Bold mine. Note separate NBN Stats show 94% have jobs within one year.

http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/Flash.aspx/133773

N. American Immigrants worth $200,000 Each to Economy

(IsraelNN.com) Immigrants from North America are worth $200,000 each to the Israeli economy, according to a government study on the economic impact of Aliyah (moving to Israel). The estimate is based on education, professional experience and personal assets. It noted that 90 percent of new North American immigrants find employment in Israel within one year.

The Cabinet this week approved supporting Nefesh B'Nefesh (NBN) and the French immigration agency by granting them $1,000 for each new immigrant. Until recently, the support was given on a trial basis. Immigration from North America has grown 80 percent since NBN began operating five years ago.

Also see the report in globes: http://globes-online.com/serveen/globes/do...993&fid=942

Could it be that most of the people that come already have jobs lined up and that many people are searching before making such a drastic move and are unable to find anything, so they stay in America?

Just throwing that out there.

Could be. But as someone who made Aliyah I know most Israel companies won't hire you or even give you an interview unless they know you are already living here.

Only an idiot would move somewhere without a job lined up. Especially if they have a family.
Looks like they don't want really Americans to move there.

Only an idiot employer would hire someone without any sort of interview.

Most people have money saved up when they make the move. The more money the more time you could spend looking for a job. A year's worth is the safest bet. But like glockenspiel says who would want to hire somebody that could only start in 6 months - after they finally make the move? And there are many things that could go wrong. How do they know you really will make the move? Most companies that hire you want you to start tomorrow or in two weeks.

So yes. You need a bit of bitachon to make Aliyah. (As you need to live here - what kind of an idiot wouldn't plant crops every seven years?)

So you are saying andI think everyone else agrees, that it is only feasible for rich Americans to move to Israel. I don't know many people under the age of 50 who have a year's worth of salary saved up.
There's a difference between having a "bit of bitachon" and putting your family at risk.
Do you agree that only with families with a years worth of savings should make the move?

Psychodad, I think you're making a very good point.

What are you talking about? Many people under the age of 50 own houses. And they are worth much more than the cost of a house in many popular communities that Americans come too (Modiin, RBS, etc.). The difference is way more than enough.

Ok, out of curiosity, how much would it cost to purchase a house in one of those communities? Say a basic 3 bedroom house.

Oh, and another thing to remember. The cost of living for a year in Israel is A LOT less than the cost of living for a year in America. So yes, there are some people that are not in a good financial position for Aliyah but there are many that are and it's not as hard a position to get into as you might think. There are MANY Aliyah financial advisers out there and yes, I agree it would be irresponsible not to talk with one before making Aliyah. But the fact remains most people come without having something concrete lined up - but that doesn't make the reckless or irresponsible at all if they did their homework first.

If they come without something concrete lined up how are they not being irresponsible and putting their family at risk?
Please explain.

Here's a FOUR bedroom fully detached house asking $400k in Modiin.
http://www.homesonsale.co.uk/buchman_modii...-o43442-en.html

My aunt and uncle just sold their attached 20ftr 3 bedroom house in Queens for $600k.Plus many people won't move straight to a house. They will move to an apt first. Yes, it's a sacrifice. And a 3 bedroom apt would go for 100 - 200K.



Because if they did it right they will have a plan and money saved up and 90 percent find work in the first year.

So you are saying that New Yorkers should move to Israel? because to sell your 3 bedroom house in Baltimore, you might get 300,000 if it's in great condition.In the midwest, you might be able to sell your house for 200,000.Most people have mortgages on their houses and would only net the difference minus and sales commissions and what not. I guarantee you that more often than not, if you have a family of 4, that won't cover your living expenses for a year.Assuming the 90% figure is correct, would you take a 10% chance of putting your family on the street so you can move to Israel?

Just to add, I think the main flaw in this study that you have not considered is the fact that many of these jobs that Americans take are likely out of desperation.
If someone came from the U.S. giving up his job as a Lawyer and after 9 months of searching desperately settles for a job as a waiter at Bonkers Bagels, they would be part of your 90% who found a job.

You have to remember you don't have to pay $25,000 tuition a year. And food is cheaper. As are lots of things. If you're just playing devils advocate here I can tell you that there is a responsible way to make Aliyah. The exact details will be different for everybody. And if after you do the math and despite all the sacrifices you make you still will not have enough to live for a year on then you should wait till you do save up enough. Certainly.

Here's a link to more information about this http://www.nbn.org.il/employment/employment_search.htm
There are also resources for financial planning. Many people have claimed they are financially better off in Israel. I can't vouch for that one way or the other since I never supported a family in either place. As a single it's certainly better here financially.



True. But why would a waiter at Bonkers Bagels be worth $200,000 to Israel?

Ok, I think that's fair.
I still think the study lacks merit for the reason I posted in post #15.

They always come out with studies stating how much x activity is worth to the econcomy. Those studies are never even close to accurate.

You mean I'm not worth $200,000!

It really depends on the person and their skills. Someone who is making a nice living as a teacher or a rabbi in the USA may be risking starvation in Israel. Someone who is a trained engineer or scientist, especially if they have a better than average resume, is risking far less. If you think about it, Pinchas, someone with a low paying job here is not going to be worth $200,000 to the economy, which implies that the people who are going are those who have skills that are in demand.

There are no guarantees - I know skilled olim who have trouble making ends meet, and I also know a few olim who seem to be doing fine despite having no obviously marketable skills (I really have no clue how they do it). But although I mostly agree with psychodad, I take a much less fatalistic view of this: perhaps for a 40 year old with several kids and an established career, aliyah is a dangerous financial move, but for someone in college or in their early twenties, this just means that if you want to make aliya it would be wise to choose a career that can be transferred. If you lock yourself into a career that only exists in NYC, that's a mistake you are going to have to live with. And in most cases, a 40 year old with kids has no business making aliya - you can't take kids between the age of 5 to 6 and college and dump them into a different culture and language. It's cruel, whatever the religious motivations. The way I see it, you can either make aliyah with your kids before the oldest is 5 or 6, or you can make aliyah without them once the youngest is out of the house, but anything else is a really bad idea. The financial issues just strengthen my argument.

You can find out. http://www.humanforsale.com

I agree with you. The cutoff is first grade till after high school. Going with kids in between that is asking for trouble. Coming with high school aged teenagers could be a disaster for them.

The vast majority of families that come are usually coming with very young children and the parents are usually in their high twenties to mid thirties. But there are plenty of exceptions.

That said Olim come from just about EVERY occupation you can think of. Many teachers and Rabbis come without starving like you claim. On the other hand you CAN have engineers and scientists that just can't find jobs and become painters.

The bottom line is no one makes Aliyah to become rich. Period. People come to raise their children somewhere where they can feel a real connection with the land. Here, people don't go to work so have can have a career - they go to work so they can have a life. And B"H American Olim in general are able to support thier families. There is a 99% retention rate with NBN olim - which means almost nobody that comes to Israel moves away within the first 3 years.

Not true at all.
It's feasible for non-rich Americans to move there, just as non-rich Russians, Ethiopians, et al move there.
Lots of people - including families - from all over the world, who are not rich, move to Israel without jobs lined up in advance.

Absolutely not true.
Rent is slightly less, depending on where you are comparing in America.
Buying a home or apartment is not necessarily less, also depending on where.
Food is the same, transportation (buses) is about the same. Buying a car is much more, paying for gas is exorbitant in Israel! (more than twice as much). Many things are more expensive (i.e., electricity in winter - for electric heaters), clothing can be more, other "luxuries", etc.

Food is NOT cheaper in Israel.
Food in the grocery store is about the same. Eating out is quite a bit more (a salad (just a salad!) will run you the equivalent of $10 in an Israeli restaurant.
And remember salaries in Israel are only 30-50% of salaries in America.

How is it possibly better "as a single" in Israel financially?

Food most certainly IS cheaper in Israel.
I was just in NY and was shocked at the prices.....

Food prices vary in New York. It depends where you shop.
If you shop at a fancy supermarket in Manhattan, yes, maybe it's a bit cheaper in Israel.
But I live in Brooklyn, buy kosher food, and was in Israel in May (Jerusalem and Tel Aviv).
Comparing, I would not say it's cheaper in Israel (unless you shop only at the shuk).
Fruits and vegetables are cheaper in Israel. But everything else is the same or more expensive in Israel.

Are you kidding me!?

Dates in NY that would cost me $87 cost me 87NIS in Yerushalayim!

And if you shop in the right places it's MUCH cheaper.

My rent (even in a hot area like Rechavia) is 30% of what I would pay in the UWS.

I have to agree with Pinchas here.

I NEVER shop in the shuk (I don't like having to fight for my dinner), and still if my supermarket bill hits $150 here it is SHOCKING and enough to pack the house with food.
In America that barely gets you anything, and I don't shop in specialty Manhattan stores either, but in regular supermarket chains and I am not makpid on "heimeshe" hechsherim for most things.

Sure there are things that are more expensive here, but food, rent, and normal living expenses aren't on the list...

Supersol Deal on Pierre Koenig remains the cheapest (even cheaper than the shuk) for just about everything... even cheaper than Rami Levi which is for some reason still believed to be the cheapest by most people....