ALIYAH EXPECTATION HANGOVER - II

ITS EFFECT ON EDUCATION

"My Patience is running thin" would be an expression for any Bnei Menashe for those who could not even manifest the syndrome they suffer. Its a kind of social depression, silent, masked and embedded in everyone's mind, more prevalent than we would like to acknowledge and on the rise. These syndrome is what I called "Aliyah Expectation Hangover". Any Bnei Menashe, who are converted to Judaism are directly sensitive to this labelled syndrome - is pushing them into a web of despair like any other.

An since we are accustomed to acknowledging and talking about our feelings, the condition is mistakenly branded as Hungry-for-economic-prosperity by some. I think its time for Bnei Menashe to work harder to prove ourselves worthy of Aliyah, rather than speculating the time for aliyah.  Assumption of time for aliyah brings us the feeling of hopelessness with endless cycle. The brain is stretch trying to comprehend this Aliyah expectation reality, finally the mind goes haywire. We are unable to adapt to the dictate of our own mind and descend into the feeling of hopelessness. 

Recent news on Jewsidea.com reports on Israeli Government trying to give way to 7000 strong Bnei Menashe Jews to return. Shavei Israel Orgn Chairman Michael Freund was asked to testified on behalf of Bnei Menashe which he confirmed. Its a great accomplishment from Shavei Israel. This provides us a better insight that we are heading towards our goal. This news also brought a sight of relief to our Aliyah expectation hangover. It became the talk of the town and will never fade. 

During the past years false and unofficial speculation for the time of aliyah used to arise periodically, which instill hopes in all, but when that assumption fails, it leads one to live on the edge of emotional slump Attachment of Bnei Menashe with the land of Israel in their heart is so great that many people cling to any aliyah information given, be it true or false. So the topic of aliyah is rather sensitive. This syndrome affects Bnei Menashe school going children most.

As world gets increasingly urbanized we must consider the need for urgent action on issue related to rising problem faced by Bnei Menashe youngsters in the field of education, which caused can be traced back to Aliyah Expectation. Student studying their high school or college must not be hindered by the growing concerned of aliyah. Israel is our spiritual goal, but Israel is a physical world too, where every individual strive to get the best benefit their education can provide them of, a country where science and technology are the backbones of life. 

We the youngster are by far more educated than we would like to acknowledge, the problem is that we have no guts to prove what we are. We are fast learner and creative people, why waste time to ponder over that things that hangs on expectations. I don't meant to eliminate the subject of being a Jews but I am just trying to make a strong case for the need for immediate measure to counter this growing issue related to education amongst Bnei Menashe. 

Too many of us risk our life giving up education for want of Aliyah-which requires us to mingled within communities, we must not underestimate the role that we can play as a citizen of Israel with high educational background. Aliyah will be there sooner or later, No one has the right to denied our rights to go to Israel without our consent. However, your age and time is important to all Bnei Menashe. 

We don't have to waste the time we have to learn and study.  Its our spiritual goal to live in Israel, morally its the right path, it will be better if we immigrate along with higher educational background . All youngsters of Bnei Menashe in India and Israel need to know how to balance the difference between the two. I am writing all these as (I hate to admit that) I am one of the victim among many. 

Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.  ~John Dewey

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UNTIL ALIYAH DO US APART

How I Became A Big Fan of Aliyah

There are good days and there are bad days in life, and this is one of them. They said, I will go to Israel when I got my passport. I got my first passport at the age of 17 and was young then. They said we will make aliyah in the next 2-3 years. I did not feel any remorse when I was left behind the following year. Those were days when Bnei Menashe youngsters are given priority, that too with limited seat. Moreover I was still young in Judaism, nevertheless, our family start practicing  Orthodox Judaism when I was a kid.

Hope against Hope is the fate of me and many others.Youngsters and not-so-youngsters began making aliyah in the next 2-3 years. I remain calm as usual even when we were left behind for the second, third, fourth and so on. As year passed, I came to realized that my 10 years old passport validity expired. Ten years has elapsed!!. I asked myself, am I too old to make aliyah? when will I go to Israel now without any valid passport?  I really feel loss at that moment. I had to renew my passport which in India takes a never ending list of documents, time and money. I however manage to have it renewed after reasonable period of time, which drew hole in my pocket.

Whenever anyone has to make aliyah, everyone had to take the pain to go and bid him farewell. That is not enough, almost everyone has to take a trip to the airport to shed some tears of separation. We don't know when will the next aliyah be. We were families, friends and love each other dearly until aliyah do us apart and till we meet again. In the end, this became a custom we are accustomed in.

Now policy changes in accordance with time. No youngsters would be allow for aliyah without families. I know the reason why and everyone knows it. The new policy is good, but I became the innocent victim who suffered. For nearly a decade there were not official aliyah, however those families who has relatives in Israel made aliyah in private. Until finally, in 2007 August, with the help of Shavei Israel Orgn. about 270 Bnei Menashe Jewish family made Aliyah. The funny part of me was that, I still don't feel bad about it. Aliyah of 2007 revived the hope for aliyah the following years amongst Bnei Menashe. I feel I'm getting older. No aliyah as anticipated till then. So in Oct. 2009 I made my mind up to go to Israel which I finally succeed. Jumping at several small opportunities may get us there more quickly than waiting for one big one to come along. I was in Yeshivat Mechon Meir for 3 months, I returned after, hoping that aliyah would be within a year. I now need to ponder over whether the road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler  OR rather Hope is the poor man's bread. I now humorously titled myself as "A Big Fan of Olim"

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