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MOVING UP

Legal eagle
Rachel Weiser uses her experience and skills as an American litigator to sue the supporters of terrorism
B Y L A U R A B E N D AV I D

In this monthly column, Nefesh BNefesh is proud to introduce you to some of the remarkable immigrants from North America and the UK who have made aliya over the past 10 years and are making an impact on the State of Israel.

hen Rachel Weiser moved to Raanana with her family in 2010, she never thought that one day she would end up undertaking a pivotal role in defending the Jewish state. The 38-year-old mother of five didnt join the IDF rather she employs a different form of defense. The uniform she dons is a power suit and her weapon of choice is her sharp intellect and cunning litigation skills. Her role, performing American litigation for Shurat HaDin-Israel Law Center, helps suppress terrorism by holding the terrorist organizations and regimes that support them legally responsible. Despite her Pittsburgh upbringing in a religious-Zionist environment, Weiser reports that moving to Israel was never really on her radar growing up. She married her husband Jeff, a Cleveland native, while still in college and decided to settle there. I went to law school in Cleveland, Weiser explains, and we made our life in Cleveland. I loved it there. I had Jeffs family, amazing friends, a wonderful religious-Zionist school for the kids and a great job. I was able to find a way to fulfill my dream of being a trial lawyer while still being an involved mom to our five children. However, making aliya was on her husbands agenda. He just knew Israel was where he belonged. I, on the other hand, always made the my job doesnt exist in Israel excuse. I cant be a

trial lawyer in Israel, I would say. I could never master the language well enough, but I love to visit. We can love Israel from Cleveland, cant we? Over the years, some of Weisers siblings and even her parents made aliya. The irony wasnt lost on her that while her family was slowly migrating to Israel, her husband was the one who was itching to go. Then, in 2010, while planning their eldest sons bar mitzva, it suddenly dawned on Weiser that if they were ever going to make aliya, they needed to do it soon or it might be difficult for their son to make an easy transition. I needed to give my husbands dream a shot or he would always have regrets. And, at the same time, my oldest sister decided to make aliya from Iowa with her family. So we did it. My husband sold his bakery, and I made an arrangement with my office to work from Israel and travel back for 10 days every eight weeks. Five months after they arrived, Weiser learned that the salaried position with her law firm was changing to commission only.

worked with were wonderful. Weiser, however, missed litigation, so as she continued to search the job postings on the Internet, she happened across an advertisement for a US litigator on the Israemploy site. I thought I must be seeing things. I sent in my resum and got the job! Her current full-time position is for Israel-based Shurat HaDin, and offers her the flexibility to work from home three days a week. Weiser is very proud of the important work she is doing. I represent the most innocent of victims against the purest of evils, with an end goal of suppressing terrorism by holding its supporters responsible. It is my hope that our work will make those supporters think twice or it will financially constrain them from giving their support. If that helps curb terrorism, even just a little, I will feel great. And if in the process, I can help garner some financial compensation to victims of terror, I will feel even better. Life in Israel has been very fulfilling. Weiser says, I was astounded by how

I represent the most innocent of victims against the purest of evils, with an end goal of suppressing terrorism by holding its supporters responsible. It is my hope that our work will make those supporters think twice or it will financially constrain them from giving their support
It also became apparent that while I could easily handle my existing cases from afar and travel back and forth, I would not be able to grow my practice in my small firm. We also had decided that my husband would not work for the first couple of years to help the children transition while I worked and traveled, so we only had one income. I was petrified. I mourned the loss of my career. I was sure I had made a giant mistake coming to Israel. But we were here so I did all I could do. Weiser worked hard networking and scanning wanted lists, hoping to find something to supplement, and eventually replace, her work in the States, eventually finding some part-time work at a hi-tech company. I had never done corporate legal work, or hi-tech, or worked in-house anywhere, but if you are willing to reinvent yourself in Israel, there is a lot of opportunity. I found I liked working in-house. It was interesting and the people I quickly our children adjusted to life here and made friends. Israel is one big playground for children. They have more freedom here and are outside all the time. Contemplatively, she adds, I wont sugarcoat it. The first year was hard for me and my husband. We had a harder time adjusting than the kids. Grownups dont make friends quite as quickly and we felt a lot of financial pressure. Life is also much more hectic here. But we figured out pretty quickly that people would do anything for you here, so you have time to make close friends and will still have all the support you need. To others contemplating the big move, Weiser has some advice. Dont use the excuse my job doesnt exist in Israel as a reason not to make aliya. Youd be amazed what exists here if youre creative and you keep your eyes open. The writer is the social media director of Nefesh BNefesh.

Rachel Weiser: I always made the my job doesnt exist in Israel excuse.
(Courtesy)

T H E I N T E R N AT I O N A L J E R U S A L E M P O S T

JUNE 7 13, 2013

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