becca August 10, 2011 at 10:49 am #

    Happy Aliyahversary!

  11. Yocheved Golani August 10, 2011 at 11:16 am #

    GREAT line: “I’ve learned from aliyah is that even if you only achieve 50% of your dreams in life, it’s a hell of a lot better than nothing…”

    Benji, we achieve more than 50% just by being here, putting up with the confusion and moving forward best we can. Besides, I doubt most people manage to meet even half of their goals.

    Yalla! (I hesitate to write “Kadima” for fear of reader misinterpretation that I support a lousy political party. Such is Israeli life, using Arabic instead of Hebrew).

    Yocheved Golani
    http://www.linkedin.com/in/yochevedgolaniink
    http://twitter.com/yochevedgolani
    http://itsmycrisisandillcryifineedto.blogspot.com/

    Author of “It’s MY Crisis! And I’ll Cry If I Need To: EMPOWER Yourself to Cope with a Medical Challenge”
    http://booklocker.com/books/3067.html

    Find me on Facebook! http://tinyurl.com/36fqch3

  12. Alissa August 10, 2011 at 11:18 am #

    Is it weird that I got a little choked up watching this? Mazal tov, Benji, Happy 5th Aliyahversary!!

  13. Sue August 10, 2011 at 11:33 am #

    Great video- MAzal tov.. and you are welcome that I gave birth to Avi who has been such a huge help to your aliyah experience…Now it’s your turn to help me!!! :) (will be there next June for a period of time..getting Kef off the ground).. :) AND there are other places than Tel Aviv and Jerusalem!!!! (GO NAHARIYAH!!) :) (v’hatzafon!) :)

  14. Elana August 10, 2011 at 11:49 am #

    Loved it! Mazal tov on 5 years.

  15. Baila August 10, 2011 at 12:17 pm #

    You will always be Ben-Gay to me! And my picture made it to the video–I’m so proud! I’m one year behind you and so relieved to hear this’ll be the year I fit in….

    Congratulations!

  16. zahava August 10, 2011 at 12:34 pm #

    מזל טוב וכל הכבוד!!!!!

  17. Amy August 10, 2011 at 1:47 pm #

    It’s our 5th, too … we were on the same flight as you. The first anniversary we went away for Shabbat to a nice hotel, etc. … because we were both employed. Now the 5th anniversary, husband’s unemployed and I’m scrambling for work, too, so no money for hotel (or for anything else except our retroactive electric bill increase), so reading this post will have to suffice for celebration.

    Happy anniversary to us all, everyone.

  18. ZoeYaYa August 10, 2011 at 4:02 pm #

    mazal tov Benji, ad 120! I’ve enjoyed reading your blog and hope to make aliyah next year (if I can persuade my Israeli hubby to leave the UK…)

    BTW – it’s “reshimat dli” (bucket list)

    take care

  19. Risa Tzohar August 10, 2011 at 11:28 pm #

    Great video! I’m glad you came.

  20. rutimizrachi August 11, 2011 at 2:00 am #

    Niiiice. May you blessed with continued health, happiness, chumus at cheap prices, and at least a dozen recipes for fennel.

  21. Maya August 11, 2011 at 2:56 am #

    Love the video and the reflections… here at 3 1/2 years, I feel the same in a lot of ways. Mazel tov!!

  22. נילי וינברג August 11, 2011 at 4:11 am #

    היי בנג’י, שמחתי להכיר אותך בתחילת דרכך בישראל. אני מאוד שמחה שהשתלבת. מאחלת לך המשך חיים פוריים כאזרח ישראלי, עם כל הקשיים שכולנו עוברים כאן… נילי

  23. Gidon August 11, 2011 at 6:11 am #

    worth five minutes for sure
    -Gidon “three-minute-youtube-limit” Ariel

  24. Miriyummy August 11, 2011 at 8:22 am #

    Mazal tov Benji on your aliyaversary. I’ve been celebrating for 28 years now, but you look you’ve crammed all my 28 years of fun into your 5. May your next 70 years in this country be chummusilicious!

  25. Bryna August 11, 2011 at 8:50 am #

    Great Video!!
    Happy Aliyaversery!! Mazal Tov!!

  26. EF Johnson August 11, 2011 at 9:27 am #

    Bucket List = Reshimat Dli

    Stay Sabra-y my friend

  27. Neil Weidberg August 11, 2011 at 9:38 am #

    Mazel Tov, friend

  28. Jacob August 11, 2011 at 10:15 am #

    Well done!!!

  29. iSquirrel August 11, 2011 at 10:21 am #

    So…are you thinking of coming back to the USA or is Ha Eretz forever?

  30. mirimiri August 11, 2011 at 3:24 pm #

    Your blog subliiminally made me do Aliya! What am I crazeeeeeee? XD

  31. Michal August 12, 2011 at 1:14 am #

    Ahh!! You make me laugh!

    I was on YC in ’08 – Were you a Madrich then too? I wish you were – If I had met you then, I might never have gone home(!). Your blog is so damn good at reminding me why I love Israel and how much I wish to return for good – that is, in spite of how frequently those daily paradoxes make doing so as confusing to others as it does to us! (um.. but you more – Happy 5-year!).

    Man! I miss Eretz ha …(eich omrim Eessrael?)

  32. Shira Shacham August 12, 2011 at 6:39 am #

    Mazal tov Benji! Great vid. Wishing you many more happy aliyaversarys!

  33. mark schiff August 12, 2011 at 11:08 am #

    Dear Benji,

    I am proud to know Jew. Congrats on five years in our homeland. Keep making them laugh for ever. You are a modern day hero. One day I hope we can shower together.

    Love,

    Mark

  34. lindsay August 12, 2011 at 5:33 pm #

    mazel tov on 5 years! keep living the dream!
    XOX

  35. JJ August 13, 2011 at 10:52 am #

    Benji, I’m a bit let down by this for some reason. It just seems like you’ve accepted defeat.

  36. Benji Lovitt August 13, 2011 at 3:52 pm #

    Wow, great feedback guys.

    Some of you asked about the future. Who knows? Do you know where you’re going to be in 30 years? I’m here, things are great now, and I have no plans to go anywhere.

    Michal, I was not a madrich then. Come back and visit! : )

    JJ, what video were you watching? No idea why you’re let down. You saw something no one else seemed to see.

  37. Batya August 14, 2011 at 3:09 am #

    This is home, “cactus” and all! You’re the only NBN oleh from the 2 planes, I’m still in touch with. I knew those orange crocs were a good sign.
    Meet you at HaGov… best place to party!

  38. Nicole August 14, 2011 at 2:15 pm #

    Love this! It’s seriously great.

  39. Robin August 14, 2011 at 8:34 pm #

    Amazing…and it seems like yesterday that we attended a random baseball game on Staten Island. You’ve come far my friend…and Dave and I are still in NY. Hmmmm….Mazel Tov Benji!

  40. Robert August 15, 2011 at 3:27 am #

    As a veteran immigrant (made Aliyah 3 times, every other 18 years: when I was 18, 36 and 54) I must say people declare me nuts more and more.

    I lived in financial and (sometimes) political paradise in 10 countries, trying hard to ignore the antisemitism around me. Now I am earning 70% less, have no assets, can’t get a mortgage, have no family here nor anywhere else (thanks to WWII), and struggle to get by.

    I still love the place, though. And so do my wife and 4 kids, born all over the world, but typical Israelis now. Back home after 2,000 years.

  41. KT August 16, 2011 at 4:35 pm #

    amazing! fun to watch. mazel tov benji! there are two of my pictures in there. :) the one of the freicha and the one of the benji sign… or maybe lymore took that. anyone, i love when people celebrate their aliyahversaries!

  42. Jeff D August 17, 2011 at 4:12 am #

    Hey Benji, can you tell us how you found your paid writing jobs? Are you using a freelancing site like oDesk?

  43. Benji Lovitt August 17, 2011 at 5:49 am #

    Jeff,
    Really just through friends. It helps to be be social.

  44. Judy August 29, 2011 at 12:15 pm #

    Benji,
    Mazal tov!!! Loved loved the video! You have made it to the 5 year mark…and without any family here. You are a true chalutz! Looking forward to the 10 year video…you are not allowed to mention chummus anymore at that point, so prepare. :-)

  45. Benji August 30, 2011 at 12:11 pm #

    Judy, you ask too much! : )

  46. Liz September 28, 2011 at 10:01 am #

    Benji, Your blog has been making me want to make aliyah for several years now. Maybe one of these days I will find the nerve … or at least come for another visit. Thank you for pointing out the humor in the absurd, and reminding us of the beauty of the culture, the people and of course, the chumus.

  47. Benji October 2, 2011 at 1:48 am #

    Thanks, Liz! Do it! You’ll never regret it. Would I lie??? (fluttering eyelashes, doing innocent face)

Trackbacks/Pingbacks

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