(I’m writing this post in July 2010, only weeks away from August 2nd, when my family and I are making aliyah from New York to Hashmonaim — located next to Modiin, one of Israel’s fastest growing cities.)

As I prepare to move to Israel, many people have asked me whether I have any concerns about moving. My honest answer? Yes, of course! As with anyone who moves to a foreign country, any foreign country for that matter, my mind is filled with a great sense of excitement but also some concerns and questions, too.

One thing that I did tell myself right away is that no matter what, I would not allow the media’s scare tactics to affect my feelings about moving. If you were to rely on the media alone for a reliable image of the world, well, just about any place would seem like a terrible area in which to live! The media’s catalyst is fear. So I told myself a long time ago that I would not let this penetrate my thoughts and feelings about making aliyah.

For those with small children, it is only natural to be concerned about how your kids will adapt to life in Israel. Of course, you should rest assured that you will be able to provide a wonderful life for them in their new home. They will be living in a country where they are no longer the minority, but where Jews make up 78% of the population. They will be part of a community that is unlike any other place in the world.

But even knowing that this is a place where they will be welcomed and made to feel accepted, of course you can still expect to have some concerns about your children’s adjustment and acclimation to living in a new country.

It is a great idea to get your children involved in a number of organizations where they will have the opportunity to continue pursuing the activities in which they are interested, as well as meet other children their own age. The YMCA in Jerusalem is a great source for many different clubs, activities, and classes, from music lessons to swimming lessons.

For public education, you will have the opportunity to enroll your children in either Jewish religious or secular public schools. Much like in America, public education is free, and all children must receive eleven years of schooling. Education is an extremely important part of Jewish society, and in Israel it plays a major role in the life and culture of the country. So you can rest assured that your children will receive a good education.

For my four children, I know that Israel will provide wonderful educational and career opportunities for them. My older daughter, who is 21, made aliyah two years ago and has been studying biology at Bar Ilan University, the largest university in Israel. My older son, 20, just spent two years studying in Israel at Reishit Jerusalem, and my younger son, 17, just having graduated high school will be spending a post-high school year with us studying at Lev Hatorah. My younger daughter is 13 and will attend Chorev school in Jerusalem, which provides a dual curriculum of Judaic and secular studies.

For my own sake, I find myself wondering how well I will be able to adapt to learning and typing in Hebrew. While there are approximately 33 different languages that are spoken and written within the different communities in Israel, modern Hebrew is the primary language of the country. Arabic and Hebrew are the official languages in Israel, while road signs are often written in English in addition to these two languages.

As with any long journey, there are bound to be some bumps along the way. One that I am anticipating is a bit of bureaucracy, or “red tape,” when it comes to becoming citizens in Israel. Each country has its own laws in regards to legal immigration and citizenship, and Israel is no exception.

For anyone preparing to make aliyah, I would strongly recommend researching and reading up on the requirements for becoming an Israeli citizen. Two terms with which you will want to familiarize yourself are “Teudat Zehut” and “Teudat Oleh.”

Your Teudat Zehut will be your Israeli ID card. It is sort of a cross between a Social Security card and a driver’s license. It contains a number that is unique to your identification along with your date of birth, address, and your photo. This is the card that confirms your Israeli citizenship.

Your Teudat Oleh is your immigrant certificate. It is a small, dark blue booklet that kind of looks like a passport. This booklet is given to each immigrant, or each immigrant family. It is very important to keep this document in a safe place, because it is the most important of all aliyah-related documents.

You can follow these guidelines on the Jewish Agency for Israel website on how to officially become an oleh in Israel: http://www.jewishagency.org/JewishAgency/English/Aliyah/Aliyah+Info/First+Steps+in+Israel/Step+by+Step+48.htm

Enjoy watching this video about the Katz family moving to Israel.

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