Just one more reason to kick myself for not going to medical school

There's an old joke about a physician who passes away and finds himself standing at the end of a long line of people.  He asks the person in front of him what everyone is waiting for and is told that everyone is on line to find out if they will be judged worthy to enter 'Olam Habah' (the world to come). 

After waiting for what seemed like hours without the line having moved even an inch, the doctor walks up to the front of the line and explains to the gate-keeper that he was a doctor and that he shouldn't have to wait in line.  After all, based on all the lives he'd saved and all the charity he'd given it was a shoe-in that he'd be admitted.  So why not let him go in right away?

The heavenly functionary apologized for the wait but explained that everybody had to stand judgment and nobody was given head-of-the-line privileges no matter what their role had been on earth.  The doc wasn't happy with the answer, but he had no choice but to go back to the end of the long line and wait his turn.

However, a few moments later he was surprised to see a man in a white lab coat and wearing a stethoscope draped casually around his neck walk right to the front of the line, wave to the attendant and walk right into paradise.

This was too much to take, so he stormed back to the front of the line and in a loud voice began demanding an explanation:  "Hey, I just saw you let that doctor in without having to wait in line. I thought you said nobody had head-of-line privileges here!"

The gate-keeper put his finger to his lips and said, "Shhh, I didn't mislead you.  That was G-d... he just thinks he's a doctor".

I've shared this joke today for a couple of reasons.  First and foremost is that I just discovered yet another reason to kick myself for not going to medical school.

You see, Nefesh B'Nefesh has recently announced their latest initiative: Helping Israel solve its doctor shortage.  They are doing this by offering very attractive incentives (I've heard the number $60,000 tossed around) to doctors who make aliyah.

I've mentioned on several occasions how indebted Zahava and I are to Nefesh B'Nefesh for their advice and assistance before, during and after our aliyah.   While we would have certainly moved to Israel with or without their help, they helped streamline the process, and most importantly, helped us differentiate the important issues from the small stuff that olim usually waste time and energy worrying about.

Well, Nefesh B'Nefesh hasn't been sitting on their laurels since helping us with our aliyah back in 2003.  In fact every year  since, they've continued to set the bar ever higher by bringing record numbers of immigrants from Canada and the US to live - and stay! - in Israel. 

This doctor incentive program isn't some improbable 'Northern Exposure' scenario where NBN is waving money in front of newly minted (i.e. broke) docs in hopes they will spend a couple of years in Israel before heading back to nip and tuck aging matrons in Beverley Hills.   Let's face it, there isn't much you can offer someone - doctor or otherwise - in the way of incentives that will make them voluntarily want to move long term to a place they have no desire to be.

However, if someone already has in the back of their mind that it might be nice to live in Israel... but with student loans and various professional fees hanging over their head, they are finding it difficult to figure out how to extricate themselves from the present long enough to even think about the future... well, then Nefesh B'Nefesh's new program might be just the ticket.

Add to this the fact that - today's joke not withstanding - doctors moving from North America to Israel take a huge hit in both the pocketbook and prestige.   This is another reason for Nefesh B'Nefesh to be involved in the whole aliyah process with doctors, since the re-entry and absorption process can sometimes be a little more bumpy for physicians than for many other professions.   And it is exactly NBN's well-known holistic approach to aliyah that has resulted in their retention rate (% of people who remain in Israel long-term) remaining so high!

In addition to the assistance NBN is offering to doctors, they are obviously still going full steam ahead with new and existing programs designed to help potential olim from all walks of life begin to shift their aliyah from the daydreaming to planning stage. 

They are constantly visiting large Jewish communities throughout North America to run live seminars on a wide range of general topics related to aliyah.  But they have also recently started reaching out to potential olim who may be outside major metropolitan areas by running Webinars (web-based seminars) on very specific topics, in a format that will allow anyone with an Internet connection - regardless of their physical location - to participate and learn.  You can find out more about NBN Webinars here.

And of course, for those who want to simply get the ball rolling, the first step is to get your hands on a Nefesh B' Nefesh application.  As luck would have it, You can find one right here.

And remember, whether you're a doctor or a just needle-fearing layman like myself... Israel has one important advantage over life in Canada or the US; Nobody here bothers to wait on lines!

Questions?

Don't thank me... I'm a giver!