The following is an email sent to me by a relative:
The American Aliyah - Our Historic opportunity.
If you like this, please forward to your contacts.
This below concept is predicated on Israel's ability to accurately test Olim for Covid-19 ONCE! upon entry, which is a reality. Given the current inaccuracy in tests, medical experts say it would take two tests per person to be sure. Even three tests per oleh are within the current Israeli capacity, and are a small price to pay, per oleh.
Dear Israel,
You are currently contemplating a 100 Billion NIS stimulus package. It is highly questionable if it will work. America has already invested 100 times that amount in stimulus, and we've seen much of it go to waste, and it is questionable if even those funds properly allocated will have significant long term impact. Here is a far better idea for your 100B NIS;
The American Aliyah; Our historic opportunity, is also Israel's best stimulus. 100B invested in one million educated, accomplished, capable, wealthy American olim means hundreds of billions immidiately, and trillions of shekels long term, injected into Israel's economy.
How could it work?
First we need to understand the historical impediments of Aliyah.
Israel's many miraculous stories of mass Aliyah, have one central cause at their origin - persecution. The Holocaust, Arab persecution upon the founding of the State of Israel, Soviet oppression, and European Muslim and Neonazi anti-Semitism, have each resulted in a mass Aliyah, that Israel has facilitated through great sacrifice and expense.
Why has mass American Aliyah never been a real possibility?
American Jews are comfortable. This comfort can be defined in four ways; Security, society, economy, and family. Let us examine each;
Security; America has been by far the most secure home that Jews have had in its thousands of years in exile.
Society; American Jewry boasts a vast, intricate, and accomplished infrastructure of shuls, schools, and community organizations, as well as an intracommunal economy that enables financial success within the community.
Economy; American Jewry is fantastically wealthy. Within the wealthiest society in the history of the world, American Jews are in the top percentiles in income.
Family (and friends); This is perhaps the greatest impediment to Aliyah. People say "I would make Aliyah, if my brothers, sisters, parents, children, and/or friends would" This presents a cyclical challange. I would go if they would go, and they would go if I would go, so we all stay put.
Due to the pandemic, we are at a historical crossroads, where many, but not all, of the above impediments to American Aliyah are severely diminished;
Security; Two factors are currently in play that greatly diminish the American Jewish sense of security; the dramatic rise in antisemitism, and the threat of death from coronavirus. Recent shul terrorism has rocked American Jewry, and covid-19 has decimated our communities. This in contrast to Israel's miraculous success in combating the pandemic. There is also a real fear that the above two factors may compound, and that in troubled times, G-d forbid, antisemites scapegoat Jews. Unfortunately, now as never before, American Jews do not feel safe.
Society; American Jewish society is clearly greatly diminished. No shuls and no schools until when? No one really knows. We do know the following; Major Jewish organizations are talking about schools staying closed in the fall, and discussing how there may be no synagogue high holiday services. In the last week, without schools, shuls, or steady jobs, thousands of NY/NJ Jews have already migrated to the Catskills and Florida. Society as we know it has ceased to exist, and isn't coming back as it was, anytime soon.
Economy; The global economy, and the American economy in particular, are headed for a great recession, if not depression. How can a mass Aliyah help American Jewry in this challenge? see below.
Which leaves just one major impediment intact; family.
Here is the heart of this idea:
If one million American Jews made Aliyah this summer, the last and greatest impediment to mass Aliyah - family and friends - would be removed. We would all (or most/many) be going. A large financial incentive to spark this mass Aliyah, would be most effective in these uncertain economic times.
The American mass Aliyah. One million American Jews moving to Israel! Such a grand idea needs a spark. 100 Billion shekels could do it.
For one million American Olim, that breaks down to 100,000 Shekels per person. For a family of seven, that equals 700,000 NIS.
That's a huge incentive. How many American Jewish college students and recent collage grads would take 100,000 NIS to make Aliyah? Probably most. Given the scary times we live in, this financial incentive just may be enough to spark the mass American Aliyah.
Here is an additional way to supercharge this concept; frontload it. Give the first one hundred thousand olim double = 200,000 per oleh, and the last two hundred thousand olim half = $50,000 NIS per oleh. This would both get the ball rolling, and create societal pressure to get in early. Our above sample family of seven would probably make Aliyah for 700,000 NIS, especially with the prospect of many of their family and friends going (to a virus free state), but for 1.4 million, its virtually guaranteed to work.
One additional related point;
In these uncertain times, major American Jewish organizations are more influential than ever as American Jews look to them for direction. These organizations support Aliyah. Work with them to implement this plan.
The American Aliyah done in an honorable manner, would create unprecedented stimulus to the Israeli economy. Imagine, one million lovers of Israel, educated professionals and capable business people, making Aliyah at once, bringing with them 100 Billion NIS in financial incentives, AND hundreds of billions in personal wealth. This is not just another mass Aliyah, where persecuted and destitute olim are wards of the state for years, before getting on their feet. Past mass Aliyah initiatives have also come at great financial cost to the state, and this one would certainly cost much, but this mass Aliyah would pay far greater immediate financial dividends. Certainly, far greater economic impact than the current 100B NIS stimulus being proposed.
This is our Historic opportunity. Until a few months ago, none of the above would have been relevant. Please Israel, bring us home.
Libi BaMizrach,
J. L. Miller
