The advantages of moving to Israel - impressions after the first month of life. What the first year of living in Israel taught me How to live in Israel

After the collapse, many citizens of the Soviet Union immediately moved to live with existing relatives in Israel, some did not like Israel, some recovered in or. Then these were people with the Soviet mentality, rather uninitiative, passive, without a desire for entrepreneurship or an active life position; life for such people in Israel would not seem like a joy, but modern immigrants in Israel are already professionals who have prepared in advance for future life in the country. Even with a higher education from a Russian or Ukrainian university in Israel, you can only count on the position of a laborer at a construction site or a salesperson in a store, but with due persistence and acquired connections, everything can turn for the better, but the profession will have to be confirmed and pass a state exam for knowledge of Hebrew, However, this language is simple, you can master it if you wish in just six months.

Who can live well in Israel?

Life in Israel is very different from: the penetration of religion into all spheres of life, the unusual climate, and the need to start counting money with a high supply of consumer loans and the temptation to live in debt.

Life in Israel for repatriates

In general, moving to Israel is a rewarding endeavor; dry figures say that salaries in Israel are two or three times higher than in Moscow at the same or lower prices, take, for example, the abundance of fruits and their availability, as well as the quality of food and the so-called kosher. The same trade worker or construction worker will be able to start traveling around the world on her vacation, see Europe and America, Jews are nomads by nature, and will live where it is better. American Jews are great patriots, but they will not return to Israel.

If you have no work experience or profession, but have a desire to succeed, then all the doors in Israel for prosperity are open, and now I will explain why this can happen. Initiative, assertiveness, independence in Israel will seem swagger and impudence to our Russians, the spiritual essence of a Russian will never understand the material motives of a Jew, however, a Russian and a Jew perfectly complement each other, therefore a marriage between these people brings incredible benefits to both, in historical terms there are many similar examples. In Israel there is nothing to do with the Russian mentality, they will trample on you like an ant. Modesty, intelligence, calmness, lack of initiative and indifference, all this in Israel is a sign of weakness and lack of self-confidence; you should not count on anything in life with such a character, there will be no happiness. However, according to statistics, the employment rate among immigrants in Israel is 6% higher than the native population.

Life of people in Israel, pros and cons, life for Russians, reviews

Social ties in Israeli society are very strong, everyone is confident in outside support, and to the same extent, rich and poor, women and men, with and without education. Nepotism is widespread in Israel, and this is to put it mildly; such traditions are indeed characteristic of all southern nations; they can also be found in Italy, Spain, Greece and other countries. When applying for a job at an Israeli company, you can find the following item: “Which employee of our company can recommend you?” To advance up the career ladder, it is important to be friendly, sociable, sociable, to be liked by others, any casual contact can ultimately solve any problems, therefore in Israel it is very important to find social connections, you need to get to know everyone and everywhere, it doesn’t matter what you know, it’s important who you know. In the Western mentality this is called corruption, if in Russia everything is decided by money at any level, then in Israel it is connections, and in Western countries, in Europe and the USA there are laws. As a matter of fact, despite all the democracy and relative freedom in Israel, the level of government transparency is similar to that in Russia, no more and no less.

However, an Israeli official of even the lowest level will begin to resolve your issue himself, and not leave the matter on the back burner, which means a faster solution to problems in the bureaucratic system. It is impossible to fire an Israeli official, and even more so there is no point in complaining about him; the best scheme is personal contact, sympathy or pity.

Men and women in Israel

Of course, the family structure in Israel is different from ours, but I won’t put labels on it; you can often see men in Israel unashamedly doing household chores, raising children, and doing women’s work. Walking along the streets of cities, you will notice that there are a lot of guys and few women around, this is really true. Israeli women are typical representatives of Eastern women, men from the West or Russians do not interest them at all, of course this changes when Eastern women go to the West, but here everything is clear.

Jews and Arabs

Jews and Arabs are very similar in appearance, but Jews in business are driven by the logic of doing everything in the best possible way, selling a quality product, which will lead the buyer to it more than once. There are a lot of scammers in Israel; if you are approached on the street or come to your house, then most likely they are sellers hoping to deceive you. You should not buy goods that do not have Hebrew inscriptions on them; such goods are not controlled by the state and there is no one to answer for their quality.

You always need to defend your rights, if you think that you have been treated unfairly, then you always need to behave bravely and defend your rights, if you behave like a victim, then the attitude will be appropriate, Israeli labor legislation is always on the side of the worker, not the employer, for violation of labor legislation in Israel, people are fined, companies are closed and even sent to prison; connections may not help. It is almost impossible for a non-Jewish foreigner to obtain a work visa - even for world-class specialists, this procedure turns into a long-term hassle.

Cleanliness, convenience and tranquility in Israel

Like other countries, Israel has its good and bad sides, just like in Paris or Prague, if you go beyond the charming historical part of the city you will find yourself in a traditional, everyday environment, reminiscent of the depressive outskirts of our cities.

A person gets used to everything, for example, you work in Israel at a plant or factory, in the morning you go down to the bomb shelter when the siren sounds, the bomb itself hits the workshop, but still people calmly finish their work day in a slightly destroyed factory, anyway the next day it will be restored , but you need to pay rent and loans.

If you are unable not to think about the possibility of bombing, the dust, hot nights, screams and restless citizens are unpleasant, then it is better to go to Scandinavia. Scandinavia is the complete opposite of hot Israel.

Israel's achievements

However, these countries share a sense of novelty and perfection, but Israel is far ahead of Finland. It is worth noting that Windows was developed in the Israeli branch of Microsoft, Pentium was developed in the Israeli branch of Intel, Microsoft and Cisco opened their only research and development centers outside the USA (R&D) centers only in Israel, ICQ was invented in Israel in 1996, Israel ranks first in the world in the number of computers per capita, 24% percent of Israeli workers and employees have university degrees, 12% have advanced degrees, after the USA and Canada, Israel has the longest list of companies in the NASDAQ, Israel has the highest percentage per capita of the number of biotech companies launched, Israel ranks third in the world in terms of entrepreneurship development and first in the participation of women and people over 55 years of age, Israel leads in the number of scientists and technologists employed in the workplace - 145 specialists for every 10,000 people, an Israeli company was the first to develop and build a fully operational large solar power plant in southern California's Mojave Desert. At the same time, a quarter of the country’s budget is spent annually on military purposes, and military goods are actively exported to other countries.

Loans in Israel

As in the USA, in Israel people are accustomed to living well now, and not later, it is believed that it is better to take out a loan and then pay it off, this is true at low rates, which have little effect on the total amount of payments, but it is worth counting your strength, loans in Israel much more affordable than ours. All customers in stores pay using credit cards; you will rarely meet anyone with cash.

There are very few dogs in Israel, aggressive breeds have been destroyed, but there are a lot of cats. Non-Jews are prohibited from working in kosher bakeries, otherwise the bread will not be kosher. It’s better for tourists not to ask passersby how to get there, they will always point in different directions, but the tourists themselves have honor and glory. In Israel, debts are not forgiven, but it is impossible to evict someone from an apartment for non-payment. In Israel, equipment, computers and cars are very accessible, but servicing the latter will be very expensive, including gasoline at 2 euros.

Despite the cobblestone streets, local women always wear heels and have learned to wear makeup in recent years, just like immigrant women. Many Israelis, even in the heat, wear heavy, good-quality boots; you can often see women in mink coats and sandals on their bare feet. New Year and Christmas are not celebrated in Israel.

Men in Israel cook better than women. In Israel, tipping in restaurants is mandatory, even if you didn’t like the service. A conversation or dialogue between two Israeli men can often end in a fight, which will immediately end when the first blood appears. In Israel, both healthy and unhealthy foods are very tasty; it is a paradise for raw foodists, meat eaters and those with a sweet tooth at the same time. Native Israelis still prefer meat.

For some reason, in traffic in Israel there is a Western mentality, although it is very close, you can cross at a pedestrian crossing with your eyes closed, everyone lets each other pass.

Beer in local bars is diluted with water; it is better to take bottled beer; Israelis do not drink strong drinks due to the hot weather. Israelis observe religious fasting in the form of dry fasting, residents of Russia or Ukraine cannot even imagine this, Russians think that a person dies after three days of dry fasting, Jesus starved in the desert for 40 days without water.

Life and living conditions in Tel Aviv can be surprisingly comfortable.

Israelis are sentimental just like Russians. Men and women always pay separately in restaurants. Israeli police officers, as a rule, are looking for places to show heroism. Cigarettes in Israel cost 6 euros, the tax or excise stamp is 278% of the cost of cigarettes, in Ukraine it is 14.2 kopecks. Many people in Israel live to retirement age.

My husband and I have been living in Israel for fifteen months now. We are new repatriates. Our life is so busy and interesting that there is practically no time left for blogging. 🙂

Being in new conditions gradually changes people. By assimilating, a person allows previously dormant qualities to reveal themselves. I can say that Israel has an extremely beneficial effect on me. Perhaps, of course, this is the result of a cumulative effect: a new country plus a long-chosen one. 🙂

So, what have I learned in just over a year of living in Israel? Here's a short list.

In Israel, I learned to be friends with people of different nationalities, races and religions. Here we have a real international community. It completely reformats your consciousness and is very inspiring. If a few years ago they told me that my friends, in addition to the usual Slavic brothers, would be the British, Ethiopians, Druze, and Argentines, I would never have believed it. But it turns out that everything is simple. Despite some differences, we are quite similar and you can recognize a kindred spirit even under an unusual shell.

In Israel, I learned to be proud of my working profession. I have already talked about that. Perhaps I would be proud of my working profession in Ukraine, but I just didn’t have that kind of experience. All my life before repatriation I worked in offices and only here I turned from a pale and sickly office worker into a strong cowboy (in a woman’s face, of course :)). I hope I’m wrong, but something tells me that in Ukraine, wages hardly allow farm workers to feel normal and worthy. If this is not the case, I will be very happy!

Surprisingly, I got used to the local six-day work week. Yes, yes, there is only one day off in Israel. Oddly enough, everyone here works 10 or even 12 hours a day. You quickly get sucked into it. Maybe this is part of the success of the Israeli economy?

In my new homeland, I realized that there is no shame in learning its language and speaking it with errors. Israel is a country of repatriates. Almost everyone came here at some point and learned the language. The reaction to broken Hebrew is the same - people instantly feel a special warmth towards you, ask how long you have been in the country and how things are going, if you need help, and the like. By the way, there is also a saying: if you speak the language of a country with an accent, it means that in addition to it you know at least one other language. 🙂

Here I am used to giving free good things, furniture and utensils that I don’t need, as well as accepting them. In Israel, objects are given to each other both from hand to hand and impersonally (through special platforms organized near). This is a kind of exchange of items (mutual assistance) on a national scale.

Of course, I’m repeating myself, but I want to especially emphasize that in Israel there is no shame in being a “commoner.” The whole country consists of repatriates, their children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren. Perhaps that is why there is such an atmosphere of mutual assistance and support.

In just over a year of living “in my historical homeland,” I learned to treat the police and army with trust and love. They are great guys and they serve us. For which they are honored, praised and warmly treated.

At first, I was surprised by female military personnel. And then I got used to seeing smiling girls in uniform, with machine guns, makeup, long hair and some kind of “Hello, Kitty” handbag. Cool picture. Now I treat this as the norm. And I even regret that I came to the country at a non-conscription age.

Life in Israeli kibbutzim taught me how to tramp (hitchhike) without money. And also give “voters” a lift if it’s on my way. Also free, of course. This is how it is done in kibbutzim.

In Israel, it is absolutely natural to start talking with the first stranger you meet. The people here are open, friendly, always ready to talk and lend a helping hand. This is very impressive. Perhaps the excess of sun manifests itself this way, or perhaps centuries-old history (the need to survive) has formed the special warmth and cohesion of the people.

There is a law here that prohibits picking flowers. The law is correct, we immediately adopted it and support it.

I learned a long time ago to clean the floor in the Israeli style. In our kibbutz, they pour a bucket of water on the floor, and then move the water with a special mop (with a sponge at the end). True, the floors here are all tiled and have special drains. 🙂

I have already written about my affection for tahini and other local delicacies.

Thanks to the warm climate, I learned to swim in the sea all year round. In winter, the water temperature in the Mediterranean Sea is approximately 18 degrees. Not everyone understands me, but I swim. 🙂

I started wearing it all the time. As they say, not for the sake of fashion, but only out of necessity. 🙂

Oh, I remembered something important! Living in Israel, I was especially convinced of the benefits of my healthy habit of drinking a lot of water. They say that in the local climate you can’t live without 2 liters of water per day! I don't know if this is true, but the indigenous population does not get kidney stones. Allegedly, this is a disease of arriving repatriates. We, supposedly, don’t drink water and this causes us to accumulate a lot of problems over the years, including stones. And every Israeli always carries a bottle of clean water with him. Drinking water is advice that I hear here at every turn.

Having broken another pattern in my head, I got used to saying “you” to people. There is no such thing as “you” in Hebrew. I suppose that this is one of the roots of the general equality that reigns here.

With warmth and tenderness, an understanding came into my life: a dad walking with his children is normal. This is the norm here. In Israel, people are very child-loving. Local dads are proud of their litters of babies. Mothers are no less involved in raising and raising children. Or maybe more.

What particularly pleases me is the Israeli ability to cheerfully celebrate holidays without alcohol (and sometimes even without food). My husband and I have accepted this tradition and still never cease to be amazed by it.

We have learned to save natural resources. And resources in general. Water, electricity. Money.

Eh, what I regret is the lost opportunity to take a bath. All three apartments where we lived had only a shower. Perhaps city apartments in Israel are equipped with bathtubs, but in kibbutzim there are only showers everywhere. Economically, of course. Well, that’s okay - I’ll compensate for the inability to “sink off” with a long “hippo wallow” in the sea surf. 🙂

Israel and, especially, kibbutz life taught us to trust people. There is practically no street crime here (at least in our area). Fraud is clearly covered by the law. You can safely walk wherever and whenever you want, without fear of attacks on your life or property. If we talk about Kibbutz Ein HaShofet, then here you can leave cars with open windows and personal belongings on the street without any problems. Household appliances (washing machines, ovens, etc.) are installed under awnings in front of the houses. Recently I managed to drop the keys next to my car in Ein HaShofet. So they were immediately found and hung on the notice board in the kibbutz canteen. All found items are placed there. Nice, isn't it?

I’m used to not being afraid of jackals (they don’t touch) and military planes (they protect us). Local color.

I learned not to tense up and not to cross to the other side of the street when encountering noisy groups of teenagers and young people. They are cheerful and absolutely positive guys.

In Israel, I am used to seeing people and entire families playing sports. This is fine. And this makes me very happy.

Also, I have long been accustomed to the fact that the elderly people here are cheerful, active, and smart. Very creative. In every district there is a club “Age of Light”, in which pensioners, while drinking tea and coffee, embroider, paint pictures, make crafts, create sculptures and other unique things. An excursion to such a club, arranged by an old lady I knew, literally shocked me. For the first time in my life, I regretted that I was not a pensioner yet. 🙂

In just over a year of living in Israel, I learned a strange, IMHO, but invigorating custom of greeting even unfamiliar people in the style of “Hello! How are you doing?". There are a great variety of greeting questions here. For example: “How is your health?”, “What news?”, “What have you heard?”, “What’s interesting?” At first I tensed up, giving specific answers to everyone I met. And then I learned to parry “Great! And how are you?" or have time to smile and say hello first. Apparently, the process of transformation of the “severe native of the post-Soviet space” into an Israeli woman has reached cruising speed. Hurray, comrades!

Israel has long begun to attract people not only as a tourism destination, but also as an opportunity to obtain a permanent residence permit. Some of them aspire to spend their lives in Israel. Israel is considered one of the most developed countries in the field of medicine and industry. For many, Israel has become not only a cultural center, but also a country with a fairly high standard of living.

View of the city of Haifa in Israel

Not long ago, the education system in Israel was successfully changed. The government introduced free education in connection with the migration of a large number of repatriates to the country.

The education system has not only changed dramatically in terms of financial status, but also in the learning process itself. Based on previous studies, it was clear that the level of education in Israel is not as high as the government would like.

The reason for this was overcrowding of classes. Previously, there were approximately 55 people in one class, which did not allow children to properly assimilate the information received due to the individual characteristics of each child.

In order to improve the situation, it was decided to restructure classes based on background characteristics. Today in Israeli schools, children are divided into classes according to their interests and abilities.

The education system implies the inclusion of four stages of education such as:

1. Preschool.
2. Basic.
3. Average.
4. Gymnasium.

Schooling

The preschool stage is basic preparation for going to school. It lasts exactly one year, after which children move to the primary grades of the educational institution.

Primary school consists of six grades and is compulsory for Israeli children. This is followed by three years of high school. The final stage in school education is grades 10-12. The total duration of training is 10 years.

Israeli teenagers graduate from school at the age of 16-17. Their further education occurs only at their request.

In Israel, in 2019, a hundred-point assessment system is in place, thanks to which teachers are able to adequately and fairly assess a student’s knowledge.

The Israeli education system includes four types of schools such as:

1. State.
2. Religious - state.
3. Arabic.
4. Druze.

The majority of Israeli students study in public schools. In religious-state institutions, training is accompanied by a thorough study of aspects of religion and belief - Judaism. Jewish traditions operate in such schools.

In the rest, teaching is carried out exclusively in Arabic.

Higher education

A big advantage and feature is that higher education in Israel in 2019 is autonomous and does not depend on the Ministry.

Israeli students have the right to choose whether to study them or not. An important feature is that higher education is paid. This is why most students begin their working career so early.

An exception was made for repatriates. These people not only do not pay tuition, but also receive cash benefits in the form of a scholarship provided by the state.

There are eight universities and seven regional specialized colleges in Israel.

Mandatory conditions for admission to higher education are: knowledge of Hebrew and passing a psychometric test. It is interesting that Israel accepts foreign students to study at all universities in the country, except medical ones.

The higher education system provides for the passage of three levels such as:

1. Bachelor's degree.
2. Master's degree.
3. Doctor degree.

In order to obtain a bachelor's degree, you must study at the university for four years. It takes three years to obtain a master's degree. A doctoral degree is awarded only to those who have completed training for two years and during this period were engaged in research activities.

Salaries in Israel

Israel is considered a country with a sufficient level of wages. That is why it attracts such a large number of people who want to work on its territory.

The average monthly salary in 2019 is 9,000 shekels. By Israeli standards, this amount is enough to provide a normal standard of living for one person.

Based on calculations from government agencies, the minimum income of a family consisting of two adults and one child must be at least 14,000 shekels per month.

Israel is quite highly regarded for its medical staff and teachers in the field of education. The average salary in Israel for a teacher is 8,000 shekels, and for mid-level medical workers seven and a half. That's why many residents of the CIS countries want it.

Social service workers receive 4,000 shekels, and employees of the banking industry receive around 15,000.

Employees of state-owned enterprises receive the highest wages in Israel. Their minimum wage is 13,000 shekels. The highest paid job is considered to be work at the Hevrat-Khashmal enterprise.

Converting it into foreign currency, we can say that the average wage is $2,500. Agricultural workers receive slightly less. Their minimum salary starts at $1,500.

The minimum wage in other industries is $1,000 per month. It is received by security guards and catering staff. Another fairly highly paid profession is construction. Its profitability level is 1500-1600 dollars.

Financial expenses

Despite the fact that Israel is famous for its good earnings, it has a fairly high standard of living and corresponding prices for food and real estate.

If the total work experience is less than ten years. But at the same time, taxes were paid; the person was entitled only to old age benefits.

The average life expectancy of Israeli citizens is 70-75 years. That is why the age for retirement in this country is slightly higher than in others. For women it is 62 years old, and men start at 67 years old.

The Israeli pension system provides for a lump sum payment upon retirement. The size of the benefit is amazing. He compiles an algorithm for the average salary multiplied by the number of years worked for the benefit of Israel.

Old age benefit is a pension payment that is paid monthly based on government calculations.

But this applies only to Israeli citizens. A slightly different program applies to repatriates. A repatriate can receive payments only if he was under 62 years old at the time of arrival in the country.

If a person’s age is more than this mark, old-age benefits will not be paid. Repatriates who arrived in the Holy Land must be registered. Payments to such people are guaranteed only by the Ministry of Finance.

To apply for a pension benefit, you must submit an application to the Insurance Office, which makes pension payments.

Depending on the person's age, the old-age benefit may increase. This can happen if you have no additional income and reach 70 years of age.

Prices in Israel

Real estate prices in Israel in 2019 vary depending on the city in the country. The most expensive place to buy real estate is in Jerusalem. In this city, an apartment consisting of three rooms will cost around 650 thousand dollars. For the same price you can purchase similar real estate in Tel Aviv in one of the most prestigious areas of the city.

Buying real estate in a provincial town can cost up to $100,000.

Prices in Israel for rental property directly depend on the prestige of the area and city. You can rent a one-room apartment for $800 a month in the very center of Jerusalem. In Haifa, renting a property will cost $500.

Food prices in Israel vary depending on the region. In large and more developed cities they are an order of magnitude higher than in desert areas.

Food prices are relatively low. The price of gasoline, alcohol and tobacco products is much higher. To learn about food prices in Israel, watch this video.

The cost of gasoline for 1 liter is 8 shekels. For comparison with Russian currency, the price of gasoline is 60 rubles.

Due to such an inexpensive cost of gasoline, travel by public transport and taxi is quite affordable. You can get from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv by taxi for only 400 shekels. Bus fare is 6 shekels.

But gasoline is not the most expensive commodity for Israelis. In this country, tobacco products are much more expensive than in Ukraine or Russia. For example, 1 pack of Marlboro will cost 24 shekels.

Taxation

No different from standard fees in all countries. The main ones are:

1. VAT – 17%.
2. Purchase tax – 9%.
3. Customs duties – 7%.
4. Income - from 10 to 20%.
5. Pension fund – 7%.

Israel is one of the most developed countries in the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of people express their desire to live on the territory of the state. Watch this video about the advantages of living in Israel for Russians.

I lived in Israel for 2 years and returned back. By the way, I am an engineer, and my level of English is high. It is impossible to find a normal job. You need to know the language at a high level.
All by acquaintance. It's called PROTECTION. You can go there if there is no money for bread in your homeland, no work, no apartment. In short, there's nothing to lose. But I don’t recommend that.

• An outright lie. If you want to work, you can always find a job. Of course, if you wish
  Finding a job in a prestigious place is already more problematic. There are many people like that.
  It’s best to sit in the office with a cup of coffee, a phone, and at the same time put your feet up on the table.

• Whiner! The work is normal, at the beginning you have the language, then you confirm all your knowledge, and don’t whine! I don't think you've spoken Hebrew well in two years!

• Sea works. An outright lazy person will not work. Accordingly, in order to work in your specialty, as in any country, you need to earn a little trust and show what you are capable of. What is needed first of all is not English, much less the Moscow language, but the state language. And to study it you need at least a year of ulpan. Or maybe in Germany you can work without knowing German, or in Russia without speaking Russian? Or is there a doctor in France who doesn’t speak French????

There is no normal job, I have been looking for a suitable job for 3 years and cannot find it! It's rare that a lucky break comes up! There is only hard, dreary work, and even then with knowledge of the language (I know the language).
Israel has a hot climate (very hot in summer), very expensive real estate (it is unrealistic to have your own dacha), poor working conditions: sometimes work resembles slavery, especially low-paid and seasonal!
I lived in Israel for 16 years. For the first 10 years, life was very difficult, while you barely know the language and have no connections, then it becomes a little easier.
The whole family was repatriated and the apartment in Ukraine was sold. It may be possible to live in Israel (and where not?), but living well here is difficult and expensive! There is little recreation here, and there is almost no nature at all, except the sea and the desert!
Although my family is not the poorest (both parents work and the children are more or less independent), it will be very difficult for new immigrants here, especially singles or couples!

• What are you carrying? For what slaves? Why is there no future? At least back up your words with some arguments. Israel is a difficult country: taxes are high, real estate prices are high, salaries are not very high, you cannot live on benefits. But in the CIS countries now it’s also not easy if you are not an official or a businessman, but a low-paid worker. Tired of it? You can - go to the USA, Canada, Europe. If you can’t, Israel is a good option. Is everything expensive in Israel? So buy on the Internet, go on vacation to Europe, and you will always have enough for food, rent and utilities, and even have a little left over (unlike the CIS).
  Medicine cannot be compared at all. In Israel it is difficult to get to a specialist, you have to wait a long time, but if something happens, they will cure you, but in the CIS the government doctor does not know anything and does not want to know, and the private doctor only knows how to extract more money. The legal sphere too. In the CIS, laws practically do not work, unlike in Israel. Is there protection in Israel? Yes, in the CIS, too, there is nowhere without connections and bribes. In general, the main thing when moving to Israel is not to have high expectations, know your worth and understand what exactly you want to change in life, and everything will be ok with you!

• What I read amazes me. People want to do nothing and live well. I am surprised, for example, by Andrey, for whom everything is bad in Israel! I have a question: why did he leave Russia? Apparently he was running away from a good life? Hot climate in Israel? Didn't you know about this? A loser always blames circumstances.

  From Kyiv I came to Moscow to work, and my body also got used to the climate and adjusted itself. But then it became the norm, you just can’t find honest employers. Everyone is trying to screw it up. And, if you don’t work as an acquaintance, then most likely you’ll get scammed. The trip was useful for life experience, especially since there were no problems with Russian - I studied at a Russian-language school. I think that in any country you, as an illegal immigrant, will be “fucked” and screwed over. No one will think about your health and capabilities. And no one appreciates the guest worker. So, if you think that the red carpet will be rolled out for you from the airport, then sit at home and keep your head down. Sit in your country and blame your government for everything). Any country values ​​its specialists - after all, you take money out of the country in which you earn money. Look at what jobs Uzbeks work in Russia.

  Anonymous, what is the salary of 6000 thousand for two? When you arrived, they gave you money, and they give housing to those who have nowhere to live! You come to the country, learn Hebrew, and you can work without Hebrew, and if you wish, additionally. take a watch. It's bad everywhere. Live there... The country gives you the opportunity, you need to do something, not whine!

  Israel is a wonderful country. But only for those who don’t whine, but know exactly what they want and walk towards their goal with dignity. I've been here 28 years. The first year was difficult. He learned the language and worked as a simple worker in a factory. Then he completed a course in the specialty for engineers and upon completion found a job as an engineer. The salary is minimal, but still in the specialty. My specialty is road and bridge construction engineer. Years have passed. During this time, I rose to the position of chief engineer in a reputable construction company. He built dozens of kilometers of roads and many bridges on them. And the roads in Israel are excellent. I speak as an expert in this field. Have your own apartment. Company car. Every year I vacation in different parts of the world.
  The conclusion from this is that whoever goes to the goal will definitely reach it!

  Complete nonsense. Israel is a great country. You just need to work a lot and learn the language. I arrived 10 years ago, the first two years I studied the language and booze. I finished the course and worked in a store. Then I got a job as an accountant, and 4 years later I had my own auditing company, 3 employees. Normal income, apartment with a sea view, vacation abroad twice a year. You have to work, not whine, you don’t get anything just like that.

  No, sir, comrade, gentleman! Need to work. They come mainly for long rubles.
  We got used to doing nothing in the Soviet Union. Need to work. Stealing won't work. The police are on point.
  Now about the essence. When they come from the CIS countries, including Russia, they can’t get enough of it. Those who came for freebies are leaving.
  Those who have lived in Israel for a long time, those who have found themselves, those who love the country – it’s good for them. I give you my word!

  Edik, what kind of “feast” are we talking about? This is not the beginning of the 90s, the collapse of the USSR. Russia is full of food, the same as in Israel, only cheaper.
  I go there often, to relax, to see the country, but to live there - no!

  An absolutely favorable country to live in! Negativity is everywhere. Just like the eternally dissatisfied whiners whose lives didn’t work out. You will feel bad everywhere, you will not raise your ass once again, and you will blame anyone for your failures except your own family.
  Israel is a country of great opportunities. It is necessary to learn a language, master a profession, and not sit and wait for manna from heaven. And as for children, there are only prospects. If a child is diligent and studies, all roads are open. This country is for hard workers.
  There is a not very pleasant moment - the army. But this is mandatory and respected here!

  Lived in Israel for 28 years. After the ulpan, he immediately began working in his specialty - civil engineer. Worked as a technical supervisor in several companies. All years the car has been from the company. My son went through kindergarten, school, university, 2nd degree, and works at Microsoft. “Life is not easy,” you say. Where is it easy? It is quite possible to earn a living and rest. And the roads here are excellent - I built them myself!

  Everyone writes as they have settled down. Few people describe the real situation in the country. I live in Germany, I won’t compare it with Israel, because... this will not be correct. In Germany, vegetables and fruits (where they are not available) are cheaper than in Israel (where there are plenty of them). Prices are 4 times more expensive than in Germany. I was shocked. People are happy with everything you bring. The climate is very hot. Life is complicated. Yes, it’s better there than in Uryupinsk, but this is a way out. I compare it with Germany, that’s why it is so. Prices in Israel are simply atomic. Relatives have lived there for 35 years, both work, but they do not live very well, they are trying to save money to go to Europe. I wouldn't want to live there.

  I have been in Israel since 1991. From the age of 14 I went through both school and the army. I worked in various fields, now I work as an aircraft engineer. I have my own apartment, two cars and two children. Life is difficult, but it is possible if you think with your head. Kindergartens, gasoline, cars, apartments are expensive, but I managed it all and I’m not complaining. There is no easy life anywhere unless your parents are millionaires. Think with your head and everything will work out.

  I came to Israel in 1995 and left for the USA in 2010. Israel is a good country, but every country has its downsides. If you don’t know Hebrew well, you can’t apply for a good job, like in any country in the world. In Russia, without a good knowledge of the Russian language, you won’t get a good job. The roads in Israel are gorgeous, there are none like them in the USA. Medicine is excellent and most importantly, free. Doctors’ mistakes can happen everywhere; in the USA, doctors can also make mistakes.
  Europe is nearby, tickets are cheap, any working citizen can afford to vacation in Europe once a year. Apartments are expensive, but you can buy an apartment in any European country cheaper, for example, in the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Spain. Immigration is hard, expecting that when you come to Israel for permanent residence you will end up in El Dorado, this is stupid. Everyone makes their own choice whether to go or not. The USA is also no place for new immigrants.

• It’s nonsense about education, there are 30-35 people in schools, higher education is not available without the help of parents, you work for five years and save up then you can study, it’s hardly enough to study in an average place, if you’re lucky and got a good specialty in school/army, you can during your studies work, again living with my parents, and studying at the same time half-left, I’ve been living here for 31 years, I love listening to fairy tales. In the USA/Canada everything is much simpler.

Israel is the promised land, which has always attracted pilgrims, conquerors and emigrants like a magnet. There are so many Russian speakers here that it seems as if you are not in the far abroad, but somewhere, for example, in Odessa. It is not for nothing that Israel is jokingly called the sixteenth republic of the USSR.

Israel is a young and modern country with its own exoticism and flavor, and Jews are an amazing people. This is the only ethnic group in the world that, for thousands of years, without having its own territory, has preserved its language and culture. How do people live and work in Israel, what pros and cons do they have?

The main advantages of living in Israel

So, the advantages of living and working in Israel:

1. High quality of life.
2. Low crime rates.
3. Comfortable climate for living.
4. Developed infrastructure, compactness.
5. Development of medicine and social sphere.
6. Many natural, cultural and historical monuments.

High quality of life

Despite the endless wars, the hellish sun and stones instead of black soil, they managed to turn the desert into a Garden of Eden. Israel is considered a rich country with a high standard of living. According to published ratings, the country ranks 39th in the world and 8th in Asia for this indicator. The average monthly salary here is $2,715 USA, at the following average prices:

From the data presented it is clear that the Israeli population has a high level of well-being and prosperity.

Low crime rates

Despite the fact that Israel is located in a “hot spot” on the planet next to Syria, Palestine and Iraq, the crime situation in the country is relatively calm.

In terms of crime, Israel corresponds to the average developed country in Europe. For example, the number of intentional murders per 100 thousand inhabitants is 2.1 (for comparison in Russia - 10.2, in the USA - 4.2).

Comfortable living climate

The climate in Israel is warm - typical Mediterranean. The country has a high amplitude of positive temperatures and 9 climatic zones are distinguished. Here everyone will find conditions to their liking.

In an Israeli kibbutz Tirat Zvi in the summer of 1942, the highest temperature in Asia was recorded at + 53.7 o C. However, in winter, snow sometimes falls in a number of regions and the thermometer drops below zero.

Developed infrastructure, compactness

The country has a very well developed infrastructure - roads, transport hubs and interchanges, and other communications. At the same time, Israel is a very compact country, smaller in size than, for example, the Ivanovo region of Russia. The distance between the country's main cities Tel Aviv and Jerusalem is only 40 km.

Development of medicine and social sphere

Israeli medicine is famous throughout the world. Here they perform unique operations on almost all organs of the human body. Operating hospitals and clinics are provided with the necessary modern medical equipment and staffed with highly qualified specialists. Suffice it to say that Israel has the largest number of doctors per capita in the world.

Serious successes have also been achieved in the social sphere - the state provides real assistance to vulnerable segments of the population. As a result, Israel ranks fourth in the world in terms of life expectancy - 82.3 years.

Many natural and cultural-historical monuments

Israel has many attractions, both natural and cultural and historical. This is the Dead Sea, and the Jordan River, and the Western Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher - in Jerusalem, and the Azrieli Center, and the Weather House - in Tel Aviv, and the Bahai Gardens - in Haifa, and the Basilica of the Nativity - in Bethlehem, and the Basilica of the Annunciation - in Nazareth, and many, many others.

The Dead Sea is just a big name. In size it is more like a small lake - only 18 km. width. The mud and water of the Dead Sea are considered healing, so there are countless spas and resorts here. The water of the Dead Sea is so salty that it is, in principle, impossible to drown here - the water simply pushes out. You can just lie on it and enjoy.

Israeli Jerusalem is considered sacred to three world religions - Judaism, Christianity and Islam, so it is not surprising that the city is simply overflowing with various religious and historical monuments. In general, Israel is truly a paradise for tourists and travel lovers.

Main disadvantages

Now let’s look at the disadvantages of living and working in Israel:

1. Unstable military-political situation.
2. The originality and alienness of culture and traditions.
3. The great influence of religion on public life.
4. High real estate prices.
5. Isolation of the state.

Unstable military-political situation

The historical formation of the State of Israel has seen many military conflicts. Yes, and geographically, the country is located in a turbulent and unstable part of the Middle East. Nearby there is Syria, where there is a civil war, Lebanon and Jordan, where ISIS groups operate (banned in Russia), and inside there are the ongoing attempts of Palestine and the Gaza Strip to gain and expand their own autonomy at the expense of Jewish lands.

As a result, frequent terrorist attacks and a very tense military-political situation throughout the region.

The originality and alienness of culture and traditions, the great influence of religion on public life

Israel is a peculiar country. Jewish culture and traditions are alien to most Europeans. For example, only here on Saturdays everything just dies out, this is a holy day of rest for Jews. On this day, nothing is open: banks and cafes, shops and shopping centers, even public transport stops.

Orthodox Jews on Saturday do not answer the phone, do not answer calls, do not turn on the TV, on this day they are not allowed to smoke, drive a car, turn lights on and off, press elevator buttons, in short, do anything resembling work. The only people who help out are the Arabs and Russians, whose small shops and stalls still operate. And there are many such examples.

High real estate prices

Housing prices in Israel will shock anyone. Over the past 15 years, the cost of housing in the country has tripled, although wages have increased by only 20%.

A new three-room apartment in Tel Aviv in an elite area will cost from 800 thousand to 1100 thousand US dollars. A similar secondary housing apartment in a residential area of ​​the city costs between 570 thousand and 750 thousand dollars. On the periphery of Israel, its cost will be from 150 thousand to 350 thousand dollars. In addition, the purchase of real estate in Israel is subject to a tax of 0.5% to 5%.

Isolation of the state

Due to the current political situation, Israel's borders with neighboring states - Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Lebanon - are effectively closed. You can only leave the country by air.

It should be recognized that the advantages and advantages of living and working in Israel are significant and, of course, in general, prevail over the existing disadvantages. If only we could resolve this border conflict that has been going on for many decades...

13.04.2012 10:52

"Interlocutor" talks about Russians (often all of them are called “Russians”, regardless of nationality) who have chosen non-CIS countries as their permanent place of residence. Today's story is about Israel.

Six months ago, on an early August morning, an Israeli Airlines plane landed at Ben Gurion Airport. Hung with backpacks, bags from Moscow duty-free and four sleepy children, we, two single mothers, crawled out of the air corridor. At the escalator, as they had warned in Moscow, we and five other Russian families were met by a stocky guy with a tiny cap on the very back of his head.

Shalom, olim, come to me! Welcome to Motherland! - he shouted nasally and buried himself in the list of arrivals. We obediently huddled together. Everyone became quiet. Of course, our new life begins...

Shalom! Shalom!

We received Israeli citizenship right here - at the airport. Or rather, a blue cloth bag with brochures for repatriates and a package of documents confirming our new civil status. The official, who had difficulty finding Russian words, filled out the form, clicked the camera shutter and pasted our photographs into the blue book. The pass to a new life is ready - teudat ole (certificate of a new repatriate). Now for three years we have become “new kids” in this country. And almost like a nickname, they received the title of olim: this is how the first Zionists called themselves - “those who ascended to Zion.”

True, at that moment we were far from romantic. I went with my children to Haifa, which was incomprehensible to me at the time. A friend with her offspring - to the capital, to Tel Aviv, to her aunt.

My Moscow in Haifa

Well, everyone passes through Adar,” said Avner Korin, press secretary of the Haifa Absorption Department, and noisily opened the window of my rented apartment, “but what a view from the window!”

I timidly looked over my colleague’s shoulder: gray shabby houses in terraces descending from the mountain, palm trees, blooming bougainvilleas. In the distance there are crane towers, and there, on the very horizon, is a tiny piece of the blue, blue sea.

Haifa is a port city, the third largest and most important in Israel, and as a professional guide, Avner brings me up to date. - I’ll show you Russian Haifa. let's start with the capital... Let's go to Moscow...

Adar is the most “Russian” district of the city. Several streets with cheap shops, small workshops, and a central market. It’s difficult to get lost here: Russian speech is heard everywhere, and a special feature is the signs in Russian. Up the street is an employment office, and around the corner downstairs is a currency exchange office.

"Moscow" is located in the heart of Adar. A store that looks a lot like the Soviet grocery store of my childhood, with the same colorful saleswomen and familiar products. Ham, boiled pork, Borodino bread, raspberry jam, sprats, cod liver, buckwheat and dried poppy seeds. And up the street is the more pretentious “Eliseevsky”.

Chains of stores with a typical Russian range of products are spread throughout the country. After a few months, having had your fill of oriental exoticism, you notice that you are increasingly looking into such a “general store” to see some Misha or Slava. There really is very tasty doctor’s sausage, caviar and fresh vodka...

One walk through Adar, Avner teaches me, and you have learned Russian business in Israel.

Posters and notice boards are all in Russian. Invitations to excursions and boat trips, renting and renting apartments, weight loss products and psychological trainings, dating clubs and professional matchmakers... With the influx of Russians, hairdressing and nail salons, travel agencies and souvenir shops appeared on Adar. Everyone survives as best they can.

A special business where we have no competitors is book stores. They look like old school libraries. With the spines of the collected works of Shakespeare, Kuprin, Tolstoy, familiar from childhood...

Step left, step right

The main Hebrew word that new immigrants to Israel learn is “savlanut” (“patience”). Patience and again patience, they repeat everywhere: in long lines at the supermarket, at the bank, at the clinic, at the Ministry of Internal Affairs... Lines, lines, lines...

“You may get a permanent passport in a year,” the official at the Ministry of Internal Affairs says in a tone that does not tolerate objections and gives me a plastic card. This is my ID. I have to remember his number by heart and call it instantly if they wake me up at night. From these few numbers in any computer in the country it will now be possible to trace my entire life. A bank account, medical insurance, and my personal affairs in all ministries and departments are opened on this number. Without it, I won’t be able to go to a doctor’s appointment, enroll my children in school, buy a theater ticket, shop at a store, pay for a mobile phone... Not to mention loans, subsidies and benefits, or starting a business.

Darkon - a permanent passport for an Israeli citizen - is issued for a period of 5 years and only after a year of permanent residence in the country. You can go abroad for a short time, but only if after 3 months you receive a lesse passe (foreign passport) or a certificate from the Ministry of Internal Affairs that you are allowed to cross the border with a Russian passport. Darkon gives the right to enter more than 100 countries of the world without a visa. Therefore, Israel strictly regulates permission to obtain it. If you have proven yourself trustworthy, get it. If you raise doubts among the eminence department, you will endlessly go to appointments, ask, download your license...

Chemistry and life

I used to think that the absorption process is a chemical reaction that has nothing to do with humans. But in Israel there is an entire Ministry of Absorption with a huge staff and a Madam Minister at its head.

All of us, who came from the Union in the 70s and 90s, started with the most menial jobs. They cleaned apartments, washed toilets, worked as loaders and watchmen... And they studied, acquired new professions, crammed Hebrew,” says the head of the department, Sofa Landwehr.

The absorption center was created in 1973, its task was to help repatriated scientists find work in their specialty as soon as possible and adapt to Western methods of work.

The fate of immigrants from Russia is often called a story of missed opportunities, says sociologist Moshe Kenigstein, an expert on Russian-speaking emigration. - Many turned out to be “strangers among their own” here.

Israel knows riots by former Soviet scientists and doctors, strikes and hunger strikes. In the 90s, many people with higher education and representatives of liberal professions came here. And two big problems emerged: first, the correspondence between the professions of repatriates and the demand for these professions in Israel. Secondly, for many, the move interrupted a successful career in Russia and forced them to lower their professional and social status.

Despite the difficulties, more than 70% of immigrant scientists of the 90s managed to find a job in Israel with the help of government scholarships, although not all were able to keep it after the end of the payments.

“You’re a journalist,” Asya says thoughtfully from Sokhnut (the agency for Jewish emigration), and looks at me sympathetically. - You can, of course, try to find a job as a journalist, but now I have requests for workers. Go to a factory, they need women on the assembly line without qualifications. Or try taking translations home - you speak English and French. If you are looking for a job somewhere in an office, you need good Hebrew and knowledge of office work. If you were a programmer, we would send you to courses. Or a cook, there is a demand for them too. Try sending your resume to newspapers. But they pay very little there - the states are overcrowded. In general, come back in 5 months, when you finish ulpan...

From right to left

Ulpan is a school for learning Hebrew. Each emigrant is entitled to 5 months of free training. It is assumed that, having passed the exams, a person will be able to sanely communicate with a native Israeli on any topic. It turned out that learning a language is the most difficult thing in Israel.

When you see signs with intricate squiggles on the street or in a store, you are horrified. And receiving a receipt in the mail with these mysterious letters drives you into a real stupor.

Patience,” says teacher Judit. - There are 22 consonant letters in our alphabet. There are no vowels. We read from right to left.
And we, 20 fresh students, like first-graders, begin to diligently write in notebooks: aleph, bet, dalet... The first euphoria from the fact that the combinations of hooks and sticks form words and make sense, is replaced after 3 months by despair. Words that have no analogues with Latin roots do not linger in the head for more than 15 minutes, and the grammar of the ancient language seems completely incomprehensible.

A crisis is coming. Plans to get a job soon (any kind of job) are ruined, at the end of the lesson the brain begins to boil, verbs are confused with nouns.

Winter

And then comes... winter. Its first harbingers are Ethiopians, wrapped from head to toe in multi-colored fleece blankets. These poor people suffer from the cold the most because they live in the cheapest, coldest, most poorly equipped houses.

If you came here in the summer and rented an apartment, then it wouldn’t even occur to you that it’s time to “get ready for the sleigh.” Israeli houses do not have central heating; at best, the owner of the apartment installed an air conditioner that will work for heat in winter. But it is impossible to heat the apartment with this. Thin concrete walls do not retain heat and absorb moisture; the wind blows through the flimsy window frames.

Our first winter in Israel was unusually long, cold and rainy. It rained continuously for three months. And winter clothes remained (as it seemed, as unnecessary) in Moscow.

That’s it, I can’t take it anymore, I’m going back,” said Tanya, my deskmate in the ulpan, 3 months after my arrival. - There’s not enough money, it’s freezing cold, the child is sick, the apartment is someone else’s. Nobody needs us here.

It was as if she had read my thoughts... With the onset of winter, my mood deteriorated and my optimism disappeared. I suddenly saw the world not through rose-colored glasses, but through a magnifying glass. And I took up basic arithmetic.

Israel through a magnifying glass

The allowance for emigrants, the so-called absorption basket (approx. $1000), will no longer be paid six months after arrival. All you can count on is another 6 months of unemployment benefits (approx. $500). Then you need to get a job or receive payments from the Ministry of Social Insurance, for example, a single mother's allowance (approx. $650) plus money for children (approx. $50). But even this is not so simple, there are conditions. You can’t count on social money, for example, if you have a car. In Israel, for some reason, a car is considered a luxury, which means you don’t need help. And you won’t be considered a single mother if you have a man (friend, lover). Social workers will come to your house and ask your neighbors. If they say that they see you together, he takes you in a car, gives you gifts and helps you financially, you can forget about the allowance.

Army

Almost all children from Russian families serve in the army. Girls are drafted at the same time as boys at the age of 18 and serve for 3 years. At the same time, the army is more like a school. There are military training camps, and there are units close to home. The concept of “hazing” does not exist.

In the evening, children from the army go home. They are accepted into combat units only with the written permission of their parents. And the recent release and exchange of one soldier for 1000 terrorists shook the whole country. Everyone understood: his child could find himself in the same position. However, military service in Israel is a matter of honor.

“We will go to the army next year,” my 16-year-old son told me. - And they will give us weapons. I want to go to combat...

Another Israel

But there is another Russian Israel. Rumors are increasingly circulating: the most expensive apartments and villas in elite resort areas are being bought by Russian oligarchs, owners of large businesses, show business and cultural figures...

Recently, the Maariv newspaper reported that Israeli government agencies have recently received a lot of appeals from wealthy Russian Jews. They express concern about the growing political destabilization in Russia and, as a preparatory step for repatriation, want to transfer their capital to Israel.

Who has arrived?

In 2011, emigrants from the former Union made up 39.3% (7,455 people) of the total number of new citizens. The most popular destinations among emigrants are Haifa in the north, Ashdod in the south, and Bat Yam in the center of the country.

There are a lot of immigrants from Russia in the power structures of Israel. For example, Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman (initially worked as a baggage handler at Ben-Gurion Airport); Zeev Elkin - member of the Knesset (parliament), chairman of the Likud party faction; Leonid Eidelman - Chairman of the All-Israeli Union of Medical Workers, etc.

What to live on?

Israel is not a cheap country. Rent an ordinary 2-3-room apartment - no less than $1000. About $200-300 per year is allocated to emigrants to rent an apartment. Plus you have to pay a municipal tax of $100. Bills for water and electricity come 2 times a month, which is about another $100. Kindergarten or school - $450. Travel by public transport: bus, monthly pass - $80, train - $95. Medical insurance - $40. Since April 1, gasoline costs more than $2, which means you need about $90 for a full tank. According to the most conservative estimates, about $300 a week is spent on food. Mobile phones - $200. Television, telephone, Internet - $100. Clothing and other expenses - $500.

Simple arithmetic does not include trips to museums, excursions, dinners in restaurants, and so on. It turns out that in order to live very modestly in Israel, a family of 3 people needs about $4,000 per month.

TV tax

Among the taxes that all capable citizens pay, there are some very original ones. For example, on TV. Moreover, employees of the TV and Radio Broadcasting Committee, when collecting a debt, have the right to break open apartment doors, seize accounts (bank and salary), and confiscate a car and apartment.

Elena Shafran