If you are Jewish, what stops you from moving to israel?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why you stay in a place that is not a home or even a civilization when you could be home improving and developing your country?

The scale required at this time is too large for any one person to effect a change.

Bolivia?

[Anonymous]

Generally people immigrate when there is something very lacking where they live. Maybe they’re fleeing violence at an extreme, but most are leaving because there are few educational and employment opportunities.

The U.S. has not reached the threshold where things are bad enough to warrant leaving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is mind boggling- the question itself is offensive but the comments from some Jews are the most disturbing part.

How many Jewish responders have actually been to Israel?!?! The country is mostly secular! Tel Aviv is one of the most progressive cities on earth.

I love Israel and have traveled there many times. We have extended family there. When we are older and retired, I’d love to have an apartment in Tel Aviv if I can afford it (doubtful).

Jerusalem is our ancestral homeland and perhaps I will move their one day but life in Israel is different. I’m a 3rd generation American raising American kids paying my American taxes like everyone else. We are as American as you are.

Would you ever ask a Muslim American why they don’t just pick up and move to Mecca or Medina?

I agree and they could be trolls for all we know.

The home country of Mecca and Medina has never espoused the view that they are the rightful home of all living Muslims across the world. If anything Saudi Arabia would prefer Muslims to come for the pilgrimage, pay your respects, and get out so they don't have to share oil revenue with a larger population.

Israel was founded on the premise that it is the place where Jews, no matter their ethnicity and background, belong. Aside from all that - they also extend birthright citizenship to anyone of Jewish descent who can prove a religious/heritage claim.

Kind of hard to argue its the same thing from a Christian or Muslim perspective.

“Belong??”

Yeah - no.

Jewish people “belong” wherever they desire to live.

[Anonymous]

This is a really odd question, Op. My ancestors are from Europe but I have never once had someone suggest that I move back to Europe. I was born in America, this is my country. I'm happy here, why would I want to leave and go live somewhere that I've never even been before?

[Anonymous]

OP is conflating Judaism with being Israeli. Not all Jews are Israeli, OP. There is a difference. I can support the idea of Israel and vehemently detest the human rights violations going on there. Also, I'm American. I'm not Israeli. Living in Israel sucks-- it's difficult, expensive, and people are generally aggressive and annoying. It's extraordinarily worrisome to me that many do not know the difference between American Jews and Israelis.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is a really odd question, Op. My ancestors are from Europe but I have never once had someone suggest that I move back to Europe. I was born in America, this is my country. I'm happy here, why would I want to leave and go live somewhere that I've never even been before?

You posters who keep saying this seem unfamiliar with Israel's Law of Return, or Right of return, which appears to be somewhat unique in all the world.

[Anonymous]

Not Jewish, but the U.S. has been home to our family since before it was a country. So excuse me if I don't get your point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is conflating Judaism with being Israeli. Not all Jews are Israeli, OP. There is a difference. I can support the idea of Israel and vehemently detest the human rights violations going on there. Also, I'm American. I'm not Israeli. Living in Israel sucks-- it's difficult, expensive, and people are generally aggressive and annoying. It's extraordinarily worrisome to me that many do not know the difference between American Jews and Israelis.

Right. But you could go there if you wanted to, unlike trying to move to other countries which wont allow it. The question was "what is stopping you?" which you answered quite well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is mind boggling- the question itself is offensive but the comments from some Jews are the most disturbing part.

How many Jewish responders have actually been to Israel?!?! The country is mostly secular! Tel Aviv is one of the most progressive cities on earth.

I love Israel and have traveled there many times. We have extended family there. When we are older and retired, I’d love to have an apartment in Tel Aviv if I can afford it (doubtful).

Jerusalem is our ancestral homeland and perhaps I will move their one day but life in Israel is different. I’m a 3rd generation American raising American kids paying my American taxes like everyone else. We are as American as you are.

Would you ever ask a Muslim American why they don’t just pick up and move to Mecca or Medina?

I agree and they could be trolls for all we know.

The home country of Mecca and Medina has never espoused the view that they are the rightful home of all living Muslims across the world. If anything Saudi Arabia would prefer Muslims to come for the pilgrimage, pay your respects, and get out so they don't have to share oil revenue with a larger population.

Israel was founded on the premise that it is the place where Jews, no matter their ethnicity and background, belong. Aside from all that - they also extend birthright citizenship to anyone of Jewish descent who can prove a religious/heritage claim.

Kind of hard to argue its the same thing from a Christian or Muslim perspective.

“Belong??”

Yeah - no.

Jewish people “belong” wherever they desire to live.

Of course they do. But I'm not the one that founded Israel as a Jewish homeland after the wars. Talk to them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is mind boggling- the question itself is offensive but the comments from some Jews are the most disturbing part.

How many Jewish responders have actually been to Israel?!?! The country is mostly secular! Tel Aviv is one of the most progressive cities on earth.

I love Israel and have traveled there many times. We have extended family there. When we are older and retired, I’d love to have an apartment in Tel Aviv if I can afford it (doubtful).

Jerusalem is our ancestral homeland and perhaps I will move their one day but life in Israel is different. I’m a 3rd generation American raising American kids paying my American taxes like everyone else. We are as American as you are.

Would you ever ask a Muslim American why they don’t just pick up and move to Mecca or Medina?

I agree and they could be trolls for all we know.

The home country of Mecca and Medina has never espoused the view that they are the rightful home of all living Muslims across the world. If anything Saudi Arabia would prefer Muslims to come for the pilgrimage, pay your respects, and get out so they don't have to share oil revenue with a larger population.

Israel was founded on the premise that it is the place where Jews, no matter their ethnicity and background, belong. Aside from all that - they also extend birthright citizenship to anyone of Jewish descent who can prove a religious/heritage claim.

Kind of hard to argue its the same thing from a Christian or Muslim perspective.

“Belong??”

Yeah - no.

Jewish people “belong” wherever they desire to live.

Of course they do. But I'm not the one that founded Israel as a Jewish homeland after the wars. Talk to them.

I don’t think their idea was to force all Jews to live there.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:
Generally people immigrate when there is something very lacking where they live. Maybe they’re fleeing violence at an extreme, but most are leaving because there are few educational and employment opportunities.

The U.S. has not reached the threshold where things are bad enough to warrant leaving.

And it doesn’t make sense to move somewhere with higher unemployment. It also feels like bad parenting to take your kids somewhere where they’re legally required to do military service when you have the option not to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP is conflating Judaism with being Israeli. Not all Jews are Israeli, OP. There is a difference. I can support the idea of Israel and vehemently detest the human rights violations going on there. Also, I'm American. I'm not Israeli. Living in Israel sucks-- it's difficult, expensive, and people are generally aggressive and annoying. It's extraordinarily worrisome to me that many do not know the difference between American Jews and Israelis.

Unfortunately, the American POTUS just told a group of American Jewish supporters that Netanyahu "is your Prime Minister."

The rot starts at the top.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This thread is mind boggling- the question itself is offensive but the comments from some Jews are the most disturbing part.

How many Jewish responders have actually been to Israel?!?! The country is mostly secular! Tel Aviv is one of the most progressive cities on earth.

I love Israel and have traveled there many times. We have extended family there. When we are older and retired, I’d love to have an apartment in Tel Aviv if I can afford it (doubtful).

Jerusalem is our ancestral homeland and perhaps I will move their one day but life in Israel is different. I’m a 3rd generation American raising American kids paying my American taxes like everyone else. We are as American as you are.

Would you ever ask a Muslim American why they don’t just pick up and move to Mecca or Medina?

No, I wouldn’t ask that because Muslim countries are not nice places.

You kind of underscored why I asked the question - Israel is a nice place!

That was the point.

...if you are Jewish

^^ I think this whole thread is terrible. The whole point of being American is being American. You cannot consistently have dual loyalties. There is no situation in which the US and and any other foreign country have identical interests. None. This notion that all Jewish people are supposed to be more loyal to Israel than the US, and all long to live there, is anti-Semitic, imho. You can be Jewish and not consider Israel home, even if you acknowledge its religious and political importance as your homeland.

Anti semitic?
I think this was just a curious question
Not a statement that you should not be here

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP is conflating Judaism with being Israeli. Not all Jews are Israeli, OP. There is a difference. I can support the idea of Israel and vehemently detest the human rights violations going on there. Also, I'm American. I'm not Israeli. Living in Israel sucks-- it's difficult, expensive, and people are generally aggressive and annoying. It's extraordinarily worrisome to me that many do not know the difference between American Jews and Israelis.

Right. But you could go there if you wanted to, unlike trying to move to other countries which wont allow it. The question was "what is stopping you?" which you answered quite well.

“What is stopping you?” sounds like it’s the default plan for all Jewish people.

I think if you phrased it “why haven’t you considered moving?” it would have been better received.

Are there many Jewish people in your home country?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My neighbors daughter went to Israel. She left after high school, served in the army and lived on kibbutz
Years later she came back with her husband and small kid
She said she hates the Summers and every year hates it even more
Her husband had done 3 years in the army

Young people here almost have a degree in their pocket by the time the Israelis are only starting out and getting their education.
The military is also draining taxpayer funds
Despite aid
Both of them struggled to find work.

Her friends from high school were also married by then and lived in homes they owned, they were not in that stage yet

You grow up in almost a military state, kids get used to seeing military guys in the street at a young age. I was quite old when I saw a man in army uniform, my home was that insulated

Many who leave do so to save their kids from the military, or they move because of unemployment

Is unemployment bad there? When i've been on work trips, it seems like a very dynamic environment full of intelligent go-getters.

LOL of course you saw what you wanted to see. The top always does well in an occupation. If you do not have money you will not live in a nice condo with views of the beach. The economy is