U.S. Jews turn to Israel to escape bleak job market

Bank of Israel
Ha'aretz
[American teacher Goldie] Burdetsky decided to escape the dire economic situation back home, by coming to Israel on a program that offers Jews free housing, Hebrew classes, training, and work experience - all of which translate into temporary financial respite.

As the unemployment rate in the U.S. climbed to a 26-year high of 10.2 percent last month, growing numbers of young and adult American Jews were arriving in Israel to inexpensively "wait out" the economic lull.

In an attempt to lure Diaspora Jews to make Israel their permanent home, the Israeli government and Jewish organizations offer a multitude of scholarships and travel grants, allowing many to spend up to six months in Israel almost for free.

The key aim is to safeguard a Jewish majority in a country where Arab citizens make up 20 percent of the population. In 2008, some 15,400 Jews immigrated to Israel, of whom 3,200 came from North America.

..."With the economy the way it is in North America, more and more Jewish college graduates who can't find a job are deciding to delay their careers and come to Israel for a while,"

...offers grants to North American Jews for career development in Israel.

"With the Israel stimulus grant we are trying to convince them that while the situation is bad in America, they can spend time in Israel," Segev said.

For decades Jewish organizations have sent Jews from around the world to Israel for free, or at a very low cost, with hopes of boosting immigration or at least building ties to Israel.

Matt Bennett, a 25-year-old from Vineland, New Jersey, is currently attending the same program as Burdetsky...

"They're funding these programs to attract more Jews to come," Bennett said. "Will I immigrate? For now I'm just going to say that if it's going to help me and advance my career, I'll take it while I can. That's what I'm doing." Full story

[American taxpayers give Israel approximately $7 million per day. A U.S. economist found that support for Israel, whose population has peaked at about 6 million people, has cost the American economy a total $3 trillion.]