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A group of 37 arrived in Israel on March 16, with the assistance of Nefesh B’Nefesh. (Photo by Sasson Tiram/Courtesy Nefesh B’Nefesh) |
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Off to Israel, alone, to start a new life
Until last week, 28-year-old Edo Gaash enjoyed the American life. He worked in information technology, lived in his parents’ home in Plainview and spent his free time mountain biking and taking in the nightlife. Then he packed three suitcases and boarded a flight to Israel.
Gaash flew to Israel with a Nefesh B’Nefesh group of 37 olim last Tuesday, who traveled on a regular El-Al flight from Newark International Airport. Gaash hopes to transplant his life from America to an Israeli setting. He will continue to perform IT work for many of his stateside clients and has already started a sales job in Raanana.
If not for the blue Nefesh B’Nefesh stickers on the carry-on bags, it would have been hard to tell that the group on the back of the plane was moving to a foreign country. There was a surprisingly sober mood for such a significant event. Most of the olim were younger singles because families with children usually don’t make Aliyah during the school year.
In 2008, 150 Long Island residents made Aliyah with the assistance of Nefesh B’Nefesh.
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| Edo Gaash, 28, begins a new stage of life as an Israeli citizen. (Photo by Baruch Spier) |
Although the Queens-born Gaash visited family in Israel every summer when he was a kid, he didn’t consider moving there until a Birthright trip three years ago. He returned again a year later on a Birthright alumni trip, at age 26, and followed that with a pilot trip last year to consider Aliyah. As soon as he came back from his pilot trip, he knew he wanted to move.
“Fifteen years ago Israel didn’t have all the luxuries it has today, it wasn’t appealing to me as a kid,” said Gaash, explaining his change of perspective. “As an adult, I can see how much fun the place can be.”
Life in Israel drew Gaash’s attention because of his strong Jewish identity. Throughout his life, Gaash has stressed the mitzvot he finds significant, like Friday night Kiddush and the Passover Seder. He finds that many Israelis have a similar approach towards Judaism, and considers himself to be Mesorati (Traditional), a religious classification in Israel.
“Israel creates an environment where there is more to Judaism than just practicing your religion,” said Gaash. “They have created a Jewish culture.”
Gaash found Nefesh B’Nefesh when he searched “Aliyah” online after his pilot trip in 2008. After he applied online, Nefesh B’Nefesh sent him to the Jewish Agency to meet with a shaliach and open an Aliyah file.
“I got a lot of reassurance from the Jewish Agency and my family in Israel. That prevented me from being scared and canceling everything,” said Gaash about some initial uncertainty.
It wasn’t an easy decision for Gaash to move to Israel. He was nervous about moving away from friends and family and wasn’t sure what the living situation would be like.
“When you move to a new country there are a lot of ‘what ifs,” said Gaash. “I’m a very routine person, and all the ‘what ifs’ made me a little hesitant about Aliyah.”
After the flight landed in Israel, the group was escorted by Nefesh B’Nefesh workers to offices in an inactive terminal of Ben Gurion Airport. There they received refreshments while quickly signing a few government documents and receiving their new Oleh certificates. They were then organized into groups for free taxi rides to their new homes.
Unfortunately, Gaash was disappointed by his room in the Raanana absorption center. He moved into a room already occupied by an American immigrant who was not used to sharing the space. Gaash has already begun apartment hunting for a place he can call home.
Gaash does not think he will be drafted into the IDF, but he is considering a six month stint so he can learn a specialty for reserve duties.
