Published: 25 April 2023
Last updated: 5 March 2024
Ittay Flescher asks 13 Australians who have gone to live in Israel what they love and hate about their adopted home, and what they hope for the country as it marks its 75th birthday.
More than 10,000 Australians now call Israel home, with about 200-300 making aliyah every year, according to the Zionist Federation of Australia. Ahead of Israel’s 75th birthday, Moriah Ben David, the Israel Office director for the ZFA, told The Jewish Independent, “the more Australian olim I meet, the more I see that they are so diverse: Chabad retirees, Habonim bogrim (leaders), Garin Tzabar (soldiers), young couples, young families. The list goes on and on.”
Reflecting on how they differ from other immigrants to Israel, she added, “Australian olim have a few traits that make them unique: they are resilient, they do not feel entitled, they have a positive attitude and they integrate into Israeli society very fast. Thanks to these traits, they fill very important and senior positions in Israeli society, and they contribute tremendously in shaping the State of Israel in many fields.”
Here are some of their stories.
Philip Searle, 36, made aliyah in 2017, and lives in Tel Aviv
“At times I question if I am living in Israel, or just the bubble of Tel Aviv, which is an incredibly vibrant and diverse city. There are people from all over the world, speaking all languages. It is an energetic city, thriving on activity. It's a walkable city, with weather that encourages socialising outdoors. It also has some of the best food in the world. Not to mention, it's a very dog-friendly city, so I really appreciate that I can bring Kelev everywhere I go.
I often worry about the polarising political situation which causes a lot of distress among the locals. I hope for a calmer political climate in Israel’s 75th year.”
