The Hebrew word for emigration is “yeridah,” which translates to “descent.” Its connotation is not kind. In Israel, emigration is often judged as a failure of the individual, rather than the state. Yeridah is a word used to suggest that the émigré couldn't handle the Israeli lifestyle, namely, conscription in the Israeli army and the economic and social difficulties that come with living in a Jewish state surrounded by belligerent enemies. The word signifies a profound spiritual failure that leads to personal, more than communal, degeneration. Read More