Liane & Veronica, from the Israel Aliyah Center in Canada sent out the following letter asking the Canadians whom they helped immigrate to Israel how they were doing:

Shalom!

"Ma Yin-ya-nim"?
So, how is it to be in Israel?

We would love to hear from you, and to know if you are O.K. and how are things working for you. When you have a minute, please send us a short update and we will be happy to be in touch with you!
Thanks in advance and Happy Chanukah!!!

Yours,
Liane & Veronica
Israel Aliyah Center, Canada

Here are the letters new immigrants wrote back:

Thanx for asking me how it is being in Israel!!

I'm having a fabulous time here. I'm now in an Ulpan, Kita Gimel within a yeshiva. I live in a dormitory, and I love it a lot! It's in yeshivat Machon Meir. It's the perfect place for me. Majority of people here speak Hebrew and are Israeli.

So as a 22 year old man, this is a great place for a new immigrant. People come to yeshiva to work on themselves. So I don't have to deal with any rudeness, or tension. I'm making friends fast. I've made over a hundred friends and acquaintances easily (I'm outgoing), and even a nice handful of good friends that I see myself getting closer and closer for the years long ahead.

My Hebrew is flying due to my Hebrew environment. I even started personal training at my yeshiva for some pocket money, and it's going even more well than expected. My only challenges are really just the bureaucracy, and not understanding instructions fully. But thank God I'm almost done with all of the government paperwork.

I just have to get my driver's license, and deal with the education system, and of course the army. I know the bureaucracy will never end, but it will be a lot less now that I'm settled.  All in all, i'm the happiest I've ever been!

Thanks for caring to ask! Have a nice day!

Adam Ezekiel

Dear Liane and Veronica,

We can't quite believe that it's already been 5 months. Upon arrival we went directly to Ginot Shomron and after staying with my brother for about 10 days, moved into our own home down the street. Once the airconditioning was installed we were a lot happier. Our klita has not been too bad but there were a few bumps along the way. Our right to instant medical insurance was questioned because of our previous A1 status. We had to go to a friend at the Jewish Agency office in Jerusalem to get that straightened out. I also had to prove to the school that Elisheva was entitled to extra help as an olah chadasha by getting a summary of travel in/out of Israel from Misrad Hapanim.

But Rob and I are going to ulpan one morning a week and we used our rights to buy a car. Elisheva is doing wonderfully in Kita Tet in the Ulpana in Kedumim. She has a lot of friends, both from Ginot and the other yishuvim around. She is involved in Bnei Akivah and participated in the famous Daglanut ceremony this fall!

Our other two daughters (who haven't made aliyah yet) live in Bet Shemesh and we seem them regularly. One of the biggest changes for us is we are now a family of three. The other big change is that our oldest daughter is engaged and we are planning a wedding for May in Jerusalem. The other big change is that neither Rob or I are working yet. We are both looking, him more seriously then I at this point. From what I detect, it is not going to be easy for either of us to replace the jobs or salaries that we had, but we didn't really expect to. I am living a little too far from Jerusalem to travel each day - and that's where I've seen openings in my field. But we manage to keep busy and enjoy the time together.

We were welcomed to this community with open arms. It made our landing much softer! But we are frustrated by many of the systems here and by the lack of importance given to customer service. I wish we could help change/improve things here, but we haven't seen how to make a difference yet. People are not interested in how things are done in North America and after one's own struggle, you are tired and don't feel like putting in more time. So how does it ever change?

But we're happy. The weather is wonderful. We need to push ourselves to travel more - but that will come. It's only been 5 months!

If we can be of help to other families who are considering aliyah - please let us know. We haven't found the Nefesh B Nefesh office to be very helpful after we cleared our lift. They were not able to deal with a lot of our issues concerning the A1 status. But they did have free tickets to a Macabi Tel Aviv soccer game during Channuka and we went!

We are not happy with the building FREEZE in our neighbourhood and watch the on-going deterioration of talks across the board with great concern. It is so beautiful here and there really is room for everyone. But the road-side attacks have begun again and I can't see how that will help their side.

Well, that's our update. We are happy to keep in touch.

Julea (Leah) Gasner

Hey. things are going really well. My aliyah process went pretty smoothly and now I am settled in the holy land and have never felt better. I am doing Sherut Leumi at Shaare Tzedek hospital in Jerusalem in the department of dialysis. My number is 054-464-1188.
thanks!
Abi Baram

Things are great here in Israel.  I love it!. I am not working yet. I am still learning Hebrew. I am thinking about going to school, if I can find an English program. Thanks alot.
Here is a photo of me on Chanuka.

Best Regards,
Zehava K

Shalom
B"H we are doing fine here in Jerusalem. It feels a lot more like home here. We would like to thank you for all of your help while we were there. Our # here is 077-535-1426
Botton Family

Thank you for the friendly greeting.
Life is great in Israel...of course!
I'm just wondering how to get a teudat maavar so I can visit my family for Pesach.
The thing is it's not so simple. My father booked the flight with my Canadian passport under my Canadian name (Eric) and I need my Israeli documents to leave the country (which has the name Avichail on it).
How can I pull this one off?
 
Have a great Chanukah!
Avichail

Shalom Veronica & Liane,
Thanks very much for checking in with me, everything is going quite well. I am currently in Toronto for a month long visit with family and friends! I am flying back to Haifa on January 4th.
In Haifa I am working for an ecommerce company in English, I did the 5 month ulpan which was good, I am far from being fluent in Hebrew, but have come a long way from 8 months ago. I am going to start volunteering for an organization called Shabati Levy and shadowing a social worker in order to get experience and try to improve my Hebrew in the field I want to work in.
I live with my boyfriend, he is being released from the army at the end of January and then will start studying. I am really happy and just hope that the Hebrew will steadily improve!
Thanks for everything, please be in touch if there is anything that you want me to do in terms of letter writing or speaking with potential olim.
Toda raba, chag sameach!!
Elisabeth

Annie malka
Supervisor aircraft and engine

Shalom Liane and Veronica,
We are doing well, B”H.
Sarah is enjoying ulpan and the kids are in gan. They are not yet speaking Hebrew but they are understanding more and more each day. Re’uel breaks out into song (Adon Olam) every now and then. It’s great. I’ve started working calling North America to sell a niche software application. There are also some environmental things I may be involved in here in Israel.
I have met with lots of people, including ones via yourselves. Awaiting when something will materialize with the many hundreds of contacts that I have made so far.
I have been to a number of conferences. Most people comment on how good my Hebrew is.
Shai

All is well with me. I am living happily on kubbutz Ein Hashofet. I Spent the last few months in the garin tzabar program to which i am still in. Half of my garin has already started the army. I start in 2 weeks with 6 other members as we will be going to michve alon for 2 months to go to the army ulpan. I am not sure were i will be serving yet but i hope to pass the next tzanchaneem gibbush.

Prior to living on the kibbutz where I went to Ulpan Gordon for about to months in Tel Aviv. At this point my Hebrew is basic conversational though I’m sure a few months in the army will get it to a much higher level. I can also say that i think i have met more people from all over the world living on this kibbutz than i have anywhere else i have lived previously. I am sure living the kibbutz and being in the army will expand my sphere of friends globally which will most likely be for the good.

Hope to here from you again,
Jonathan Fader

Making aliyah was best decision I ever made.
The fact that I ran my blog Israpundit had a lot to do with it because I knew so many people and they knew me as a result.  I hit the ground running ... and am still running.
Struggling to learn Hebrew at my age. Thanks for your assistance along the way.
Ted Belman
Israpundit.com

 Israel is great!!!!!.

The kids made a ton of friends ..And my wife and I are thinking what took us so long to get here.

No question their have been view bumps along the way but other than that ...its all great!

Please if you have any Families that are thinking about moving here and have any questions or concerns.. please feel free to give them my contact info .

Again thank you for all your help
Elie Mamann

B"H we are doing fine here in Jerusalem. It feels a lot more like home here. We would like to thank you for all of your help while we were there.
Botton Family

Thanks so much for your email!
 
I am doing great. I go to the Michlala College in Jerusalem and live on campus. My Hebrew gets better every day (I hope).
Thanks for all you help in getting here - have a great Chanuka!
Erin

Shalom Leanne and Veronica!
Happy Chanukah to you too!
So far so good. I am just getting settled and doing all the necessary things before I begin Ulpan. I opened up a bank account and got a cell phone today.
The only thing I am struggling with is my Hebrew, but after Ulpan I should be good to go. I'm looking forward to learning Hebrew and getting integrated into Israeli society.
Overall, I love this place and have no complaints. You both should get back soon.
Thanks for keeping in touch,
All the best,
Avi

Hello,
Thank you so much for your e-mail. How are you? I am great, thank G-d. I started learning here in Israel. I am learning Photography. Thanks for the Aliyah and for Nefesh Bnefesh, I was able to put my dream forth and learn and live where I like.

Just recently, I got my Nefesh Benefesh  grant. I took me a while because it was hard for me to get Ptor from the Army.

Now everything turned  out right and slowly life is starting to take shape...
I live in a small Moshav next to Beit Shemesh. I like it a lot and it a little bit reminds me of Toronto; but there is nothing to get confused about. There is NO place like Israel.
Thank you again for everything
Achinoam

Baruch Hashem, everything is great. We both found work, the kids are in school with their friends and we get to see the family all the time. Not to mention that it is not snowing here.
Salomon Beldeb