What is it like to become Israeli? These bloggers tell all

Say what you will about Jews and opinions – in the case of Sunday night’s roomful of bloggers-slash-immigrants at Jerusalem’s Nocturno Cafe, it’s probably true.

As wait staff awkwardly balanced their drink trays while squeezing between the tightly-packed tables, a panel of six all-star writers, comedians and new Israeli immigrants bantered in front of a sold-out audience about their motivation for making aliyah — as well as some of the challenges they face in their new home.

The panel was moderated by The Times of Israel’s own Sarah Tuttle Singer, and included notables Yossi Klein Halevi, Benji Lovitt, Chaya Lester, Hillary Faverman, and Akiva Gersh.

The narratives were as diverse as the panelists and represented a healthy cross section of North American Jewish Diaspora life. But though the stories were variegated, they converged – as per the theme of the evening – with the sort of idealism that inspires someone to uproot themselves and ship off to the other side of the world to play their part in this century’s great Jewish project.

The event, a part of The Times of Israel Presents series and held in association with Nefesh B’Nefesh, celebrated the launch of a new book, “Becoming Israeli.” It is a compilation of 40 voices which aims to “give an inside look into the never ending joys and challenges, inspirations and frustrations that we have experienced along our journeys of aliyah,” according to Gersh, who edited the volume.

These voices ranged from the sacred to the mundane (as things so often do in the Holy Land) – or covered both at once.

“There’s this place called the Kotel – there’s this wall, and we talk to it,” said Lester, getting a big laugh. “And I love it. I love it. I don’t know what to tell you guys, but the minute you set foot on that polished stone, you can just slide across it – and I have slid across it – just all the way down to those white stones, and then I just cry my heart out.”

Most of the panelists agreed that Israel can be a perpetual source of exhaustion. Linguistic struggles topped the list of challenges, and Faverman’s story of having her nine year old translate her WhatsApp messages really seemed to resonate.

And, in a sign that they might be assimilating more than they thought, the question and answer session with the audience of mostly North American immigrants produced few actual queries — but more than a fair share of statements and opinions.

Still, with all that becoming Israeli entails, the panelists agreed that living in Israel was a spiritual and emotional respite.

“After 2,000 years of exile, it’s like, just get here,” said Gersh to the understanding crowd. “Just put your hand across the finish line and you’re here, you’re home.

“It doesn’t matter what else happens – it doesn’t matter if you speak Hebrew, doesn’t matter if you make it or not, doesn’t matter if you’re Israeli or not,” said Gersh. “You’re just here, your kids will take it from here. Just get here, have kids, and your kids will do what they know to do, that we will never know.”

Cue the applause.

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