It’s a subject that’s been hotly debated across the Jewish state of late, but these 20-somethings have a unique perspective: Until a month ago, they were American citizens and were living in New England.
In jeans, pajamas and T-shirts, some with yarmulkes, others without, several with their Hebrew homework on their laps – they had less than 24 hours to memorize a list of vocabulary for the next day.
These young adults insist their devotion to the Jewish state has been unshaken these last weeks. But they admit that, even in this protected Jerusalem setting with Hebrew lessons taking up most of their day, they can’t help but be aware of the war that’s rocked their new home.
“You can feel it in the background of everything here,” said Hadas Kroitoru, a recent Brandeis University graduate. “We’re a little isolated here in the ulpan, but still it feels tense.”
These 20-somethings, who are among the 110 new Israelis spending five months living in Ulpan Etzion Absorption Center for single young adults where they learn Hebrew, represent a strong core of new Israelis who come from New England – indeed, the Israel Aliyah Center in Boston helped more than 70 young adults from New England, ages 19 to 35, emigrate in the last year.
“With so many students there, Boston is a natural hub for young people looking to make Israel their home. It’s become a model,” said Tamar Meir Schneider, director of the North American Department for the Jewish Agency for Israel’s Aliyah Department.
According to recent immigrant David Appel: “You never see a news report saying it’s a good time to come to Israel.”
When Ronit Aram first arrived in Israel, she had to get over a few of her fears.
“When I took the bus for the first time after I got here, I looked at everyone suspiciously,” said Aram. “Now I get on and I’m not worried at all. You get used to it quickly.”
Indeed, realistic idealism may describe the prevailing attitude among these young adults. They know, for instance, that making a living can be more challenging in Israel than in the U.S., but they’re not overly worried.
“All my friends in the States are having the same ‘What will we do now?’ questions,” Kroitoru said. “I’m just having them here.”
Appel backed that viewpoint.
“The saying we heard is true,” said Appel. “Life in Israel is harder, but it’s better.”
And, since men under age 25 who move to Israel must serve in the army, each male in the room faces some military time. “That’s why I wanted to come before I turned 25,” Natan Kluger said with a grin. “I wanted to make sure I’d be able to serve.”
They also hope to lend their education and skills to both the country and the army, said Sam Korb, a recent Massachusetts Institute of Technology graduate with a master’s degree in engineering. Korb was instrumental in forming Hibur – the exchange program between MIT and the Technion in Haifa, in conjunction with Combined Jewish Philanthropies’ Boston-Haifa Connection. “Many of us are ready to put our backgrounds to work in ways that can be useful,” he said.
A nice perk: as Israeli citizens, they qualify for free graduate school.
Though they get worried calls and e-mails from their parents since the war began, most are supportive. “My mom calls all the time, but it seems to make her feel better to hear my voice,” said Aram.
In addition to these former New Englanders who’ve made the decision to become Israelis, Boston’s Israel Aliyah Center also works with young adults – undergraduates as well as those who have graduated from college – on a variety of programs that range from two to 10 months in length.
“Whether or not they move here, they will always be ambassadors for Israel,” said Schneider of the Jewish Agency’s Aliyah Department.
Korb speaks for many of the young adults who have committed their futures to the Jewish state at this intense time when he says with quiet certitude: “Given the current situation, there’s nowhere I’d rather be.”

© 2006 The Jewish Advocate. All rights reserved