The Carpool Guys

Aliyah Anxiety: Let’s Talk About Why This Freaks Us Out (And Laugh About It)

Jon Ackerman

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What starts with a painfully awkward synagogue moment (you know the one, that late guy who somehow blocks everyone’s view) quickly turns into a much bigger conversation.

This week, Asher, Dave, and Jon dive into the very real and increasingly common phenomenon of Aliyah Anxiety, the emotional tension between loving Israel, feeling spiritually connected to Jewish life in Israel, and also being genuinely happy, rooted, and fulfilled living in the United States.

The guys unpack the emotional, mental, and practical challenges of making Aliyah, including identity, family considerations, community pressure, Jewish values, and the fear of making the “wrong” life decision. Along the way, they mix thoughtful reflection with humor, stories, and classic Carpool Guys travel mishaps.

This episode touches on Jewish identity, Jewish community, modern Orthodox life, moving to Israel, work-life balance, parenting, and the emotional complexity of big life choices - all while keeping things honest, relatable, and funny.

If you’ve ever felt pulled in two directions - Israel and America, idealism and reality, dreams and day-to-day life - this one’s for you.

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