Do a great deal (and I mean great deal) of research before making any moves. Talk to as many people as possible. People who live here, AND people who moved back to the U.S. specifically about WHY they moved back. The Israeli govt. admits 6 out of 10 immigrants from North America leave after 5 years. The main wage earner in the family (who probably won’t be earning a great wage over here) should ideally come over and check out the work situation in his/her field. In general, it’s smart to come with at least some money (remember the “small fortune in Israel” joke?). Even more ideally, the family should, if possible, come for a period of time, say during summer vacation to “try things out.” Although this won’t give you an opportunity to test drive the biggest variable and question mark of all — the schools.
DO LOTS OF RESEARCH ON SCHOOLS. If your kids are nearing pre-teen or later, well, you’d better think it through very carefully if you want to risk moving here. Very many kids from good homes, children of parents who were moser nefesh for yiddishkeit to be frum, end up in the streets or worse. Except perhaps for the chassidishe educational institutions, the schools are generally ruthless and merciless when it comes to a kid who doesn’t fit exactly into the “accepted” mold. If I sound like someone who has some first-hand, bitter, personal knowledge and experience in this, it’s because I do. Many American families succeed here, but there are many who don’t. Do your homework first.