Some of the questions new immigrants are asking:
How will this program help me?
The project offers new immigrants an opportunity to develop or broaden their social network. You are given the opportunity to establish contact and receive advice, tips and support from former olim who have experienced the Aliyah process and from Israelis who can help you form a bridge to Israeli society.
- The program may or may not produce long term friendships, but will definitely give you a support system and allow for assistance in day to day difficulties or the seemingly-trivial questions that you might have.
- In Israel friends are often like family. We hope that this program will give you the opprtunity to develop your social network and open the door to lasting friendships.
- Ties with Israelis will help you get to know your surroundings better. They will be able to explain a little about the bureaucracy, how the banks work, what’s what in the neighborhood, where to look for work? Where the best place to shop is? How things work in the local school. All the little things that will help you get your bearings and allow you to get to know the country a little bit better.
Can I specifically ask to be paired with someone who speaks my language?
There is a regional counselor in every town who can help you make contact with veteran olim families that speak your language.
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Learning the Language of Volunteerism
 Ehud Etgar from Beer Sheva accompanied a young couple who had recently arrived from Russia, despite not being able to speak a word of Russian. He hosted the young couple already on their first Shabbat in Israel and helped them prepare for medical licensing exams. He recruited some immigrant friends working at Soroka Hospital to prove “that it may be hard, but it is definitely possible'.
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Is there assistance in finding employment?
We have a group of volunteers who can help you find a job, write a resume and provide you with information and sources that can assist you in this process. Additionally, the Jewish Agency runs information centers that offer advice and a variety of information on employment solutions.
Do we get financial help?
Babait Beyahad is a social program. Our aim is to help establish social connections between veteran olim, Israelis and new olim in order to help the latter in their initial stages of absorption.
Why do Israelis volunteer?
Many Israelis volunteer because they want to meet new people and experience new cultures.
Many Israelis were olim in the past (or have parents who were olim) and know how hard it is to come to a new place …
Israeli society is close knit, where volunteering and mutual assistance are still core values.
What do Israelis get in return?
This is a purely voluntary project with no financial remuneration to Israeli families. What they gain is an opportunity to meet new people, help them and through that, to help to strengthen the society they live in.
Note: It is possible to arrange participation in the Babait Beyahad program prior to aliyah, if you have not done so we strongly recommend joining this highly successful program that has added much to the aliyah of many new immigrants.
Visit our Aliyah Information page for useful links regarding rights in Israel, education, employment, absorption and more.