Aliyah: The educational opportunity of moving to Israel - opinion

• Published date: 13 October 2021
• Author: KENNETH BRANDER
• Publication title: Jerusalem Post, The: Web Edition Articles (Israel)

Particularly in the 21st century, when various factors have made nations wary of overly promoting immigration, the fact that we continue to make aliyah a central hallmark of our national identity – with NGOs like Nefesh B'Nefesh, the Jewish Agency and an official ministry focused on absorption – deserves to be a source of incredible pride for the people of Israel.

One particular area where aliyah contributes a constant and positive influence on daily life is in education. The presence of young olim in the classroom provides students with a very real and relatable teaching lesson of modern-day Zionism. The majority of olim today, and in particular those coming from North America and most parts of Europe, are attracted to Israel by what is conventionally known as "aliyah by choice."

For the most part, we (and I am deeply proud to speak from personal experience), were not motivated by antisemitism or because we were not able to make a living in whatever country from where we originated. Our desire to make Israel our home came from the passionate belief that this is the best place to live as Jews. It comes from the appreciation that after centuries of living in exile, being given the chance to come home to a Jewish state is an opportunity that could not be ignored.

When we can bring that lesson into the classroom, students are able to appreciate that Zionism is not a movement of the past but remains a critical part of making Israel what it is today.

Exposure to Jews who have recently arrived from the Diaspora also offers a lens into the diversity of the modern Jewish people. We arrive with different backgrounds that help contribute to diverse perspectives on all sorts of issues. It allows for enlightened conversations and respectful debate on how we perceive modern-day challenges and opportunities. Exposure to that global diversity provides a critical lesson that even as we are one people with one heart, unity does not require uniformity. We can think and act differently, and must still be able to love and respect our fellow Jews.

As a relatively recent oleh from the United States, I am sometimes asked where is the better Jewish education system? I admit that while I fully believe that Israel is the ideal place to raise and educate a Jewish child, this is not a simple question. Here...