I’m delighted to share that our computer situation has been resolved, which will make posting much easier! I’m so grateful that the public libraries have computer access, which is what I used for the last couple of weeks when my home computer was out of commission. Amazingly, I only needed to use the library computer three times in two weeks – for someone like me who uses the computer so much, that was pretty amazing!
I initially thought that the problem with the computer was the monitor, but it turns out that the entire computer is dead. And what’s really nice about that, is now I don’t have to use our precious limited luggage allotment to take our bulky desktop computer with us to Israel, and I don’t have any conflict about buying something else when what we have is usable !
We haven’t yet purchased our tickets to Israel (I hope we’ll be able to buy them this week), but assuming we fly with El Al airlines, we’ll be allowed three suitcases per person, with a 50 lb weight limit per suitcase. Of course we’ll be taking clothing, linens, and pots and pans, but other than that, I’m debating what’s worth bringing and what can easily be purchased at a reasonable price in Israel.
For example, my dishes are stoneware, so I’m not taking them (way too heavy and breakable); I was thinking of purchasing Corelle to take along, but then thought that maybe I can get something like that (actually, I prefer nice melanine because it’s more child-friendly) there that is comparably priced. My silverware has been steadily disappearing – of the service for 30 I bought, I now have five forks remaining. So should I buy more cheapo quality flatware at Walmart now or just get something there? Ditto with linens – most of our sheets are good quality sets that we’ve had for over 15 years so they’re still usable, but with the upcoming move, it seems a shame to take something that is at the end of its usable life. But would I be better off buying new linens here or there?
It’s hard to make these evaluations since I don’t know how much things cost in Israel. And the question isn’t just about price – I’m guessing that most items are available less expensively in the US – but is also taking into consideration the luggage space it will take up (so taking one thing means not taking something else), and the convenience of having what we need right away vs. the run around factor of having to find and buy something when we get there. Where we’re moving to in the north isn’t exactly the center of commerce, so I doubt bargain shopping is easily accomplished for items like these. Obviously, it would be easiest to take everything that we’ll need, but since we won’t be taking a lift (too expensive), we’re going to manage with what we can fit into our suitcases (so obviously big items will be purchased when we get there.) That means that there are a lot of decisions about what has priority in packing that we need to make.
As much as I’d like to take my canner, canning jars, and dehydrator, they won’t be coming along (though I think I’ll bring along a jar lifter). My grain grinder will, and I’m thinking that I’ll use the 40 lb capacity square buckets that I store bulk foods in to pack smaller items into, then place them within the larger box. They’re super convenient and it took me ages to aquire them here, and I’d think they’d be even harder to find in Israel.
I’d like to take our Pesach dishes – we’ve had them since we were first married and they’ve made the move across the ocean twice, across the US once, and within the cities we’ve lived in five times – and even though they’re heavy, I’m going to try to take them – they could easily be replaced, but it’s about the consistency of memories for our family; when those dishes come out every year, it feels like Pesach for everyone.
Only a small number of books, games, and homeschooling supplies will come along – we’ll have to find libraries there with English sections, and eventually the kids will be able to read well enough in Hebrew that we can access the Hebrew language literature there. I’d really like to take a few bottles of extra virgin olive oil, since it’s so expensive there, I still have a number of bottles left, and it’s something I use all the time – but weight-wise I’ll have to see if we can manage it. I plan to take along whatever xylitol we have left – dd16 took some to Israel and had some regularly throughout the year, and she was one of the only girls in her program that didn’t get lice, even though she was checking other girls for lice and then cleaning their hair out. (Thanks, Malkie, for sharing your experience with this when I wrote about xylitol!)
If you have an idea of what the most valuable things to take along would be (either because you live in Israel, have made a move like this, or are otherwise familiar with the issue at hand), please share your recommendations of what you found most valuable to take along!
Avivah
I should probably wait to comment until I have something useful to say. 🙂 But I’m going to think on this and let you know. I’ve still got post-partum brain. 🙂
Hi, I live in Israel. If you know you will have American beds then you should bring your sheets as I have yet to find them here. My mother brings me from the US. If you are going to have Israeli beds then you can for sure get here.
You could even buy pots and pans here also. I came with a lift and brought my pots and I had to buy new ones here and the ones I bought here are much better than the ones I had in the US with the exception of my frying pan (but that’s my fault, I wasn’t good about the teflon and using forks on it)
For weekday dishes, you can buy the hard plastic ones for around 3 shekel a piece until you save up to buy a decent dishes. I bought those after my correlle dishes broke on my stone floor. I don’t want to risk it with my kids who can be rambunctious.
Books are good to bring but maybe you find find people who are willing to shlep them for you. I just used reward points from my credit card and got some nice amount of books. My mother, motherinlaw and brother in law split stuff for us..
For olive oil, I was able to get a bottle of 250ml for 10 shekel around pesach time.. I don’t use a lot of it so that was great for me.. I am still getting started with the healthier cooking.
I think you should take your dehydrator! you can fill it with clothes, it isn’t very heavy. My husband just bought me a dehydrator when he was in the states a few weeks ago. (we made aliya a year ago)
Things in Israel are more expensive and the quality isn’t that great, whatever you CAN bring I would suggest you bring…it is a hassle to ran from store to store trying to figure out where to find things especially when you need your stuff right away…behatzlacha!
We also didn’t send a lift when we moved so I could relate to the packing dilemmas. I got some good advice when we were moving so I hope this will be helpful. Cotton sheets are expensive here so I would bring those along. Also electronics are a lot more expensive here so it might be a good idea to buy a laptop to bring along, also things like telephones I would bring along and get an adapter here. I would go easy on the clothes, especially if you are not averse to purchasing things second hand, with gemachs in abundance cheap clothes is really not a problem here. Shoes are expensive so I would bring some for the kids for the immediate future. So I would say bring things that will help you have a sense of home and stability. Most things one could really get here, it’s only a question of expense but things that will help you feel settled and normal and provide comfort during the possibly difficult adjustments could help you and your family
As you wrote some health items like xylitol are hard to find here so things like that I’d bring along too. Also, I haven’t seen things like canning equipment being sold here, even though I think they must somewhere, so if canning or whatever else that you really like to do is something you’d really want to do and it would give you a feeling of home I’d bring it too if there is space. English books are not always easy to find here depending on where you are so I’d bring the absolute favorite and indispensible ones(that was my security blanket, my books, we brought a few suitcases of those:) Also the weather here is warm for most of the year so one doesn’t need so many winter things or quite so warm as in the US, so you can pack accordingly. Hatzlacha Rabbah, if there is anything else we can be helpful with pleas let me know.
Sorry, a few more things I just thought of. They do sell Corelle here, at least where I live and there are usually dish sales around Pesach time if you want to wait to get things cheaper but in general I don’t think it’s prohibitively expensive so you can buy those here. Good pots are expensive though so I would bring those. These days Israel has lots of wonderful products both domestic and imported so you don’t have to worry about not being able to find the essentials
Regina, thank you so much for all of this information! This is really helpful in helping me mentally sift through what is worth bringing and what’s not worth bringing. And your comment about bringing several suitcases of books really made me reevaluate how few books I was going to bring, and be okay with taking a much larger amount – I think they’ll be happy to pack fewer clothes and more books!
I’ve noticed that older good quality linens last much longer that the new stuff. I would keep the linens. Do they have 2nd hand stores in Israel?
Is there no friend in there you you can ask about these things?
Hmm, you might be right about the linens. A couple of the sets have worn really well – if not for the stretched out elastic (which isn’t hard to replace) and some darkening on the cream colored pillowcases of one set where heads were laid, they’re still in good shape. There’s a sale tomorrow that I’m going to stop in at to take a look at the linens to compare quality.
There are second hand stores and privately run second hand clothing organizations called ‘gemachim’ in Israel. I enjoy bargain hunting, but I have so many things that I’m going to immediately need that I don’t want to have to search out these places in the first week or so!
I think it may be worth it for you to take another few boxes or suitcases of items you use often and plan on using there, with you, beyond what you’re allotted, even if you have to pay. I was just in NY with an aunt of mine from Israel, I helped her do some shopping and she was telling me how high the prices are in EY, for everything.
Chana, since there will be ten of us flying, we’re taking 30 suitcases plus a carry on for each person, and I’m already feeling intimidated by dealing with how to handle that many (getting to the airport, getting them off the conveyor belt and out of the airport, getting to Karmiel from the airport). 🙂 I think we’re going to manage with that amount and be willing to pay the higher prices for whatever we can’t take along. 🙂
Ditto on the linens! That’s one thing I still bring back with me every few trips to the states. Silverware is heavy, and you can get good quality sets that are not so expensive at Ikea here.
i went to seminary in Tzfat so I’m very familiar with the North (though my info is 9 years old). I would not bother bringing 15 year old linens unless you see you have a lot of room! As someone mentioned shoes are the hardest thing to buy at a normal price, if I were you I would buy everyone shoes plus the next size. Also, my sister made aliyah with 6 kids ages 2-14 (now 3-15) just last year and she sends us videos they all speak PERFECT hebrew and read and write too! It’s amazing. So I wouldn’t worry about learning the language. She lvoes the Ikea there especially because it has Kosher restaurants. Your hardest thing is going to be shlepping the stuff you buy home, you hould make sure the stores you buy from have delivery service! are you going to keep up the blog in Israel?? (What’s funny is that I am so not like your typical reader, not into natural things at all and will never homeschool, but I appreciate your outlook on family life and raising children.)
Estee, you’re definitely not atypical among my blog readers! Many, many people read my blog for parts of what I share about, and other aspects aren’t of as much relevance or interest – I’m glad you’re here and that you enjoy my outlook on family. 🙂
My concern about the Hebrew is that most of my kids will be homeschooled, so they won’t be in the full immersion environment of school – for the most part, I think it will soften the transition for them. But it means that a big part of the responsibility for helping them aquire the language is on me.
Just btw Payless Shoes just opened up its first store here in Israel and are planning a few more branches over the next few months. I don’t know if there will be one up near you but if that makes a difference in your decision regarding shoes I thought you may want to know that. (btw Ladies shoe size 42 and over you will have a very hard time finding here in Israel)
We do have Ikea, H&M and Gap if that helps you regarding other items you mentioned.
I think the prices at H&M ,Payless and Gap are a little more than their stores in the USA but they have absolutely helped lower prices on shoes and clothing etc as a whole here in Israel
Re: electronics /computers yes they are more expensive here that is something I would say bring with you (but the prices have dropped from 5 years ago but no way near enough)
good luck with everything
Hi, Daniela, welcome! I knew about Ikea but didn’t know about H&M, Payless and Gap – good to know! I can’t remember what size 42 corresponds to – I’m a size 9 shoe and I’ll have to look up what that corresponds to in case it’s bigger than 42.
So far the only electronics that we’re definitely bringing are the new laptop and a cd player, which is critical to my peace of mind since I regularly listen to relaxation-type cds. 🙂 Otherwise there’s not much that I use that’s worth bringing.
Hi
Thanks for the welcome
I am enjoying reading about your Aaliyah planning etc
Sorry thought since you lived here you may have been used to the shoe sizes a 9 is a 39-40 so you should be OK as far as that:)
Smart idea to bring a new computer just be sure you get a worldwide warranty so that (god forbid) anything happens to it you don’t have to send it back to the USA
Since my blog is all about reviewing new items on the market here, I read almost all the press releases, even if they’re not an item (or a store) I plan on reviewing -it just fun for me:) so I hear about all the stores and items that are come to Israel:)
good luck with EVERYTHING!!
D
I haven’t done a move to Israel in a long time (and I had no kids at the time), but I have done the move from the US to Japan twice with only our suitcases (1st time 5 suitcases, 2nd 9 suitcases and looks like again in 2012!) for a year each time.
Since there is an Ikea and they have linens, plates, silverware, etc, I would not suggest taking stuff like that. I would honestly ditch the Pesach dishes too — perhaps someone can sell you space on their lift? Maybe take one set for your DH as a memory maker, but otherwise they are too heavy.
I took foodstuffs that were impossible to find (in my case cheese and yeast and dried fruit). Books are super important, even if you won’t be HSing so much as the kids will need English literature to read (unless you buy a Kindle or something like that) and libraries with English stuff are not in great supply, especially in the north. I took a year’s worth of clothes with me, but knowing about the g’machim in Israel, I wouldn’t in your situation.
In doing this move to HI for the summer, I planned the weights OK (the heavy stuff: cheese, meat and other hard to get food, some pots, books and magazines, only 3 changes of clothing for everyone but DH (as he is travelling in Asia a lot this summer) plus Shabbos clothing), but the suitcases themselves were only half full because of the weights of everything. Get your self a good luggage scale and be prepared to weigh, weigh, weigh and weigh some more and get rid of extraneous stuff until the last minute as the airlines are real sticklers now for the correct weight in luggage.
Yael, thanks for sharing from your position of lots of experience! Good point about the books – dd10 (who is a voracious reader) told me tonight she’s concerned about not having much to read in Israel. I’ve been considering buying a Kindle so that we can access the many classic books available for free online.
A neighbor lent us their luggage scale in preparation for our trip to Israel in the winter, and it was a huge help. I’m hoping to borrow it again since every pound counts and the stress of hoping that it’s not too heavy and wondering if I’ll have to take something out when I’m checking in isn’t something I want to deal with.
How are you enjoying Hawaii?
Do bring things with sentimental value.
Corelle shatters into tiny little pieces on the balata floors. We buy our linens (on sale) at Lands End and bring them back whenever we travel. Towels are better here. Na’aman makes very decent silverware, not that expensive. T-fal pots are often on sale, and Soltan are very good. Large supermarkets like Mega and Shufersal sell kitchen stuff called One, reasonable value.
Games are very expensive. I don’t know where you can get used English books in the North, but you can always come visit our area and stock up! And, there’s the UK Book Depository. Still, people should bring books they’re attached to. I still have the few books we shlepped from the Soviet Union, they are very precious to me.
I second the suggestion of a scale – you need to know, estimating isn’t good enough. Lightweight luggage helps a lot, although oversized duffel bags are a problem – you might get charged. Plain cardboard boxes work well.
Each kid is entitled to a carry on knapsack as well.
Not sure what to tell you about winter jackets. When it’s cold, it’s just as cold indoors as outdoors (often colder).
Best of luck, and try not to second-guess yourself.
Kira! Welcome – I didn’t know you read my blog and I appreciate you taking time to share your feedback with me.
Just today at the thrift store I picked up four games, thinking that it will be important to have something to entertain the kids when we get there – Candyland and Chutes and Ladders were .40 each (not including tax); the other two games were .70 and 1.20. I have to take advantage of these prices while I can!
I didn’t know Land’s End had sheets? I really like their quality and their free customized hemming of boys pants was a great recent find.
Ok, so here’s my suggestions- bring sheets. Good quality stuff in israel is hard to fnd and expensive.
Bring toys. Toys in Israel are either cheapo chinese junk that breaks in a second, or are imported and very overpriced. I’d bring legos, playmobile, puzzles, blocks, etc… that you have, because there arent really garage sales where you can buy those things second hand here.
And yes, bring books. English sections in libraries are often non existent, very very sparse, extremely disorganized, or all of the above. Its luck of the draw with second hand stores and libraries- you’re not likely to find what you’re looking for if you’re looking for something specific, even if you search long and hard. This is especially true for non fiction, like health related or whatever.
If you have a sewing machine, i’d say bring that. They’re really expensive here and very useful.