English speaking chassidish community in Israel

↑ Reality

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 2:37 am

I lived in BP for years. I don't find there is anymore pushing, shoving, rudeness etc in Israel then in chareidi neighborhoods in the US. It's really such a similar culture in that respect. And I want to be clear: Just like in BP it's only some people who behave like that, it is the same here as well.

The only difference I find is Israelis in general have different spacial awareness then anglos. I always marvel at these very genuinely frum men who think there's enough space to pass without touching a woman when there so obviously is not enough room!

amother

Mistyrose

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 3:00 am

I live in RBS D4. In general when people write RBS it seems they mean aleph… and the neighborhoods are really different so keep that in mind. Most of my neighbors are from Bnei Brak, Beitar, and Jerusalem. There is an express bus line from daled to Bnei Brak. Mostly young families but not exclusively. Good mix of Chassidish/Yeshivish/Sephardi. Almost everyone is charedi with few exceptions. A lot of my neighbors speak English, even fluently, but almost everyone grew up here (not me!). From what you wrote so far I think it could be a good option for you. For the most part I’ve found everyone to be extremely friendly and warm. It’s a new community so people are eager to welcome you. My kids go to the local BY and have almost no English speaking friends (which is fine, they speak Hebrew) but this is unique to Daled so something to consider. Most of the chassidish schools have private bussing. Hope that’s helpful!

amother

Cherry

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 5:08 am

amother Mustard wrote:

Im like you and ive managed fine living in Israel in an israeli community for the past 8+ yrs.
only once I had toddlers and was going to the park I started picking up the language, now bh I manage well, not perfect but like you dh is Israeli so he helps with what I struggle in (I have pushed off calling my dd teacher because dh really wants me to do it and I have phone anxiety in general never mind in Ivrit) It defo helped that we moved to a friendlier area and my neighbours are so nice and patient and include me into their conversations, if not for them I still wont be talking ivrit.

Regarding the Israeli lifestyle, it does frustrate me but it something you cant control, Yes my kids are the first on the block in bed, we dont do any late get togethers with the kids besides for here and there during holidays and we try make them rest before. ive missed plenty of Sheva brochas and get-togethers if we couldnt find a babysitter but I and my kids prefer it this way. my kids are most likely the only ones that dont stay up for Havdala in the Summer and now that Avos Ubanim is after nacht at 6:30 my son from himself knew he could only go if he went to rest. With all this we still manage to live the Israeli lifestyle in a schedule and none of us feel different.
The main secret is to not live here wishing you were living somewhere else, you have to give it your full heart, yes it disturbs me to some point that my kids have an Israeli accent but I made the choice to live in my husbands country and im just so grateful that they have all managed really well with the 2 languages. Its all about looking at the positive.
I know someone that lived for over 10 yrs in Israel wishing she lived in her hometown, she never fully settled was always looking at her friends back home etc, she moved back over a yr ago and is miserable, she keeps on wishing she can move back to Israel and start over...

I hope you find a great location for you and manage to settle well!

DL olah here, but for what it's worth my kids don't stay up for more than half an hour past their official bedtime if it's a school night. When Shabbos is out late and there's school in the morning, they make havdala at breakfast.

amother

Honey

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 5:10 am

DrMom wrote:

I think it is so odd for someone contemplating aliyah to ask about thrift shops and flea markets.

Most people first ask about communities/hashkafic fit, jobs, schools, housing options, etc.

Let them ask what they want, jeesh. At least there’s interest in Aliyah, bh.
If something niche mattered to me subjectively I would ask too, there is no needs to be cookie cutter type in questions. Trust op has taken care of thosr things or will take care of it

↑ Bnei Berak 10 ↓

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 5:34 am

DrMom wrote:

I think it is so odd for someone contemplating aliyah to ask about thrift shops and flea markets.

Most people first ask about communities/hashkafic fit, jobs, schools, housing options, etc.

Shopping is a hobby for many. Retail therapy Smile

I had been eight (not six) years in Israel when IKEA opened it's first store. To me it was a major psychological turning point in my process of integration. Until then it has been painfully lacking so many things I grew up with.
Adding: I was extremely motivated to make aliya and worked hard to integrate myself, including Hebrew.

Last edited by Bnei Berak 10 on Tue, Nov 05 2024, 5:50 am; edited 2 times in total

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 5:35 am

DrMom wrote:

I think it is so odd for someone contemplating aliyah to ask about thrift shops and flea markets.

Most people first ask about communities/hashkafic fit, jobs, schools, housing options, etc.

What exactly is your problem? I mentioned previously that DH`s family lives in Israel including a brother in Bet Shemesh so that sorts out all my chinuch/hashkafa/housing options etc. I have a business from home that I will iyH bring along and we will worry about housing closer to the time iyH. Moving from one culture to another is very difficult, especially as I will be leaving my family behind. I am not a spoilt brat, and am not a big spender, one thing I enjoy to do is hunt for bargains, and all I am asking is if this exists at all in my areas of interest.
I think it would be a lot more "odd" for somebody to ask about which clothing brands are available, where they can shop for clothing etc. For the record, I really do not spend a lot on my own or my kids clothing and am perfectly happy accepting hand-me-downs from my friends or relatives.
I am trying to continue to be able to save money, is that such a bad thing to ask about??

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 5:40 am

Reality wrote:

You`re right, I can`t paint all Israelis with the same brush. However speaking from experience shopping in Bnei Brak, especially as I can`t assert myself in hebrew, I have had people push past me in the line. Maybe because I am mostly there Yom tov time, people are more rushed, but in general it`s the vibe I get. It`s part of the experience I put up with when visiting Israel, but I won`t have patience if daily life is this hectic!

amother

↑ OP ↓

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 5:42 am

amother Mistyrose wrote:

It`s very helpful, thanks so much! Does it feel more city like or more suburban? Are the stores within walking distance or would one have to drive/bus?

↑ Bnei Berak 10 ↓

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 6:03 am

amother OP wrote:

I live in BB and I do everything I can to avoid shopping non-essential items during YT as it's too crowded and too stressful.
A tip from me: You need to put on your assertive face and voice and carefully watch who is in the line and who is not. I always loudly ask "who's last in line?" If it's not clear to me (this is totally accepted in Israel with everyone) and scan who's trying to cut the line and who was three before I arrived. If I see it I tell them "I am the last one, there is a line".
Sometimes I ask them, sorry, are you in the line?" in a stern voice.
In these situations you definitely need an assertive attitude.

↑ Bnei Berak 10

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 6:08 am

amother OP wrote:

If you like bargain hunts (like me) then this is another reason to learn Hebrew Smile

Local products are usually cheaper. Any article in media about 2nd hand stores are 99.9% in Hebrew.

amother

↑ IndianRed

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 6:25 am

We started out in Yerushalayim half a year and then moved to RBSA. I found culturally the lines and deportment in RBS were more similar yo what I was used to in chul (civilized for lack of a better word). I detested getting bumped around by charedi men at osher ad etc.
I feel it is more of a suburb vibe compared to jlem which I found similar to manhattan witt lights and noise at all hours. In my opinion the draw of RBS is the infrastructure is pretty well set up especially for Olim.

↑ DrMom

Tue, Nov 05 2024, 6:32 am

amother OP wrote:

I don't have a problem with your question. I was just commenting on how odd it was.
(And I agree it would be odd of someone to ask about specific clothing brands.)

I'm actually glad you have the luxury of asking about minor issues like flea markets. I was just concerned that you didn't have the major issues already nailed down. But it sounds like you have most of the major issues covered -- and that's great.

thisone

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 2:17 am

amother OP wrote:

It`s very helpful, thanks so much! Does it feel more city like or more suburban? Are the stores within walking distance or would one have to drive/bus?

D1-3 are mostly built up and going fast. Tons of shopping, kupot choline, etc. We are still waiting on a major grocery store but I’m sure it’s coming. They’re already working on D5. Right now D4 doesn’t have anything but residential buildings but they’re doing construction and have plots for everything. So for now we have to drive or bus to stores but it will change… it’s hard to know how long though. I’m hoping for a year or two.

amother

↑ Gladiolus ↓

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 4:37 am

amother IndianRed wrote:

The particular neighborhood in Yerushalayim will make all the difference.
Where were you living?

Ramat Eshkol, Neve Yaakov, Har Nof, Ramot definitely are suburbian.

Where I live there is no noise and no lights after 11pm latest, usually a bit earlier.

heidi

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 6:17 am

Bnei Berak 10 wrote:

Shopping is a hobby for many. Retail therapy Smile

I felt that way when Osher Ad opened- got so excited by the Kirkland brand

amother

↑ OP ↓

Wed, Nov 13 2024, 7:45 am

Iymnok wrote:

It's Karlin in the Old GZ.
In Again Haayalot the Chassidim are mostly Belz. Plenty are English speaking from various countries. They are more friendly with the yeshivish anglos than the Israeli Belzers.
There is a smattering of other Chassidim too.

Thanks for responding. I am afraid I won`t really be accepted among the belzers because I am not belz.

One issue I am having is, I am checking out apartment listings online and almost every apartment has a front door but no hallway, so you walk right into the kitchen/living room! It is problematic for me bc I am not the tidiest of people and would prefer to have a hallway to close off the other rooms when people come to the door! Is this a phenomen in Eretz Yisroel? Maybe to save space? I prefer to live somewhere with a front entrance hallway lol!