Moving to Israel

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  • #603200
    Fashionablee
    Member

    HELP!

    Im moving to Israel in a couple of months iy”H (Yay!). Does anyone have any good ideas on how I can get my stuff there?

    Remember: with the new regulations, I can only take one suitcase, so all ideas are welcome please 🙂

    #871891
    postsemgirl
    Member

    Lucky ducky

    #871892
    Nechomah
    Participant

    Are you coming as a student or making aliya? You could contact Nefesh B’Nefesh if you’re making aliya. They can help you with lots of details. If you’re coming at a student for the coming school year, then think about taking El Al because they have it that you can pay only $70 for a second suitcase. It’s not a lot, but it’s better than only 1 suitcase.

    #871893
    ED IT OR
    Participant

    Boat

    Post

    Email

    #871894

    Too bad they changed the rules, if you had two suitcases you’d be set

    #871895
    mully
    Member

    Pay for 2nd suitcase!

    #871896
    Fashionablee
    Member

    crazybrit:

    Ok, ok, i know i said all ideas are welcome, but really!

    I need serious ideas. Like, dishes and clothes and pots and and and and…I gotta schlep all of that stuff! HOW???

    #871897
    Fashionablee
    Member

    Nechomah:

    Actually I’m moving right after I get married, but I’m still unsure about making Aliya.

    I don’t either think that a second siutcase will cut it…

    #871898
    YW Moderator-18
    Moderator

    Find out about joining someone sending a lift.

    #871899
    Fashionablee
    Member

    Mod-18:

    People keep saying that, and I smile and nod knowingly to mask my ignorance, but how do I go about that? Who do I contact?

    #871900
    YW Moderator-18
    Moderator

    not sure, try a coffee room thread about that.

    #871901
    Menachem Melamed
    Participant

    As much as possible, buy what you need in E.Y., especially electric appliances, breakables, and heavy items. It is not such a bad deal to pay $70 to take an extra suicase. Ask friends and relatives who might be giong to take a second suitcase for you. May sure that you only send legal items, and advise them to open the suitcase and inspect whatever you are sending. If they haven’t checked it they might run into delays at the airport.

    #871902
    usa-tralian
    Participant

    I just flew back from the States to Israel on Turkish Air – and they allow you two bags each, and their tickets are cheaper to begin with. One way was between $700-800. Really was not a bad flight – very short stop in Turkey then 2 hours to Israel.

    #871903
    marvafan
    Member

    It may come as a shock to you but in israel we do sell pots and clothes. And as far as electronics go even if you have a world wide guarenttee i have heard that a lot of stores will say we dont care. And tvs have a different system of reception so even if you do bring over a tv it will not receive and it has nothing to do with changing the electricity. Ditto with radios.

    And what is so bad about supporting the local economy? Someone has to pay the army. In regards to bringing over a second suitcase what do you want to take? Personnal documents? I sugggest that you scan them and send tehm via internet. That way you will also have a backup copy.

    Something that they will not tell you you is that egged drivers get a 2 1/2% commison so make sure that your driver is a Jew before buying a multiple ticket. If you have no choice you have no choice but if you ride the bus a lot keep that in mind. You may slso want to look around the internet and buy a copy of “Torah and Zionism?” and “Listen World Listen Jew” by by Rav kahane Another book that is advertised on this website is “Pirkei Avot a zionistic version”

    Again in conclusion I would not worry too much about a second suitcase for things that you can buy here however things that have sentimental value bring even 5 suitcases. Whatever you pay is a lot cheaper than buying antoher ticket.

    #871904
    marvafan
    Member

    Let me add a few more words.

    I suggest that if you are looking for a place to live you stay away from Jerusalem and Efrat etc It will make it a lot easier for you to learn hebrew.

    #871905
    Nechomah
    Participant

    First off, Mazel Tov on your upcoming Chassanah. It should be b’sha’ah tova umutzlachas.

    Now to the issue you ask, I totally agree with MM. I made a huge mistake about buying my electrical appliances in US. They can definitely be bought here and that will solve your issues with luggage space for that. Plus you can start with a few basic things and decide what you need more as you go along. A simple hand mixer plus a food processor and possibly an electric kettle are starters. You will probably also want a toaster oven or sandwich maker and maybe even a microwave. You could possibly bring an iron with you but make sure it’s 220.

    As far as dishes, for sure don’t waste time (unless you can put it in someone’s lift) to deal with that in America. If you’re going to be here for just a few years, leave whatever you get for presents somewhere over there to use when you go back to the US. If you think you might be here permanently, then either find someone who is making a list (see my idea below) or plan on buying fancy dishes or Corelle here. I think there is someone in Har Nof who sells nice dishes, plus there are tons of stores opening up everywhere with these kinds of things for sale. Just remember that some of them can crack in the shipping process, so it’s not really worth it to ship.

    As far as a lift, you could contact Nefesh B’Nefesh like I said to see if they could help with people who are making aliya soon, or else google aliya/lift/shipping container, etc, different combinations to see if you can come up with any info. Keep in mind that it does take time for the shipment to get here, so you have to already be shipping the stuff now for it to be here in a couple of months. You could always make a note in your invitations for shower/chassanah that your plans are to be in EY for a few years/indefinitely (whichever applies) and that cash gifts would be appreciated to help defray the costs of getting the things here or else the gift should be easily packed into a small place.

    Oh, and Turkish Air is a good idea also, but still compare prices. I doubt you’ll be buying one-way tix and also you’ll be coming back to the US for holidays, so you’ll take nearly empty suitcases and bring them back full each time.

    Hatzlacha on getting everything ready to come here. If you can get my email from the mods, I am over here and can give you info on stores/people selling things if you want more details.

    #871906
    frumisrael
    Member

    1. You first need to decide what you are shipping.

    2. Based on the amount – do you need lift – where it is your boxes and crates and stuff or a container which usually is 20 or 40 feet.

    3. Contact a company like Kef International, who has experience doing this – they help with the customs, duties, taxes, insurance, etc in addition to the shipping.

    4. Consider that some items are not worth bringing – remember housing here is smaller than the US, electric items may need a converter and the cost of shipping an item may not be significantly different than buying the item new in Israel.

    Bhatzlacha!

    #871907

    See http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/coffeeroom/topic/how-to-send-belongings-from-ey-to-chul-cheap .

    Other way around (from chu”l to E”Y) is much more expensive, I assume, but it might still be cheaper than taking it as extra luggage.

    It does take a long time, maybe 6-8 weeks or so (maybe it’s shorter from the US, I don’t know). But it’s worth the money and you can manage for a few weeks with the things you can take in one suitcase.

    #871908
    sem graduate
    Member

    I myself did it and know plenty of others too. Firstly, pots, pans and dishes can and should be purchased in Israel – Israeli’s cook and eat with utensils too. Second of all, pay the extra $70 for both yourself and your husband and take 2 suitcases each – think of it as the plane ticket having cost you $70 more. Third of all pillows and blankets are sold in Israel too – you only need your actual linen sets. Forth of all, find out if you know anyone else going and taking only one suitcase – pay them $70 to take a second one for you. You’ll probably need between 7-8 suitcases all together so try to find 3-4 people going before you who can do this favor for you. Good luck

    #871909
    takahmamash
    Participant

    If you’re not making aliyah, then you’re probably stuck unless you want to pay for extra luggage. Buy what you need in Israel. Or make aliyah.

    #871910

    I know someone who sent about 10 suitcases with people coming to Israel over the summer and Yomim Tovim. She paid $50-$70 for some, but she had almost everything she needed when she got to Israel. She said it was easier because she had to pay for the second piece because otherwise no one would have had room for her bedding, linen, lens solution, corelle, and cutlery. She was also very organized and gave each traveler a clear list of exactly what was in the suitcase.

    #871911

    @marvafan

    “I suggest that if you are looking for a place to live you stay away from Jerusalem and Efrat etc It will make it a lot easier for you to learn hebrew.”

    That depends on which neighborhood – for Jerusalem.

    I lived in Givat Shaul (Rechov Givat Shaul) for 6 years: there are almost no English speakers there. Only some French speakers down at Kehati, otherwise, 95% Ivrit / Yiddish (I think more than 95% even).

    #871912
    nombody2
    Member

    First of all, if you are making aliyah and doing it through Nefesh BNefesh, you are entitled to take 3 suitcases. Second, if you are not doing it through Nefesh BNefesh, you can purchase additional suitcases for your ticket with Elal for $55 in advance, instead of $70 at the airport.

    #871913
    takahmamash
    Participant

    Nombody2, she said she wasn’t making aliyah.

    #871914
    Fashionablee
    Member

    Thank you guys!

    So here’s the deal:

    I’m probably not maiking an Aliya. It just disturbs things for us later on if we want to move back to the States.

    I don’t think we’ll travel to Turkey, even for a short stop. I’m pretty sure it’s on the dont-fly-there-because-of-the-terrorists list 🙂 But who knows right? Do they have nice honeymoon spots?

    Yes, I know there are perfectly great things in Israel, which is why I’m obviously buying a lot there. But tell me this: Do they sell fine quality china with US prices? How about Corelle? Silverware?

    I speak a flawless Hebrew and I am iy”H moving to the heart of Yerushalayim! Whoo hoo!

    I like that idea about calling El Al in advance! Do you know how much in advance is required?

    #871915
    Nechomah
    Participant

    I bought most of my corelle here, but I’m not sure if they’re open still. There are definitely places that sell silverware. There are so many publications that come out nowadays to advertise everything so I’m sure it won’t be too hard to find what you’re missing. I happen to be looking to get some more Corelle myself, so if I find the people, I’ll let you know. I lived for years in Yerushalayim and now live right outside of it and come in frequently and my girls are there everyday. GREAT PLACE!!! You’ll love it. Don’t worry about Ivrit – not that everybody here speaks English, but even if you speak whatever you learned in high school, you’d get by.

    Since it sounds like there’s a misunderstanding, the Turkish Air flights do not mean you need to stay there, it’s just the place where you change planes, just like if you flew British Air you would change planes in London. Most American airlines and El Al have direct flights from the east coast, but European airlines have a stopover in their home country since they have flights going to the US and flights going to EY, so you just take the flight “to Turkey” and then the flight to EY, but you don’t stay in Turkey at all. I don’t blame you for not wanting to be amongst the population there though. Mazel Tov again!!!

    #871916
    frumisrael
    Member

    First, Turkey does have honeymoon spots – Anatalya. Second, it was just lowered by Israel as a risk country.

    However, I also would not take the flight through there unless I had to (and i have been to Turkey on business in my past.

    For an extra suitcase, you should not need to notify El Al before.

    As for now understanding you are not making aliya, you can still send a lift and pay whatever taxes would be necessary.

    And, you basically can get everything you need here from high end china to knockoffs. And a lot of things you will want custom made if you decide to buy a place that fits your style and room.

    #871917
    rami
    Member

    Hi there. I actually just moved here after Pesach. I don’t have too much advice, as I sent three suitcases before and came with five, but as I live here – I realize that I could’ve bought so much here instead of shlepping it all. You can get REALLY nice dishes for MUCH cheaper than American Prices in Geula, and glasses. I would suggest you bring placemats from home, because it’s almost impossible to find here. Do not bring any kitchen utensils (peelers, knives, etc) as they have it all here. I would suggest you bring your own bath towels though.

    As far as electronics – buy a cordless phone HERE!! It’s much more expensive, but after blowing mine – I realized that it wasn’t worth it.

    Hmmmm what else? It sounds funny but leave your tailoring to be done here. It’s a FRACTION of the price:) Bring good shoes. Don’t bother bringing any soap because you will eventually run out and be forced to buy here.

    Honestly – the most important thing to bring is…a roll of paper towels, a box or bag of tissues and take two water bottles from the plane. The minute you get here, you will want to clean the place up, use the washroom, and DRINK.

    That’s all I can think of for now! Welcome!

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