Page 90 - issue
P. 90
THE ©WWW Journey to Nof Tzion
BIGGEST
BARGAIN next door to Nachum’s sister! What drew them to Kochav Yaa-
IN TOWN kov, aside from having close family nearby, was the many Israe-
lis living there. It was important to them that their kids learn the
Jewish language and integrate. One thing that made their transition
Used Book easier was that they went from living in a single-family home in
Collection Baltimore to two-story house in the yishuv with beautiful front
and back yards.
at the
The community in Kochav Yaakov was welcoming, and, as is
Savings Center in many yishuvim, a committee that reaches out to new olim
supplied the Eilbergs with many needs. In their case, they need-
4003 Seven Mile Lane ed furniture and household goods. Although Nachum and Pni-
na had arranged for their lift to arrive a few days after they did,
STOCK UP ON SUMMER their belongings were unfortunately sent to Alexandria, Egypt,
READING for seven weeks, as the result of a port strike in Israel.
20 books for $10 Each family that makes aliyah and moves into Kochav Yaa-
only 50¢ a book kov is assigned an adoptive family. Since Nachum’s sister was
there, she was “appointed.” Much to Nachum and Pnina’s de-
(when you buy 20 books) light, a representative from the committee also accompanied
them to government offices, to set up their bank account and
kupat cholim (health insurance), and to the schools to register
their children.
The Eilberg’s landing occurred a week before a nephew’s bar
mitzva. Pnina says that having close family in Israel and sharing
in each other’s simchot, definitely eased their adjustment. In
fact, Nachum’s mother also decided to try life in Israel at that
time but moved back to the States a couple of years later. She
just returned this past March and is happily living in Beit Tovei
Ha’ir, an assisted-living center in an elegant former hotel build-
ing. In addition to a beautiful living space, the center’s location
in Geula affords Mrs. Eilberg the independence of ready access
to public transportation.
Since the Eilbergs arrived in the summer, they had a chance
to acclimate before school started. For the first several months
of the school year, Nachum and Pnina took the kids out of
school every so often to go on family trips and show them
around the country. The giant trampoline that they brought
with them helped to attract the neighborhood kids. It was also
nice that there were other English-speaking kids on their street
aside from their cousins.
uuu
When they made aliyah, Pesach was already learning in
the yeshiva Nahora, in Mevo Choron, near Modi’in. The three
younger children started school in Kochav Yaakov. By Chanu-
kah, everyone had made friends and was feeling more comfort-
able in the new environment. The only child who had a chal-
lenging transition was Chaim, who found it difficult to adapt
to the culture, especially since his teacher didn’t speak a word
of English.
Nachum had been a computer programmer in Baltimore,
and his plan was to transfer to the Israeli branch of the
company. However, he was told that he would have to im-
prove his Hebrew first. So he took a leave of absence and, with
82 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
BIGGEST
BARGAIN next door to Nachum’s sister! What drew them to Kochav Yaa-
IN TOWN kov, aside from having close family nearby, was the many Israe-
lis living there. It was important to them that their kids learn the
Jewish language and integrate. One thing that made their transition
Used Book easier was that they went from living in a single-family home in
Collection Baltimore to two-story house in the yishuv with beautiful front
and back yards.
at the
The community in Kochav Yaakov was welcoming, and, as is
Savings Center in many yishuvim, a committee that reaches out to new olim
supplied the Eilbergs with many needs. In their case, they need-
4003 Seven Mile Lane ed furniture and household goods. Although Nachum and Pni-
na had arranged for their lift to arrive a few days after they did,
STOCK UP ON SUMMER their belongings were unfortunately sent to Alexandria, Egypt,
READING for seven weeks, as the result of a port strike in Israel.
20 books for $10 Each family that makes aliyah and moves into Kochav Yaa-
only 50¢ a book kov is assigned an adoptive family. Since Nachum’s sister was
there, she was “appointed.” Much to Nachum and Pnina’s de-
(when you buy 20 books) light, a representative from the committee also accompanied
them to government offices, to set up their bank account and
kupat cholim (health insurance), and to the schools to register
their children.
The Eilberg’s landing occurred a week before a nephew’s bar
mitzva. Pnina says that having close family in Israel and sharing
in each other’s simchot, definitely eased their adjustment. In
fact, Nachum’s mother also decided to try life in Israel at that
time but moved back to the States a couple of years later. She
just returned this past March and is happily living in Beit Tovei
Ha’ir, an assisted-living center in an elegant former hotel build-
ing. In addition to a beautiful living space, the center’s location
in Geula affords Mrs. Eilberg the independence of ready access
to public transportation.
Since the Eilbergs arrived in the summer, they had a chance
to acclimate before school started. For the first several months
of the school year, Nachum and Pnina took the kids out of
school every so often to go on family trips and show them
around the country. The giant trampoline that they brought
with them helped to attract the neighborhood kids. It was also
nice that there were other English-speaking kids on their street
aside from their cousins.
uuu
When they made aliyah, Pesach was already learning in
the yeshiva Nahora, in Mevo Choron, near Modi’in. The three
younger children started school in Kochav Yaakov. By Chanu-
kah, everyone had made friends and was feeling more comfort-
able in the new environment. The only child who had a chal-
lenging transition was Chaim, who found it difficult to adapt
to the culture, especially since his teacher didn’t speak a word
of English.
Nachum had been a computer programmer in Baltimore,
and his plan was to transfer to the Israeli branch of the
company. However, he was told that he would have to im-
prove his Hebrew first. So he took a leave of absence and, with
82 u www.wherewhatwhen.com u
