Bridges - American Aliyah - Articles about Israel

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Bor sheshatita mimenu mayim,
al tizrok bo even
Do not throw stones
into the well
from which
you drank

You will save yourself
a lot of needless worry
if you don't burn your bridges
until you come to them.
- First Rule of Negative Anticipation

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Yelchu mechayil el chayil,
yeraeh el elokim beTzion
Keep moving
towards greater accomplishments
until ultimately
seeing G-d in Zion
- Psalms 84:8

Some misguided Olim - immigrants to Israel - choose to show their commitment by burning their bridges abroad.

They are making a mistake.

Yes, you so want Israel to be your permanent home, but you should also maintain your past. You have developed a network of friends, associates, business and social partners in your country of origin. They will not interfere with the success of your new life in Israel.

You might believe that your attachment to your previous home may draw you back, and you may want to assure that you will remain in Israel.

Well, you may indeed be drawn back to your old home. It happens. However, you should do a deep introspection before deciding on the need to shackle yourself to Israel in order to prevent that eventuality.

If you have a successful aliyah, and we certainly hope that you will, then you will stay in Israel.

Why should you maintain those ties?

Some people may give reasons for maintaining your ties:

The buffer, in case it's needed
The fact that there is no justification for denying your previous life
The fact that you should not erase or regret the first part of your life
The need to maintain your pride in your country of origin, just as you should be proud of your newly adoptive country

These facts are not always obvious to people who are enthusiastic about making a successful life in Israel. They do not always realize that they may be making mistakes which can hurt their own way of life, as well as the way of life of their loved ones.

Do not repeat the errors that they have made. Consider your new country, Israel, as a positive continuation of a positive situation. Come home to the obvious place for Jews, after living previously in a different good place that has offered you a good background.

Don't reject the first part of your life. Don't be embarrassed by it. Don't look at it in a negative way. After all, it did help make you the fine person whom you are today - ready to make Aliyah

But do think of it as going �� - "from strength to strength."

Where do you want to go now?