Some reasons of Jewish migrations

Jewish emigration and returniks: reasons of migrations

By Vladimir Matveyev, analyst

In spite of economic and political problems in Ukraine, quite a lot of Jews who immigrated to Israel are returning back to the post-communist country with Jewish population of 200,000-250,000. Most of them mention two main reasons – intifada with reduction of investments and economic crisis and inappropriate attitude to "Russian" olim in the religious state.

Most of the emigrants when they took decision to emigrate didn’t even think about returning back, but circumstances not for all of them were favorable. That is why some of them immigrated to Canada, US and other countries and some returned to Ukraine.

"When we decided to emigrate to Israel, we were not going to return back. But in 2000 we re-emigrated because of intifada and bad attitude to us as a people of second hand," said Vladimir Lyubarsky, 37, who returned back to Kiev in 2000 with his Ukrainian wife Tatyana, 31, and daughter Lilia, 11.

Vladimir, qualified programmer, about year worked in the small private firm in Israel. His wife Tatyana, Ukrainian, is a housewife. In Kiev he is the founder and director of Digital Cartographic Models company and is not going to return back to Israel. "As non-Halahic Jew with Ukrainian wife I have not good prospects to get good job in Israel. The private firm in Israel where I worked as programmer have got problems after intifada beginning. Many sabra are ready to swindle olim from the FSU," said Lyubarsky.

"I see good prospects for my activities in modern Ukraine that is why I'm not going to emigrate."

“About one third of emigrants didn’t integrate, didn’t find them in the country. Some of them immigrated to the countries of western democracy but other returned to Russia and Ukraine. It can be explained by the fact that modern Israel is a very contradictory society with a lot of complexes”, said JTA Mikki Chlenov, secretary general of Euro-Asia Jewish Congress.

"Being a constant “minority” in Diaspora Jews have become a majority in Israel. “Russians” have integrated to the Israeli society not so well and have become there a Jewish “minority”. This is the reason of their rejection by Israeli society”, Chlenov added.

Anatoliy Sobolev, 43, was born in Poltava, where he played the flute in military orchestra and after he graduated from the Kiev Pedagogical Institute he immigrated to Israel in 1993. He thought he would immigrate with his family forever but last year he returned back to Kiev and now is working a sound producer in a studio.

"I didn’t need money and immigrated only because all Jews were immigrating. I got a job in a Russian restaurant. After that for five years I worked in music group Hot Lady. I returned to Ukraine because there was no demand for me in Israel.” And Anatoly is not alone in such a fortune.

Returniks give different reasons of their coming back but the most typical are an inability of many of them to integrate quickly to the new society, difficulties of learning the language, follow religious traditions, their rejection by sabras who consider them to be inferior.

Recently Lyuba Efet, 24, returned to Yevpatoria from Israel because she felt herself there "a woman of second hand". "Most of Jewish women from the FSU are perceived there as “Rusi” or prostitutes. I especially felt it because I am not a halahic Jew,” said Lyuba, who worked a cashier in the Jambo company and returned in Yevpatoria and married Russian fallow this year.

"If you want to become an anti-Semite go to Israel. I was there a man of lower quality” said Eduard Verbliansky, 44, who had his successful  business in Kiev and in Israel but last year returned to Kiev with his family and now is a manager of the studio in Kiev.
"Many emigrants to Israel now emigrate to different other countries because conditions for the eminently qualified work in Israel are not good. I don't see any better prospects there," said Lyubarsky.
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“When I was tripped up there I understood that I would not be able to rise and I would always be a “Rusi” there I decided to return to Ukraine with my family," said Eduard.

Among the reasons of returning the returniks also mention their difficulties in understanding Israeli mentality and learning Ivrit which is necessary for getting a high-paid job. "I didn’t like the Israeli mentality and low level of culture. Many sabras accuse people with Russian look, that is Russian Jews, in all misfortunes," said Lyuba Efet. "I was in especially hard situation as my Ivrit was very poor".

"In language and cultural respect we lived quite isolated within our Russian Jewish community. Besides, we had little chances to win through because I am a Russian Jew and my wife is Ukrainian,” said Anatoliy.

Many returniks told that serious problem for them was that Israel is religious state and dati - religious people - "make the face of Israel." "As I know secular population of Israel has bad attitude to dati because they are burden to non-religious people but make the face of Israel," said Lyubarsky.

Meanwhile other returniks are not so flat. Tatyana Saltanova, 31, lived in Israel in 1999-2001. She worked at the plant in Jerusalem and after returning to Kiev she works as a librarian. “I am not a halahic Jew. Only my father is Jewish, that is why I couldn’t get married in Israel and lived with my husband in civil marriage. I was divorced because I am not a halahic Jew and my husband’s mother refused to accept me”, said Tatyana.

“But sabra in general treats me well. I didn’t feel as if I were a law cast but I had some restrictions as a non-halahic Jew”, she added.

Tatyana Luybarskaya, echoed her: "If you know Ivrit quite well and are active you have all opportunities to have success in Israel. Some sabra do not like "Russian" mainly because many of us are more clever and better educated."

Many Jews who returned to Ukraine remain Israeli citizens and love Israel. "I can say that Jews from Israel are returning to Vinnitsa as I see children coming to register for our community programs with Israeli passports," said Ilya Grobman, chairman of Vinnitsa city Jewish community. 

“Every year about 1000 Jews return to Ukraine”, said Josef Zissels, leader of Ukrainian Vaad.

Uri Ogali, Sochnut representative in Ukraine, do not agree with this. "The level of re-emigration is not so high. Some of the Israelites return to Ukraine to do some business and after some period return to Israel. They love Israel and are citizens of Israel."

Many of returniks wouldn’t mind immigrating to Israel again but after some changes in Israeli society. "Jews should find the wisdom to restore order in their country and create better conditions for life and work of olim," said Eduard Verbliansky.

2006