Managing in Israel Financially

So my friend and I were talking today about the cost of housing in Israel, and how rent is so high. I really wonder how my Israeli friends manage the cost of rent/mortgage on an Israeli salary. One of my biggest fears is that we'll move to Israel and never be able to afford a house, therefore we'll need to rent and move frequently. That's not a good thing for a family with 4 kids.

My friend's husband is flying to Israel soon to job hunt. I wish there was a recruiter that I could contact so we could do the same. Coming to Israel with a job would be much less scary.

Maintaining Hebrew in Texas

My kids all understand Hebrew, but only my oldest daughter will actually converse in it. My Hebrew is pretty fluent, even though it's not my native language. I really want to speak with them in Hebrew so that their comprehension doesn't disappear while we are in self imposed "exile" here in Texas. I have a new son, so it's easy to talk with him in Hebrew. The added benefit is that my other kids hear me talking with him and are absorbing what I am saying to their brother.

I wish I had some way to encourage more Hebrew speaking in our house. If anyone out there has any suggestions, I'd love to hear from you!

Setting up this blog

I hadn't given much thought as to what to write in my first post. I am a married mother of four, currently living in Texas. I've lived in Israel twice now, and I am always hoping that I can move back with my family successfully before my kids get too old and we get too entrenched in life here.

Problem is, we have no "rights" to speak of, having used them up in the past. Moving to Israel, as I know from personal experience, is an expensive undertaking. Not to mention emotionally exhausting trying to relocate an entire family to a different country. My kids have a basic understanding of Hebrew, but not enough to get along in school.

My husband and I talk about it all the time, but we realize we just can't afford to consider it. I wish I had some creative ways to create a "Move to Israel" fund, but I'm drawing a blank. Just paying for our day to day expenses is hard enough!

So for now I have to dream from afar, that maybe someday, I'll be able to return. This time, for good.