Time to Let Loose

It might be a little late, but I couldn't let Yair Lapid's out of touch and ignorant remarks against Israeli emigrants, in particular young Israelis in Berlin go without a response. Last checked it's no longer 1960, in today's day and age, in 2013, people here are simply not buying this type of bullshit anymore. The classic smears of labeling those who choose to leave this country in search of a better life as "Yordim" are just as detached now as they've ever been.

The bottom line is, life in Israel is hard. And it's true for the overwhelming majority of Israeli citizens, whether they're from down south in Be'er Sheva or up north in Haifa or Tel Aviv. No matter where you go and who you talk to, people will tell you the same things. The cost of living in Israel has become astronomical. Plainly speaking, salaries and earnings are not commensurate with the incredibly high cost of housing, as well as everything else ranging from food to essential common goods. To sum it up in a nut shell, it's like paying Northern European prices for Southern European standards of living. Ok, that's actually being too generous. Let's call it more appropriately what it is, Middle Eastern standards. Anyone who has hunted for apartments in Tel Aviv knows exactly what I mean.

Tel Aviv

More than that though, it's about dignity. Amir Mizroch's excellent and eye opening rebuttal to our current finance minister is the best piece I've read so far, and details the sentiments of so many of us. Who can really blame Israelis for wanting to challenge the status quo of oligarchical rule and see what's out there when they're given practically no chance to succeed at home? I certainly don't.

Berlin. Ick Pix FB.

And lastly, I'd be remiss not to point out that it's not only the effects of struggling to make ends meet in Israel that spurs many Israelis to seek out greener pastures in search of a more peaceful and prosperous existence. It can't be blamed on a lack of Zionism either. The overwhelming majority of Israelis who find themselves living and studying in cities like Berlin are all army grads, secular in their make up and educated, people who've given everything asked of them by their country. All they want is the chance to be able to succeed and live with dignity. Not be forced to live on their knees.

Equally as relevant and note worthy, among many Israelis, especially secular Ashkenazim, there exists a certain desire for a culture and mentality that is far different from that of the mindset in Middle East. The longing for a place where religion takes a back seat, and where violence and aggression are not considered the primary means to an end. Based on the make up of a city like Berlin and what it represents, it's easy to see why its appeal is so striking.