What new olim can teach us about gratitude and entitlement

As originally appeared in The Jerusalem Post on August 28, 2026.

Follow the Israeli media and every week you will find content on how many Israelis have left the country, the emerging brain drain, and the negative impact that medical professionals leaving will have on the local healthcare scene.

What you don’t hear is that in August alone, over 1,100 North Americans made aliyah, and over 2,200 arrived during the summer. Among them are 183 lone soldiers and doctors. To me, the most impressive number is that the average age of the olim is only 29. Well over 1,000 physicians have made aliyah in the last few years. Moral of the story: Don’t always believe what you hear in the press.

All of this was facilitated by Nefesh B’Nefesh, in cooperation with Israel’s Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, the Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and Jewish National Fund-USA.

Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, co-founder and executive director of Nefesh B’Nefesh, said, “As we recently celebrated our 100,000th Oleh, it is particularly inspiring to see so many young people choosing to make Israel their home, to build their careers and families here, put down roots and invest their futures in this country. We are honored to continue playing a role in helping strengthen Israel through each one of these Olim.”

This week we continue to read Torah portions that deal with preparing the nation for its entrance into the Land of Israel. Ki Tavo begins with the commandment to bring the first fruits. We learn about the farmer who seeded a field months earlier without knowing what type of harvest there would be.

Imagine the farmer who has toiled and toiled and finally sees the reward of his hard work. Instead of enjoying it by eating, he must bring it to Jerusalem and make a declaration thanking the Lord for both the land and all the good that has been received.

As I have quoted many times, Rabbi Berel Wein writes, “Saying thank you is one of the basic courtesies of human interaction. Though elementary and straightforward, it is often forgotten or neglected. In saying thank you, we are acknowledging that we are dependent upon the goodness and consideration of others and that we are not completely in control over events and even of our own decisions in life.”

The financial danger of feeling entitled

Too often, we perceive our great achievements as a testament to our greatness and fall prey to, “And you may say in your heart, ‘My strength and the might of my hand made this victory.’”

Rabbi Wein continues, “There is no question that the farmer invested a great deal of effort, sweat and toil in bringing his crops to fruition. Because of this effort and the investment on the part of the farmer, there is a temptation that he will view these new fruits as an entitlement. For after all, he was the one who devoted the time and effort necessary to produce them.

“There is a danger that he will forget that there really are no entitlements in life and that one has to say thank you for everything that is achieved, though ostensibly we have labored to achieve this much desired goal. Rather, it is incumbent upon the farmer to thank his Creator for the land and the natural miracles that occurred daily in the production of food, grain and fruit.”

Entitlements. A few years ago, I wrote about a meeting I had with newlyweds who lived in the quaint Beit Hakerem neighborhood of Jerusalem. They had a combined net monthly salary of NIS 12,000. After asking them some questions, it turned out that they were paying NIS 9,000 in rent.

So much for the financial-planning rule of spending 25% to 30% of your income on housing! Obviously, I asked why they were paying so much in rent. They said that the apartment had three bedrooms and that they liked the large space because it was what they were used to while growing up in the United States.

I replied, “But it’s just the two of you, and you are spending 75% of your salary on rent!” They just looked at me. They said they “need” a car and want to buy an apartment.

They had about NIS 65,000 in total savings from wedding gifts and savings that each of them brought into the marriage. I asked why they needed a car, especially because they lived literally 25 meters from a light-rail station.

After trying to dissuade them from buying even a used car until they saved more money, they said they were looking for a new Corolla hybrid because they had heard good things about it.

When I asked why on earth they would buy a new car, the reason given was that their parents only drove new cars in the United States. I won’t even go into the conversation about buying an apartment, but I am sure you get the drift.

Let’s heed the lesson of the farmer and the new olim. Jewish Agency Chairman Maj.-Gen. (res.) Doron Almog said, “Behind each of the 1,100 new Olim who arrived from North America over the past month is a story of choice. Families, children, young people and professionals who chose to build their lives here and be part of the future of the State of Israel.

“They arrive with their dreams, their skills and their desire to contribute, strengthening Israeli society and Israel as a whole. Our mission is to be there for them throughout their journey and help them turn their courageous choice into a home, a place where they can integrate, put down roots and build their lives.”

Say thank you when you receive good fortune and realize that there are no entitlements in life.

The information contained in this article reflects the opinion of the author and not necessarily the opinion of Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. or its affiliates.

Aaron Katsman is the author of Retirement GPS: How to Navigate Your Way to A Secure Financial Future with Global Investing (McGraw-Hill), and is a licensed financial professional both in the United States and Israel. He helps people who open investment accounts in the United States. Securities are offered through Portfolio Resources Group, Inc. (www.prginc.net). Member FINRA, SIPC, MSRB, SIFMA, FSI. For more information, call (02) 624-0995, visit www.aaronkatsman.com, or email aaron@lighthousecapital.co.il.