(Courtesy of Olim Paveway) “Make for yourself a rav.” Probably the best piece of practical advice you can follow as an oleh or olah comes from Pirkei Avot. It’s here that we find the following statement by Rabbi Yehoshua ben Perahiah: “Make for yourself a rav and acquire for yourself a companion.” (Avot 1:6) “Rav” means teacher — in this case, a guide or sherpa who can help you shoulder the burden as you ascend from being a Diaspora Jew to an Israeli resident. (“Aliyah” is ascent, right?) There are many tasks to complete and stumbling blocks you will face as you make that ascent. You need a seasoned guide to show you the ropes (and the ropes to skip, too).
In other words, get a good mentor.
A good mentor can be the difference between getting lost in the system and finding your place in this sometimes chaotic but always inspiring country. A good mentor is a cheerleader and guide, and sometimes even a lifeline. So what does it take to be a top-notch mentor for someone starting their Israeli adventure? Let’s break it down.
Experience
First and foremost, your mentor needs to have walked the walk. They should be someone who’s been through the aliyah process themselves recently enough to remember what it’s really like. They’ve dealt with bureaucracy, figured out how to navigate the health system and found their groove in a new culture. This kind of lived experience is pure gold because they can spot the challenges you’re about to face before you even know they’re coming.
A Deep Understanding of the System
Israel is unique in so many ways and it takes someone with a solid understanding of its ins and outs to be a real help. Your mentor should know how to get your documents in order, where to find the best ulpan, how to book a train ticket, or even which brand of Israeli tuna is closest to your favorite brand (spoiler alert: none of them!). They don’t have to have all the answers, but they should know where to find them.
Your Personal Rolodex
Settling in is about who you know. A well-connected mentor can introduce you to job opportunities, community groups and even a good mechanic or hairdresser. Their network becomes your network and that’s an invaluable jumpstart to building your own life in Israel.
Availability and Patience
A good mentor is there for you consistently. They should have the time and willingness to answer your questions, no matter how small, and walk you through the things you’re struggling with. Patience is key because let’s face it, there’s a learning curve to Israeli life and it’s not always smooth. A good mentor truly gets it: the excitement, the fear, the homesickness and the triumphs. They’re empathetic but also positive, ready to remind you why you made this leap and what an incredible opportunity it is.
“And Acquire for Yourself a Companion”
Rabbi Yehoshua’s advice is usually understood as urging us to get both a mentor and a companion. However, I understand it as a process, namely that a good rav enables us to become independent. This is the most important quality of a mentor: their ability to help you stand on your own two feet. A good mentor will help you take on new challenges and show you how to advocate for yourself in a culture that prizes chutzpah. Find the mentor who can be your rav, who can model what a successful oleh or olah is. Internalize what you learn so you can become their companion and pass the experience on to the next generation of olim.
Olim Paveway’s seasoned personal guides have gone through the aliyah process themselves and they truly “get” what the journey means for new and not so new olim. They are trained to take you by the hand and become your companion, helping you build a new life in your new home.
B’Hatzlacha!
Olim Paveway’s Olim Toolbox is a regular series offering timely tips for anyone moving to Israel and can show you how to integrate successfully into Israel living. Join our live Zoom chats, Sundays at 2 p.m., at tinyurl.com/2xkewrd4 and Paveway’s Olim Toolbox WhatsApp at chat.whatsapp.com/Ic8dNfdNlspGAPtmcCKtbf. If you have a question or suggestion for a topic, please write to [email protected].
