seemed like Vancouver was the place to be," Mr. Mymin said, explaining his decision to head to Western Canada. "I didn't know a thing about [the city]. I didn't know anybody."
Now looking for work and settling into his new home in Bumaby, Mr. Mymin feels disconnected from the Jewish community.
Though he plans to attend High Holiday celebrations, he isn't sure where he'll go. He's made some contact through Shalom Vancouver and attended their activities but, being in Bumaby, even the closest shuls are quite far from his home.
In South Africa, the Jewish population numbers about 70,000, Mr. Mymin said. The cities, and especially small towns, have strong Jewish communities.
"I would imagine that the Jews in South Africa probably have more affinity for Judaism than Jews in North America," he suggested. "It's just the feeling I get. The rate of assimilation is quite low in South Africa. It's quite a rare thing, in fact."
Rosh Hashanah in South Africa meant going to synagogue, but more so, it meant participating in family gatherings. "I suppose that's one reason for religion itself," Mr. Mymin said,"... getting famihes together."
In father's footsteps
"In this last week since I've been here, I've learned about the beauties of British Colimibia, Fve put my kids in school and we've settled into a place to live."
Not bad for someone who, six months ago, was only learning what life is like in Canada.
That someone is Ran Harash, the new Israel aliyah centre shaliach (emissary) who arrived here from northern Israel with his wife, Ilanit, and three children at the end of August. Mr. Harash replaces Nachum Zait who has been the local shaliach for two years.
As an Israeli emissary, Mr. Harash, 35, acts as a representative of the aliyah department of the Jewish Agency in Israel. He will interview and advise those who want to immigrate to Israel. He will decide, along with the organization in Israel,
Alan Mymin is starting life from scratcti.
who can be accepted. He will also interview people who want to participate in short-term volunteer programs in Israel and will draw on his experience with youth programming in Israel to contribute to the Habonim youth movement here.
Mr. Harash is following in the footsteps of his father who was a shaliach to the United States in the late 1970s.
In Israel, the name of every child of a shaliach who has been sent outside of Israel is kept on file, Mr. Harash explained. Upon reaching adulthood, the person is then approached to see if he or she is also interested in become an emissary.
Ran Harasti and tiis family are newly arrived from Israel.
Mr. Harash learned much of his English going to high school in New York when his father was placed there. At 28, Mr. Harash was completing a degree in technical engineering at Tel-Chai College in Upper Galilee. His wife was studying to become a dental assistant. Once she had finished her studies, they decided it was a good time for the family to spread the message of the importance of aliyah. The process was not an easy one. "I've gone through a whole Via Delarosa," said Mr. Harah. "The process is about half-a-year with about six or seven tests and committees which you have to go through."
Every year 100 to 300 shlichim are sent out fi-om Israel. As many as 1,000 people apply, said Mr. Harash.
And the hardest part to complete the process? "Getting a Canadian visa in the Canadian embassy in Tel Aviv. That was the hardest test on earth," Mr. Harash exclaimed. "They're very bureaucratic."
In addition to his paper-pushing miseries, Mr. Harash had to complete an intensive month of studies on Judaism, schlichut, Zionism and Israeli history, as well as preparation for life in Canada.
"The idea is to prepare you for what most of North American society feels toward Israel, Zionism and aliyah issues and to try and start thinking what shlichut is like," Mr. Harash explained.
"It seems to me that the whole Canadian society is moving on to Israel," said Mr. Harash. "That's the impression I got." His desk at the aliyah centre housed in the Jewish Community Centre was already piled high with applications liiom people wanting to immigrate to Israel.
He has started to chip away at the stack, but Mr. Harash has other things on his mind. Rosh Hashanah was one of the most important holidays for him and his family in Israel, he said. About 500 kibbutz members would get together for a meal and celebrations.
Though he has received invitations to visit various homes and synagogues, he hasn't made a decision yet on where he will go. But he's confident he'll o find a new sense of family here. □
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