יום חמישי, 25 ביולי 2013

The Aliyah Files




Welcome to our blog cataloguing the adventure that is Zak, Miri and Ashira’s aliyah. We will each do some of the writing (10 month old Ashira’s contributions will be slightly shorter!) and hopefully it may entertain and inform as we go.

Nine months after telling work that we were leaving, the aliyah process is well underway. As we stumble, trip and stagger through the process of leaving, arriving and eventually settling we’ll keep track of our progress right here.

You might have heard that there’s some striking going on at the Foreign Ministry meaning that there are no visas to be had. It’s nail-biting stuff but eventually we have our flights booked and we will be on our way visa-less British passports in hand.

As we sat worrying about when our shipment might go, when we could book flights, when to go and buy all the things we need from John Lewis we couldn’t help but feel a little bit self involved.

As good Brits the obvious thing seemed to be to write a stern but polite letter of complaint to somebody. As the draft took shape in my mind it struck me that my letter would have to be addressed to the most senior person I could think of. Having been dealing with the Jewish Agency for Israel throughout the process, the chariman was the obvious address.

A series of complaints found their way onto the page, and eventually the recipient’s name needed inserting at the top. Discovering that Natan Sharansky was to receive my moan put things into a sudden and very sharp perspective and the letter promptly found its way to the bin.

In a generation when we’re worrying about which kettle to bring to Israel it is somewhat refreshing to be slightly inconvenienced.

 I’m sure that the good natured idealism will be short lived but let’s hope that it sees us on to the ground in Tel Aviv.

In any event it seems that whilst the consulate might have put down their pens (or rubber stamps) ElAl are still taking bookings and a few forms later we are one step closer to making it happen.

Onwards and upwards!


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