Moving closer to their God Scores of Jews are leaving New Jersey in their spiritual journey to create a new life in Israel by Jeff Diamant New Jersey Star-Ledge August 08, 2004 The first time Michael Lipkin seriously considered moving to Israel was 16 years ago, after his mother died from lung cancer. In mourning, the Orthodox Jew sought comfort from his daily prayers and felt the words pulling him closer to the Jewish state, a place he had visited several times. "In the prayers you ask God ... to bring Jews back to Israel," Lipkin said. "Three times a day you're saying these things, and sometimes people wind up saying them by rote. But if you really start taking seriously what you're saying, it will change your perspective." Lipkin and his wife sold their house in Edison this summer and left Tuesday with their four children on a one-way flight to Israel from John F. Kennedy International Airport with 350 other Jews. This summer, four such flights are taking 1,500 Jews from North America -- 221 from New Jersey -- to Israel. Immigration to Israel, known to Jews as aliyah, has helped the country build its population through its 56-year history. Aliyah (pronounced ah-lee-AH) means "ascension" in Hebrew, and the oft-used phrase "making aliyah" suggests that Jews moving to Israel are rising to a higher level. The number of Jews moving to Israel worldwide has decreased sharply since the Palestinian uprising that began in 2000. But the number leaving the United States is rising. A Message to Terrorists New Jersey Jews moving to Israel cite several reasons for going. They say they feel deep connections to the land and want to help Israel in its struggle against Arab neighbors and terrorists. They say they were never happier than during previous visits and feel closer to God there. "We need Jewish people living in Israel to counterbalance the Arab birthrate in the area," Lipkin said. "An American who's living a comfortable life in America, getting up with his family and going there ... sends an extremely powerful message that terrorism isn't going to work." Israel's Law of Return guarantees almost all Jews entry to the state. Moving there is not simple. For most, boarding the 10-hour flight from New York culminates a decision-making process with sobering considerations. For one thing, people in Israel face daily security concerns unfamiliar to most Americans, even after 9/11. The cost of living is lower, but so are salaries. Immigrants or their children will almost definitely serve in the army. And they leave behind families and longtime friends. Excitement and Concerns Yet in interviews, four Orthodox New Jersey families and two single adults from observant, non-Orthodox homes, all leaving this summer, said they were excited about their move. "When I was dating, I only went out with guys who I knew were interested in moving to Israel," said Rechelle Hochhauser, 26, of Elizabeth. She moved July 13 with her husband, Elie, and their toddler son, Teddy. "To me, it's amazing to live in the place of your ancestors and to know that you're being part of history and continuation of the Jewish people living in their lands," she said. On prior trips, using Bibles as tour guides, many traced steps of Jewish prophets, stopped at the Tomb of the Patriarchs where Jews believe their forefathers are buried, and prayed at the Western Wall, a remnant of the Jewish temple destroyed during the Roman Empire. They say living near these sites is a draw. In most cases, friends and relatives of the people moving have long known of their desire but worry for their safety. There have been more than 100 suicide bombings since September 2000, though relatively few in recent months. "In certain ways it certainly is less safe than America," said Susan Duker of Elizabeth, who left last Tuesday with her husband, Jonathan, and two young sons. "In Jerusalem, I tend not to take buses for that reason. But I think living in Israel is in a lot of ways more safe than America. ... People don't lock their doors. Kids play freely outside." Most families said they support the policies of Israel's conservative Likud Party. Of those interviewed, only one family is moving to the West Bank, the area Israel has occupied since war in 1967. Wherever they move in Israel, most immigrants will wind up with a fraction of their American salaries, many doing without cars for the first time as adults. Many of the new immigrants are moving to Beit Shemesh, a town of about 60,000 between Jerusalem and Tel Aviv with good bus service. Beit Shemesh also has many Americans. There are mitigating economic factors of life in Israel. Rents and other costs are lower. Health care is publicly funded. Religious schooling is usually free. Michael Chernofsky of West Orange, a hand surgeon, will make the equivalent of about $50,000 before taxes, a fraction of his current salary in private practice, he said. Michael Lipkin will take a pay cut telecommuting for his current job but will no longer have to pay $30,000 a year for his three children to attend Jewish day schools. Susan Duker said that if she finds a job similar to her one at PSE&G, where she was an information technology worker, she would make about a third of her old salary. "If you talk about 'keeping up with the Joneses,' it's a much lower bar" in Israel, Susan Duker said. "We go shopping (in New Jersey) as a recreational activity. You got nothing to do, you go shopping and can spend $200 without thinking about it. There, people are not concerned with always renewing their wardrobe and things of that nature. You don't need as much." Sharing the Burden Sherry and Michael Chernofsky and their three children are moving in two days to the West Bank town of Efrat, near Jerusalem. She said it's unfair for American Jews who support Israel to let others bear the often violent burden of keeping the Jewish state alive. "I've always had guilt when you see all these people fighting and dying for you, and you're here wondering, 'Should you go to Neiman's? Should you go to Bloomingdales? Should you redo your cabinets? Should you redo your shelves?' You need to do the right thing," she said. "If we really believe (Israel) is home, then maybe we're supposed to go home." Many immigrants, or at least their children, plan to serve in the military. Eliezer Katz of Paramus, who graduated from Ramapo College in May, expects to enter the army next year, soon after finishing an intensive language course in Hebrew. "I know I'm going into the army -- it's a question of when," he said. "I think it's important to stand up for what you believe is right. I think Israel is right." A Mother's Objection His mother, Sherry Katz, opposes the move. She feels the nonprofit and quasi-government agencies helping with the moves improperly play on the emotions of immigrants -- especially young single adults moving by themselves -- and underplay negatives. "There's a lot of propaganda that these agencies put out that influences vulnerable people," she said. "I think he's being taken advantage of. ... I'm alternately sad and angry that my future with him and with my grandchildren or my in-laws won't have the kind of richness that an ongoing relationship with regular in-person contact would allow." Nefesh b'Nefesh, a 3-year-old privately funded organization, is widely credited with the recent immigration increase from North America. The Jerusalem-based agency helps immigrants deal with red tape and gives many thousands of dollars in moving costs -- which can run $10,000 -- as long as they stay for three years. A spokesman said the group does inform people of potential hardships, such as difficulties finding jobs and learning Hebrew. He said people traveling to Israel with the group decided to move long before approaching Nefesh b'Nefesh, which means "soul to soul." Still, strengthening Israel's Jewish population through immigration is a stated goal of Nefesh b'Nefesh and similar agencies. In early July, at a farewell party in Manhattan thrown for about 80 of this summer's immigrants, Ido Aharoni of the Israeli Consulate thanked them for helping Israel fight terrorism. "It's our job as a community to send a very strong message of determination and perseverance," he said. "You're not just doing the right thing for you personally, but nationally your contribution ... is invaluable, and for that, God bless you all."