Can you imagine this "Mercaz Klitah" 40 years ago? My wife and I, used to the comforts of America, came here early in 1980; it was winter. The "flat" was much smaller, and the floors were rough cement. It was COLD. There was no elevator, only stairs. We had requested (and were promised) a ground floor flat because my wife was pregnant. What they gave us was a flat four flights up. There was no telephone on the premises, and one had to walk into town to use a pay-phone at the post office. We had our 1-year old daughter with us as well. We had shipped a "container" by air, with some basic necessities for the kitchen, some linens, etc. I had to go to Tel-Aviv to sign some papers to allow our shipment to be un-crated and sent to our flat at the Mercaz Klita. There was some kind of bureaucratic problem and I was forced to come to Tel-Aviv again the next day. There was another problem, and once more I had to make the trek from Beer Sheva to Tel-Aviv and back. I made a total of seven trips to "straighten out some paperwork" at the airport...to no avail. At this point, we had the container shipped back to New York, and we had to forfeit our immigration rights in order to get our passports back so we could return to the United States. Months later, I was told that I was supposed to offer bribes of money in order to get our possessions out of the airport. There was a LOT wrong with the immigration system back then, and it appears to have improved but very little in the four decades since our experience. The only good thing I remember is the wonderful smell of freshly-baked bread coming from a bakery on the way to the post office. Had our experience been free of corruption, and minimally less harsh, perhaps we would have remained in Eretz Yisrael to this day. The day before we left the Absorption Center, a Russian refugee approached us. "Atem merutzim?" -- "Are you satisfied?" she asked. We confessed our misgivings. "At least," she began, "you are able to RETURN to your country." She too, was very disappointed in the Mercaz experience. But she could NOT go back to Russia. I am glad to get this story "off my chest" after 40 years.
Sorry, haven't noticed your story earlier. I can't imagine my life with stroller without elevator - it would be kind of hell. Yes, earlier Russians had to cancell citizenship of USSR, but now not. Where do you live now?
My sister, niece and grandniece are living there and are for Brazil. They made Aliyah almost 3 months ago and my sister speaks many languages and was born in Europe.
Hi Larry, I'm from Brazil and I'm thinking about go to this merkaz. Do you think its a good idea or maybe it will be better if I choose another place/city?
@@flaviacukier2544 wow it’s been a long time. My sister and her family are now living in Ra’anana and I was in Israel visiting them while they lived in BeerSheva. They were not unhappy there but they missed air conditioning. I’m not familiar with the other absorption centers but I heard the one in Naharya is nice and close to the sea. I trust you’ll find more with the Jewish Agency! Tudo de bom para você e sua família. Estou no Rio e devemos fazer Aliyah lá pra Março/Abril do ano que vem. Abraços!
What is in the room? Do you need sheets etc? Can you just leave whenever you want? Thanks!
Can you imagine this "Mercaz Klitah" 40 years ago? My wife and I, used to the comforts of America, came here early in 1980; it was winter. The "flat" was much smaller, and the floors were rough cement. It was COLD. There was no elevator, only stairs. We had requested (and were promised) a ground floor flat because my wife was pregnant. What they gave us was a flat four flights up. There was no telephone on the premises, and one had to walk into town to use a pay-phone at the post office. We had our 1-year old daughter with us as well. We had shipped a "container" by air, with some basic necessities for the kitchen, some linens, etc. I had to go to Tel-Aviv to sign some papers to allow our shipment to be un-crated and sent to our flat at the Mercaz Klita. There was some kind of bureaucratic problem and I was forced to come to Tel-Aviv again the next day. There was another problem, and once more I had to make the trek from Beer Sheva to Tel-Aviv and back. I made a total of seven trips to "straighten out some paperwork" at the airport...to no avail. At this point, we had the container shipped back to New York, and we had to forfeit our immigration rights in order to get our passports back so we could return to the United States. Months later, I was told that I was supposed to offer bribes of money in order to get our possessions out of the airport. There was a LOT wrong with the immigration system back then, and it appears to have improved but very little in the four decades since our experience. The only good thing I remember is the wonderful smell of freshly-baked bread coming from a bakery on the way to the post office. Had our experience been free of corruption, and minimally less harsh, perhaps we would have remained in Eretz Yisrael to this day. The day before we left the Absorption Center, a Russian refugee approached us. "Atem merutzim?" -- "Are you satisfied?" she asked. We confessed our misgivings. "At least," she began, "you are able to RETURN to your country." She too, was very disappointed in the Mercaz experience. But she could NOT go back to Russia. I am glad to get this story "off my chest" after 40 years.
Sorry, haven't noticed your story earlier. I can't imagine my life with stroller without elevator - it would be kind of hell.
Yes, earlier Russians had to cancell citizenship of USSR, but now not.
Where do you live now?
My sister, niece and grandniece are living there and are for Brazil. They made Aliyah almost 3 months ago and my sister speaks many languages and was born in Europe.
Hi! Are they happy of living there? We've already left that place..
@@pikerzlike8449 they are not unhappy but hopefully they will leave in a few months after my niece finds a job.
@@larryhubner7632 It's very hard to live there, hope they'll find their job very soon :)
Hi Larry, I'm from Brazil and I'm thinking about go to this merkaz. Do you think its a good idea or maybe it will be better if I choose another place/city?
@@flaviacukier2544 wow it’s been a long time. My sister and her family are now living in Ra’anana and I was in Israel visiting them while they lived in BeerSheva. They were not unhappy there but they missed air conditioning. I’m not familiar with the other absorption centers but I heard the one in Naharya is nice and close to the sea. I trust you’ll find more with the Jewish Agency! Tudo de bom para você e sua família. Estou no Rio e devemos fazer Aliyah lá pra Março/Abril do ano que vem. Abraços!
Great to meet you, I wanto you to know if you met Marchach family?
Haven't heard that surname..
You had to pay USD$00 a month for the Absorption center? I thought they were free.
Nothing free..
How long maximum can you stay in a merkaz when you are an oleh?
It depends on your status. If you have no program - 2 weeks...maximum 1 month.
If you are on program-as long as program lasts.
@@pikerzlike8449 could I stay for the whole ulpan program like 5 months minimum ?
For your whole program, our will be 10 months
How did you survive there for 12months when they only support you financially for 6x months
Not only 6 monthes. Until 1 year students have help from government.