Chasing the Fionist Dream

When the war broke out on October 7th, we were overcome with shock, horror and trauma. In one day, over a thousand people were brutally murdered, hundreds were kidnapped, and consequently, hundreds of thousands were called up to emergency reserves duty while hundreds of thousands more were displaced from their homes. On a more personal level, our quiet Simchat Torah morning was pierced by intermittent air raid sirens and booms, leaving us running to our shelter for safety and shattering our sense of personal security.

Two months later, this war is still ongoing. Over a hundred Israeli men, women and children are still held hostage in Gaza. The reserves soldiers and evacuees still haven’t come home, and funeral and shiva notices have become common in our local community groups. While many of us have returned to work and school, we still carry this war with us every day. We continue to support our nation any way we can and strive to build a stronger, more united Israel. 🇮🇱

Chanukah starts tonight. We will celebrate miracles and spread light during one of our darkest times. Just like the Maccabees, we will persevere. Because after all, we live in a holy land full of miracles that we see every day (and sometimes take for granted). In honor of the holiday, we want to remind you of eight of our favorites. One for every night. 🙂

1. Mandatory Pension Plans. Not only is it mandatory to save (and invest!) for retirement here in Israel, but your employer is required to not just match, but double (!!) your contribution. Israel’s pension system has actually been ranked 4th best worldwide in 2023. (In case you’re wondering, the US is ranked 22nd.)
   
   
2. Universal health care. Our healthcare system is excellent and our hospitals are top notch. Need insulin? No problem. It’s covered. Life-saving surgery – don’t worry about the cost. Need IVF? Israel’s got your back. We’ve had a number of medical procedures and hospitalizations throughout the years and never once received a hospital bill.
   
   
3. Paid parental leave. Mazal tov on your newest addition to the family! How long are you planning on staying home with your little one? If you’ve worked ten out of the past 14 months or 15 out of the last 22 months prior to giving birth, your first 15 weeks of maternity leave (or parental leave if you choose to share it with your spouse) will be fully paid. Additionally, whether you’ve worked or not, you will receive a nice little ma’anak leida (birth grant) from the government to get you and your baby started on the right foot.
   
   
4. Affordable Jewish education. Welcome to the land of Jewish public school. Your kid’s school may offer more than the basic package paid for by the government, so you may be asked to pay dmei shichlul to cover the extras. So while it’s not exactly free, it’s a drop in the bucket compared to what you might pay elsewhere for Jewish day school. We pay 2,500 shekels per year for elementary school and 900 for preschool. High school can be a bit more expensive if you send to a semi-private school, but it will nothing like what it might cost you across the pond.
   
   
5. World class universities and research institutions. Did you know that three of Israel’s ten universities rank among the world’s top 100? Not only can you study at these prestigious institutions for a twentieth of the price of tuition in the US, you will be exposed to less antisemitism and have Jewish holidays off.
   
   
6. Israeli tech. Genetic engineering, drip irrigation, microchips, creating water from air, desalination, Iron Dome shooting missiles out of the sky. There isn’t a country in the world that doesn’t use Israeli technology. Not only will Israeli technology save the world, the 14% of Israelis who work in tech and their employers pay a nice chunk of taxes which strengthen our economy.
   
   
7. Employee rights. You are guaranteed sick days and vacation days by law and can’t be fired on the spot. These are only a few of the many employee rights guaranteed to you by Israeli law. Don’t forget to check out our employee rights posts to make sure you are receiving everything owed to you.
   
   
8. Israel itself! Past, present and future. Despite all odds, two thousand years of exile, numerous genocides, and more recently – Middle Eastern terrorists, European marchers, and American college students chanting for our annihilation, the Land and Nation of Israel are still here – and thriving! We are stronger and more united than ever and during these dark times, our light shines even brighter.

We wish you and your families all a happy, healthy, and safe Chanukah full of light, love, and fatty and sugary comfort food. Praying for brighter and more peaceful days ahead and a speedy and secure return home for all of our hostages, soldiers, and evacuees.

חג חנוכה שמח. עם ישראל חי!

What are your favorite Israeli miracles?

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