Returned to Israel — after 5 decades
AFTER fifty-three years, six children and fifteen grandchildren, Mr. and Mrs. I. Segal of St. Kilda return ed to Israel earlier this year.
Mr. and Mrs. Segal came back to Melbourne last Sun day after a seven month stay in Israel although they had originally intended making their home there. It was the first time the Segals had visited their home country since Mr. Segal left in 1911 at the age of 18 and Mrs. Segal left in 1919 when she was 22.
During their visit, Mr. and Mrs. Segal lived in Haifa in a house which they rented from an army officer who had been posted to South Africa.
Mr. Segal said that the rent was high in that they paid the same amount for a two roomed house there as they would have paid for a house
twice the size in Australia.
Although the cost of living was so high, Mrs. Segal added, I didn’t mind spending the money simply because I could spend it in Israel.
Both Mr. and Mrs. Segal agreed that what they enjoyed most was seeing the changes in the country.
Mrs. Segal said, “Every time I looked for a town that I used to know well, it seemed that it had moved over a few miles. “Although we were living
in Haifa, I think that Jerusalem is a nicer city and I also loved going to Eilat. It was wonderful driving through the hills and you suddenly see a village which seems to appear out of nowhere.”
NO SUITS
Mr. Segal found it strange that every time he went to synagogue he was about the only man (including the Rabbi) who wore a suit.
"They all wore loose Tshirts and even though it was so hot I could not bring myself to wear anything but a suit to shule.”
Mr. Segal said that the Israelis worked extremely hard for small wages but that no body eared because they all felt that they were working
for themselves and would not consider leaving Israel even if they knew that they could have a much easier life somewhere else.
“It is such a wonderful country that every Jew should go even if he has to borrow the money to do so,” he said.
"I am already planning to go back for another visit in a couple of years.
"One thins though — on our next visit there will be" no luggage. At the moment almost all of our possessions are sitting in Naples wanting
for the ship to make another trip to" Australia.”
And, after meeting the Segals and hearing them talk about Israel, I am sure that nothing, luggage problems included. will stop them returning to Israel soon.
