Why I immigrated to Germany?

I was born in Israel in the 1980s and from a young age I was a very curious child. The topic of immigration interested me personally and I had a desire to know what it felt like to live in another country. When I grew up in Israel, I was exposed to the inequality and racism experienced by other Jews who came to Israel from Eastern European countries in the late 1980s. The Jews from Eastern Europe received unequal treatment from the State of Israel, so even if they were educated and talented in their field, they could not in all cases actually engage and work in their field. For example,

 doctors, engineers, teachers and other professionals in many cases had to work in simple jobs to support their families. Racism was also directed at Jews who came to Israel from Ethiopia and other countries. They were not really considered Israelis, they were considered second-class citizens.

 I remember we were always told from a young age that the State of Israel is a Jewish and democratic state but how could it be Jewish and at the same time democratic? Many couples wishing to marry in the State of Israel are unable to do so, due to the fact that they are obligated to marry in the rabbinate and therefore if one of the spouses is not Jewish the spouses are unable to marry.

In addition, I never liked the noisy Israeli mentality so I never felt like I belonged in the country where I was born and raised. I was disappointed at the fact that there is discrimination and racism in the State of Israel. When I was growing up, I traveled to a lot of places in the world and all the money I saved I spent on trips abroad. I was very curious and wanted to see different countries and cultures. The lack of belonging to the State of Israel made me think even more about immigration, so I decided to research and read about this issue thoroughly.

After an in-depth study I chose to immigrate to Germany. But why Germany? As an Israeli, from a young age I was exposed to the negative attitude towards Germany on the part of the State of Israel and the main reason was the Holocaust that the Jews of Europe went through in the 20th century. The negative attitude, lack of openness and anger at the massacre that many Jews in Europe went through, created a negative feeling among many Israelis towards Germany, but it is important to understand that today the circumstances have changed and therefore, I chose to flee from the State of Israel. Germany has completely changed and is now considered a patient and tolerant country that accepts the other and the different. The feeling of escaping Israel and building a better future intensified especially in light of the fact that over the years the citizens of the State of Israel have lost faith in the Israeli government.

For me, there was no future in the State of Israel. I wanted to build a new life for myself and I knew that I can have a better future.

After an in-depth study I chose Germany for the following four reasons:

1. Low cost of living and apartment rent: While other large cities in the world have a very high cost of living, Berlin’s cost of living is comparatively low, with reasonable apartment renting prices. Unlike other cities, it is not all industrial and has lots of parks, in some areas, it is forbidden to build skyscrapers.

2. Strong economy and low crime rate: Germany has the strongest economy in Europe, and it provides very good conditions and benefits for its residents and citizens. It also combines a social economy model with a capitalistic one and the country is ranked as a country with a low crime rate. It feels safe to walk around the streets in major cities. As a resident/citizen in Germany you will be able to enjoy a high quality of life.

3. Possession of Israeli passport: After doing my research, I found out that Germany allows Israelis to search for job opportunities within its borders without requiring a specific visa to do so. so I knew in case I will find a job there I will be able to stay and do the whole bureaucratic procedure from within German borders. In case you are a citizen of the following countries, you have the option of arriving to Germany without a visa: United States, Canada, Israel, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Japan and South Korea.

4. My Desire to learn a new language: For many immigrants, learning a new language is difficult task, but I was intrigued and fascinated by the process of learning German as a new language.