Over the past 16+ years in the shipping business, I’ve noticed two distinctly different motivations among those moving to Israel — the oleh hadash and the toshav hozer (returning Israeli).
The oleh hadash often has a nearly romantic outlook, like someone running through the fields to their beloved. They have dreamy eyes and a burning heart to live their dream in Israel. It’s fun to hear their stories and amazing to see the material lives they are leaving behind for their new home — sweet Israel.
The oleh hadash runs to Israel. They’re gonna live the dream!
On the other hand, the toshav hozer has had enough of life in chutz l’aretz.
Very often, they left Israel young, unmarried, and with plans to go to the U.S. for a year or two. Then life happens. They get married, have children, become successful in business, or some combination thereof. Whatever it is, they get stuck and rooted in the American lifestyle.
Ten, fifteen, or twenty years later, something inside them shakes them up. Maybe it’s the undesirable prospect of raising children in Los Angeles, political shifts in New York, or an alarming change in the cultural vibe, like antisemitism, and they need to get back to Israel — ASAP. The sense of urgency is unmistakable.
The toshav hozer runs away from life in chul. They’re escaping the nightmare!
Some run toward Israel, others run away from life in chul. But the destination is the same. Israel remains the home of the Jewish heart.
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