The Absorption Center

The organization chartered to help Jews make aliyah is called The Jewish Agency For Israel (JAFI). It is a quasi government agency, but really a non-profit and is responsible for placing immigrants into absorption centers. Like other non-profits they are having funding problems and consolidating a couple of their centers. Essentially, I lost my place in one center and ended up in another one that is almost entirely young, non-Jewish Russians. There is a smattering of other people from Ethiopia and Turkey as well. People are nice, and asking about the country they came from is a sure way to make a quick friend. I have found that everybody loves their home country the same way I love the U.S.

That said, I will be transferring to an absorption center in Jerusalem in about a week called Etzion. It is reputed to have one of the best intensive Hebrew language programs in Israel. There are also a lot more Americans and Western Europeans and a college degree is a prerequisite for admission to Etzion.

The night I arrived here I was told by a young oleh that making aliyah is hard, but if I have a strong heart and strong mind, I will be okay. This is because most people give up a lot to come to Israel. Even Russians that had no bright future in their home country do not see their families unless they come to visit. A lot of things are difficult here. The banking system is different than the U.S.; I have not figured out the buses either. Also, I pretty much belong to the Ministry of Absorption now, and there is a ton of bureaucracy. I am not homesick at all, but I miss the comforts of knowing how things work.

The absorption center itself is in pretty rough shape. There is a lot of mold, a lot of things don't work and even the kitchen counters are permanently filthy. From what I have heard and read, the Jewish Agency knows the condition of the absorption centers, but lacks the funding to repair them. Even the heat does not work in a lot of the apartments, including mine. I have taken to sleeping in a black fleece jacket and sometimes a stocking cap at night. On the other hand,
a generation or two ago, olim had far less than I do, so I really don't have a lot to complain about.

And on the other hand, I am not unhappy here. Well...I have my moments, but mostly I am quite content just being in Israel. And I will learn how things work soon enough!