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| We've come a long way! |
When talking with those who are eligible to make Aliyah, one of the first questions that comes up is "What will I do to earn a living?" It is a reasonable question. We all need to pay the rent, eat and put clothes on our backs. For a lot of folks, it is a 'stepping-stone' question~ one that needs to be answered as they are walking on the path toward Israel. Sadly, for most, it is a 'giant' that is keeping them from even looking in the direction of making Aliyah. Today, let's attempt to slay the giant.
The stories of Olim (immigrants) that we are going to share did not necessarily evolve easily. Not all of these popped into jobs their first weeks in the Land. For some it took a season to sort out details, rearrange priorities, walk through 'lesser' vocations until they arrived at the place they are now. For some, they landed in jobs within a matter of weeks. Each situation is tailor made to whatever G-d has designed for the individual Aliyah.
Here is a brief list of those we know who have succeeded. As a word of encouragement~ not all of these people have mastered Hebrew. Some have barely any language skills :
* A lady who began as a volunteer for the Jerusalem Zoo, has gone on to earn her Vet Tech degree and has been hired by the zoo.
* A man who began with a heart for the victims of terror and wounded soldiers and now has an organization to help them.
* One man, who is a partner in a winery, has started classes to become a tour guide. His personality is so perfectly suited to this type of work. Completely different from his previous career. Many Olim have gone the tour guide route with much success.
*An ESL teacher who has a cluster of different schools, Arab and Jewish where she is teaching English.
*Two young men who have started their own moving business. Successful enough to have recently purchased a larger vehicle.
*Communications graduates who landed great jobs that launched a top- tour spot in the North.
*A young man that works with the Sudanese refugees.
* Two married couples, the wives teach kindergarten, the husbands are accountants for American based companies.
*Several are working for computer call centers. Here is an interesting site: Fiverr
*A journalist who is now an anchor for a TV News program
Flexibility is a key word in job finding in Israel. To be willing to try something new or different. To maybe not do the same job in the same way.The central focus is the same. There is work in the Land. There are ways to provide for your family. It is important to remember that you fit into the Land, not that the Land fits into you.
The Lord directs us one step at a time into His perfect plan. When we are willing to take a step, He shows us the next one! Thanks for sharing these. Encouraging for us even in the USA.
ReplyDeleteDecember 9th 2010 (18):
ReplyDelete"For the LORD your God is bringing you into a good land. A land of wheat, and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of oil olive, and honey;" [Deut 8:8]
The question: "What will I do to earn a living?" was probably not as difficult a question to answer for those who were in the early waves of making aliyah to Eretz Israel as their 21stC counterparts face. The land needed to be made wholesome, receptive and protected for cultivation and subsequent fruitfulness as the growing population needed feeding. Those requiring persuasion need only read Mark Twain's traveller's diary, "Innocent's Abroad," (pub 1869) to allay all doubt as to the inhospitable nature of the land.
The seven species, used for nourishment, beauty and healing, were the only products deemed worthy of being offered as the first fruits in the Temple in Jerusalem on Shavuot (Feast of Weeks). Above all, these seven species symbolize the close relationship between the Jewish People and the Land of Israel.
-Wheat: speaks of God's Word and mercy;
-Barley speaks of first fruits;
-Grapes speak of Judaism;
-Figs speak of fruitfulness;
-Pomegranates speaks of righteousness;
-Olive speaks of continuity whilst
-Dates (honey) speaks of grace.
Even though those who make aliyah this century are not necessarily called to work on the land, let us never forget the meaning of these God-given gifts placed in the land for Israel to take possesion of. So important were they that over 3000 years later they still flourish in the land. Perhaps as we study their symbolism we may better understand what the LORD wishes to say to us through them.
Steve Perry <><