Make friends with Israelis.

You don't necessarily have to come to Israel in order to meet Israelis. You already know some yordim. You can't help it - yordim are all over the place. They are arguably Israel's major export. They fall into many categories:

• Some of them are disgruntled
• Some are happy to have left Israel
• Some miss Israel
  • Some supposedly wish they could go back
  • Some really do wish they could go back
  • Some of them quickly give reasons why that option is not viable
• Some are actively planning to return to Israel
  • They may miss the country
  • They may have reasons for needing to be in Israel
  • They may be sorry that they left Israel
  • They may feel guilty for leaving Israel

All of these people can offer different, differing, and varied insights into Israeli life. You can learn a great deal from each Yored.

Don't be concerned about the fact that your involvement with Yordim may lead to twisted or incorrect information. Yordim do have their own point of view, which is affected – and possibly biased – by their own peckele. However, you're smart, right? You can use your intelligence in order to separate their discouragement or recriminations from the facts. It will help if you know Hebrew, but many Yordim have been abroad long enough to have a fine control of your local language.

You have other options as well. After all, you have contacts in Israel itself. All Jews know other Jews in Israel.

Get to be more friendly with your Israeli acquaintances or relatives. Ask them to put you in touch with still other Israelis.

In this way, you can be involved in Israeli activities without making Aliyah.

And, if you do opt to move to Israel, this involvement will help you. The more Israelis whom you know before making Aliyah, the easier it will be when you arrive. You will have a feeling that you are part of the situation. You will feel involved. You may have even developed a modicum of protektzia. You will be on the way to becoming an Israeli yourself.

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Keyword: Guilt, Peckele, Point of view, Protektzia, Yerida,
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