Page 21 - Issue 30

Dear Shula,

I want to make Aliyah but my friends won’t be able to
arrive until later than me. Should I come even if it
means having no one around me for the first few
months?

Thx,

__Jewess

Hey __Jewess,

I don’t think that there’s a hard and firm answer; it
depends a lot on what makes you feel comfortable.
When I made Aliyah I moved in with my madricha for a

few weeks and then only lived with one other person
for the first month or so. I think it was right for me to
come at that moment because I really wanted to, and I
didn’t feel lonely for coming early.

But I think if you can’t imagine yourself not living with
your besties, then it’s also okay to say that you want to
wait and come together. In any case for the first few
weeks you have no idea where you are when you wake
up in the morning, so it’s always good to try and make
yourself as comfortable as possible. But sometimes
jumping into the deep end can be what you need.
Imagine living with another kvutzah for a month, really
getting to know them, and working on your Hebrew.