Walking the Beat with North American Aliyah Emissaries

Although a few die hards may suffer yearnings for an old Israel of scarce telephones, poor roads and tangled bureaucracy, most Israelis will concur that the extensive telecommunications networks, the new airport, bus stations and computer access to government offices come at a very low cost.

Just as the quaint inconveniences of the past are becoming history, so are the emissaries’ tedious and time-consuming tasks of processing papers for immigrants and program participants. Tamar Meir-Schneider, a dynamic former aliyah emissary to Boston and head of the Immigration and Absorption Department’s North American Desk, claims that modern technology and increased professionalism are the factors which can largely account for the increase in aliyah from North America in 2006 — 3,201 immigrants, the most in twenty years. “A strategic decision of the Jewish Agency restructured the role of the aliyah emissaries, enabling them to devote more quality time to developing creative work plans, interviewing candidates and bringing the message of Israel and aliyah to the community. That move went hand in hand with the growing technological capabilities of the Global Center, which has anchored the breakthrough in streamlining the emissaries’ work and helped us to focus on target audiences.”

“How can I be of assistance?”

Boaz Yardeni, a former aliyah emissary to London, and the Director of the Global Center, is a busy man. His growing staff handles 2,500 referrals per week and a database of 120,000. Within a little over a year, the Global Center has become the nerve center for Jewish Agency outreach. “We are here to provide services: to individuals interested in Israel, to program returnees, to potential immigrants, to future immigrants and to our emissaries in the field. We are here to save the emissaries not only the time-consuming work of filing forms, but to be the ultimate aliyah resource. We have experts in Israel opportunities, as well as experts in housing, education and employment who can counsel potential immigrants moving to any part of the country. In the past, paperwork could confine emissaries to their desks. Now, we say to them, ‘we’ll take care of it.’ You go out and meet the community.”

Boaz explains, “For instance, an Israel Programs Fair was recently held in Manhattan. Our emissaries are well-instructed on how to register the participants, and the 2,500 participants have already been processed in the Global Center database. The emissaries can request directed mailings or notices on follow-up programs to all or any part of that database. And it is all handled from Israel.”

Circuit Emissaries With Frequent Flyer Miles

The aliyah emissaries in North America might cover huge swaths of area. However, by utilizing technology and maximizing professionalism, they can accomplish more than ever before. Wendy Keter, a veteran Jewish Agency professional, is completing her third year as an aliyah emissary in Chicago. “My base is Chicago,” Wendy laughs, “but my role is like that of a frequent flying circuit rabbi.” Her purview is larger than the Louisiana Purchase — from Arkansas and Texas through to Minnesota and the Dakotas, an area that is home to over three-quarters of a million Jews. Wendy, having made aliyah on her own at the age of 18 is a model of successful aliyah and absorption. Her work ranges from speaking at student functions to coaching soon-to-be olim with aliyah workshops. “I empower them with information, resources and coping tools for successful aliyah.”

Tova Grushko in Boston, Wendy Keter in Chicago and Tamar Meir-Schneider in Israel put thought, experience and empathy into their work with immigrants and aliyah promotion.

Wendy was one of the first emissaries to provide a comprehensive work plan which included staff and volunteer functions, working partners (organizational and individual), association with other types of emissaries, creative programming and short and long-term goals. She uses available resources to the fullest. “I have to emphasize the wonderful cooperation of the Chicago Jewish Federation which staunchly supports aliyah,” says Wendy. “They believe, and rightfully so, that aliyah strengthens the local community. The community shlichim are my arms and legs, glad to learn and cooperate fully. From Israel, the Global Center provides me with fantastic logistical services. In addition to maintaining a database and providing direct mailings, the Center notifies me of relevant visiting Israelis whom I can use for speaking engagements anywhere from Baton Rouge to Minneapolis.”

A Direct Aim at the Target

Although Wendy has interviewed and assisted hundreds of single immigrants and young families, she sees a window of opportunity to peak the interest of more mature Jewish Americans in aliyah. In a detailed proposal, Wendy breaks down the 50+ sector and outlines where and how Israel can be an viable and attractive option for them.

Wendy’s enthusiastic colleague in Boston, Tova Grushko, has also been embarking on innovative programs for various focus groups. Tova, born in St. Petersburg, made aliyah by herself after attending the Jewish Agency’s first Na’aleh program for high school students from the FSU. One of the youngest aliyah emissaries in a city teeming with college students, Tova feels very in touch with the pulse of her constituency. She emphasizes the importance of initial Israel exposure and the spiral of aliyah. “We begin with getting out onto campuses and marketing Israel programs. Once young people show an interest in Israel, they look for encouragement; they want to know there are others like them. So we organize events bringing together potential program participants, program returnees and potential immigrants.” In addition to the constant support of the Desk in Israel and the Global Center, it goes without saying that we all work closely with campus activists, the Hillels and the Jewish Federations. We have opened ulpanim in Boston and have tried to make the connection to Israel a natural one for as many people as possible.”

One of Tova’s trump cards is her common language with the many young Russian-speaking Jews in the Boston area. “We now have a group of between 30-40 young Russian-speakers which meets regularly. Not only can I speak to them about Israel, but I can share with them the experience of coming to Israel as a young person by myself.”

A Recipe for Absorption

Yoram Black, the aliyah emissary in Los Angeles, has created a niche by attracting some of the thousands of children of Israelis living in Southern California. Garin Tzabar, a pre-army framework for Hebrew speakers from abroad, has doubled in size under Yoram’s tutelage. Using his background in marketing, Yoram went directly to the Israeli press and the Israeli organizations on the West Coast to reach the Israelis. “The advantages of young Israelis returning is that they usually come with Hebrew and have relatives in Israel. That, combined with the melting pot of the army, is a good recipe for successful absorption.”

Yoram continues, “My time is my greatest resource, and the Global Center has allowed me to take full advantage of it. When I go to Phoenix, for instance, I apprise the Global Center of my schedule—they then notify all relevant aliyah candidates or program participants of meetings, workshops or interviews, send them reminders, and give them basic information. I know when I arrive that all the organizational details have been taken care of and my job of promoting Israel can begin in earnest.”

	A newly inducted Daniel Nahum, with his mother, Paloosa, who visits him in Israel as often as possible. Daniel Nahum was born in Bogota, Columbia and later moved to Miami with his family. With an Israeli father and a Columbian mother, Spanish, English and Hebrew were spoken freely at home. Inculcated with a strong sense of family and Jewish identity, Daniel decided to make aliyah; and last summer he joined Garin Tzabar with other children of Israelis. He is a few months into his three year service in the paratroopers. Anna Polishchuk enjoying a large capuccino in one of her favorite Jerusalem cafes. Born in Kiev, Anna immigrated to the US in 1989. After completing her degree from the Art Institute of Chicago, Anna came to Israel with Birthright. Going back and forth to Israel while working with emissary Wendy Keter in the Chicago Aliyah Center, Anna finally made aliyah in the summer of 2006. She works as program director of the Merkaz Hamagshimim, an immigrant community center in Jerusalem. Her most immediate plans are to marry Patricio, an immigrant from Argentina, and to find a place of their own in Jerusalem. Abby Bob and Sherie Rosenberg outside their Chicago-Federation home in Kiryat Gat where they are volunteering under the auspices of the Otzma program. Sherie, a native of New Jersey, graduated from Ohio State and is a participant in the Otzma program with the Columbus Jewish Federation. With a major in women’s studies and a minor in education, her future plans are open-ended, but they may well include work with the Jewish community in the US. Abby, a Chicago native and a graduate of Wellesly College, plans to stay in Israel and make a go of it.